Hebrews 11:20
What does Hebrews 11:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 11:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 11:20 means
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, speaking of things yet to come. These blessings were acts of faith because they treated God’s promises as certain realities that would shape the future of their descendants. Though Isaac’s family situation was complicated, he still looked ahead, trusting that God’s covenant purposes would unfold. Faith expresses itself in forward-looking words and prayers, aligning one’s speech with God’s revealed plan. The blessings were not mere wishes; they were pronouncements rooted in confidence that God would do as he had said.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
KJV
King James Version · 1611By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949By faith Isaac, blessing Jacob and Esau, gave news of things to come.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862By faith, concerning coming things, Isaac did bless Jacob and Esau;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752By faith also of things to come Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Context
After Abraham’s supreme test, the writer traces faith through the patriarchal line. Isaac’s blessings show faith transmitted across generations, focusing not on present possession but on future fulfillment. This paves the way for Jacob’s similar actions and worship at death’s edge, and then for Joseph’s dying instructions about Israel’s exodus—each example highlighting faith that looks beyond one’s lifetime to God’s ongoing work.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 27:27
And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which Jehovah hath blessed:
- Genesis 28:2
Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.
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