Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Hebrews 11

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

the substance of

substantiating.

evidence

conviction.

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

worlds were framed

ages were planned.

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

sacrifice

Sacrifice (of Christ). Heb 13:11-12. (Gen 4:4; Heb 10:18.)

righteous

Heb 11:4, 7; Scofield Romans 10:10, note.

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Enoch

Gen 5:22, 24.

pleased

had pleased.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

rewarder

Rewards. Jas 1:12. (Dan 12:3; 1Co 3:14.)

Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Noah

Gen 6:14, 22.

saving

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

world [See also Heb 11:38.]

kosmos (Mat 4:8) = mankind.

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Abraham

Gen 12:1, 4.

Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

dwelling

Gen 13:3, 18.

tabernacles

tents.

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

looked for

waited for.

builder and maker

architect and builder.

Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Sara

Gen 21:1-2.

Heb 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

stars of the sky

Gen 22:17.

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

the promises

Gen 3:15; 12:7.

confessed

i.e. acted upon them.

Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

that country from whence they came out

Gen 11:31.

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

when he was tried

Gen 22:1; Jas 2:21.

Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Of

Or, To.

in Isaac shall thy seed be called

Gen 21:12.

Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

raise him up, even from the dead

Resurrection. Rev 20:4. (Job 19:25; 1 Cor 15:52.)

in a figure

Gen 22:4; Mat 20:19.

Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

Isaac blessed Jacob

Gen 27:27.

Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

leaning upon the top of his staff

Gen 47:31.

Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

Joseph

Gen 50:24-25.

Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

he was a proper child

the child was beautiful.

the king's commandment

Exo 1:16; 2:2.

Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

to suffer affliction…than to enjoy the pleasures

Separation. Heb 13:10-14. (Gen 12:1; 2 Cor 6:14-17.)

sin

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

of the reward

Omit of the reward.

Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

the passover

Exo 12:21.

Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

they passed through the Red sea as by dry land

Exo 14:13; Jas 5:15-16; Jde 1:5.

Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

walls of Jericho fell down

Jos 6:12, 20.

Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Rahab perished not with them

Jos 6:23; Jas 2:25.

Heb 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Gedeon

Jdg 6:11.

Barak

Jdg 4:6.

Samson

Jdg 15:16.

Jephthae

Jdg 11:32.

Samuel

1Sa 7:9.

Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

righteousness

Scofield 1 John 3:7, note.

Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

received their dead raised to life again

1Ki 17:22; 2Ki 4:35.

not accepting deliverance

Heb 11:24, 26.

Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

tempted

Temptation. 1Pe 1:6. (Gen 3:1; Jas 1:14.)

tormented

evil treated.

Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

world

kosmos (Mat 4:8) = mankind.

Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

faith

Faith. (Gen 3:20.)

The essence of faith consists in receiving what God has revealed, and may be defined as that trust in the God of the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ whom He hath sent, which receives Him as Saviour and Lord, and impels to loving obedience and good works (Jhn 1:12; Jas 2:14-26). The particular uses of faith give rise to its secondary definitions:

1. For salvation, faith is personal trust, apart from meritorious works, in the Lord Jesus Christ, as delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification (Rom 4:5, 23-25).
2. As used in prayer, faith is the "confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us" (1Jo 5:14-15).
3. As used in reference to unseen things of which Scripture speaks, faith "gives substance" to them, so that we act upon the conviction of their reality (Heb 11:1-3).
4. As a working principle in life, the uses of faith are illustrated in Heb 11:1-39.

Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

perfect

Scofield Matthew 5:48, note.