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Hebrews 11:4
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2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that athe worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.  

Faith at the Dawn of History

4 By faith aAbel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still bspeaks.  
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, a“and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith aNoah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, bprepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of cthe righteousness which is according to faith.  

Faithful Abraham

8 By faith aAbraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  
9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, adwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, bthe heirs with him of the same promise;  
10 for he waited for athe city which has foundations, bwhose builder and maker is God.  
11 By faith aSarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and bshe bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him cfaithful who had promised.  
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as adead, were born as many as the bstars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.  
Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
<< Hebrews 11:3   Hebrews 11:5 >>


Hebrews 11:4

A more excellent sacrifice (pleiona qusian). Literally, "more sacrifice" (comparative of poluv, much). For this rather free use of pleiwn with the point implied rather than stated see Matthew 6:25; Luke 10:31; Luke 12:23; Hebrews 3:3.

Than Cain (para Kain). For this use of para after comparative see Hebrews 1:4, Hebrews 1:9. For the incident see Genesis 4:4.

Through which (di hv). The sacrifice (qusia).

He had Witness borne to him (emarturhqh). First aorist passive indicative of marturew as in verse Hebrews 11:2, "he was witnessed to."

That he was righteous (einai dikaiov). Infinitive in indirect discourse after emarturhqh, personal construction of dikaiov (predicate nominative after einai) agreeing with the subject of emarturhqh (cf. Romans 1:22, einai sofoi).

God bearing witness (marturountov tou qeou). Genitive absolute with present active participle of marturew.

Through it (di authv). Through his faith (as shown by his sacrifice). Precisely why Abel's sacrifice was better than that of Cain apart from his faith is not shown.

Being dead (apoqanwn). Second aorist active participle of apoqnhskw, "having died."

Yet speaketh (eti lalei). Cf. Genesis 4:10; Hebrews 12:24. Speaks still through his faith.




Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Hebrews 11:4:

Hebrews 8:1
Hebrews 12:1
Hebrews 12:24
1 John 3:12
Jude 1:11

 

<< Hebrews 11:3   Hebrews 11:5 >>

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