Hebrews 11:5
What does Hebrews 11:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 11:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 11:5 means
Enoch’s faith led to a unique outcome—he did not experience death but was taken by God. Scripture bears witness that before he was translated, he pleased God. This shows that faith is not merely believing facts but living in fellowship with God in ways that delight him. Enoch’s translation displays God’s sovereign freedom to honor faith as he wills and signals that death is not the final word over those who walk with him. While most believers die, Enoch’s case encourages trust in God’s power to save and his promise of life beyond death.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:
KJV
King James Version · 1611By 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949By faith Enoch was taken up to heaven so that he did not see death; he was seen no longer, for God took him away: for before he was taken, witness had been given that he was well-pleasing to God:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862By faith Enoch was translated--not to see death, and was not found, because God did translate him; for before his translation he had been testified to--that he had pleased God well,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752By faith Henoch was translated that he should not see death: and he was not found because God had translated him. For before his translation he had testimony that he pleased God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, becauseGod had translated him; for before [his] translation he has the testimony that he had pleasedGod.
Context
Following Abel’s faithful worship and martyrdom, Enoch’s example highlights another dimension: a life that pleases God so deeply that he removed Enoch from death’s reach. This prepares for the general statement in verse 6 about the necessity of faith for pleasing God. The author is building momentum—faith can be met with suffering (Abel) or extraordinary rescue (Enoch), but in every case, its defining feature is God’s approval.
v.4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.
v.5This passage
v.6and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 8:51
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.
- Hebrews 11:6
and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
- 2 Kings 2:16
And they said unto him, Behold now, there are with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master, lest the Spirit of Jehovah hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
- Luke 3:37
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
- Genesis 5:21
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
- Hebrews 11:3
By 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.
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