Hebrews 11:3
What does Hebrews 11:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 11:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 11:3 means
Faith tells us that creation itself was brought into being by God’s powerful word. The visible order did not arise from preexisting, observable materials; rather, what is seen was made from what is not seen. This affirms both God’s sovereignty and the reliability of his revelation about origins. Though we were not present at creation and cannot see the process, faith receives God’s testimony as true. If God’s word called the universe into being, then his promises about redemption and future glory are no less certain. The unseen God, who speaks and it is done, undergirds all Christian hope.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Through 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949By faith it is clear to us that the order of events was fixed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made from things which only seem to be.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862by faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by a saying of God, in regard to the things seen not having come out of things appearing;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752By faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God: that from invisible things visible things might be made.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890By faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by [the] word ofGod, so that that which is seen should not take its origin from things which appear.
Context
The first example is not a person but creation, showing that faith begins with acknowledging God as Maker. This anchors the entire discussion in the ultimate unseen reality—God’s creative word. From here, the author moves to individuals from early Genesis, demonstrating how faith has always responded to God’s revelation even when the results were not immediately visible. The link is crucial: if God’s word framed the world, believers can trust that same word in every circumstance.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 33:6
By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
- Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- Jeremiah 10:16
The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name.
- John 1:3
All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.
- Romans 4:17
(as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.
- Acts 17:24
The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
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