Hebrews 11

1:1 formerly (g-11) Or 'of old.'11:1 substantiating (f-5) Or 'assurance,' 'firm conviction.' see ch. 3.14. 11:4 yet (a-33) He alludes. I judge, to the voice which called to God from the ground (Gen. 4.10), but supposes the voice still heard as witnessing to Abel's faith. 11:5 pleased (b-32) The LXX so translated into Greek the Hebrew expression 'walked with God' in Gen. 5.24. 11:9 foreign (c-15) i.e. not his own. 11:13 faith, (d-5) Or 'according to faith;' having only the promise and not the fulfilment. earth. (e-31) Or 'land.' 11:17 himself (f-15) The Greek implies the will or action of the person receiving. It is used only here and in Acts 28.7. Publius received, 'took,' Paul and his company into his house. It has the sense of taking on oneself physically, or as a debt or responsibility. Abraham's own mind had taken up and appropriated the promises, and yet he gave up Isaac. It was not merely they were given and taken away, with which he had nothing to do; but he had adopted them by faith in his heart, and trusted God enough to give them up according to flesh. 11:18 said, (g-7) See Gen. 21.12. 11:19 received (h-17) The force of the Greek, thus applied, is to get back what one had, or what belonged to one, when it might have seemed lost for ever, as Matt. 25.27. The sense I think quite certain in its application to Isaac's sacrifice. The aorist is constantly used in this chapter historically. 11:21 staff. (a-20) This follows the LXX translation of Gen. 47.31. 11:22 dying (b-5) Lit. 'ending life.' 11:25 choosing (c-1) These are aorists, but in English the present participle is joined to the perfect tense as characterizing the action. 'He refused ... choosing;' 'he refused ... having chosen' would make a different time of it, not the same. In Greek all is referred to the time of speaking. 11:26 esteeming (c-1) These are aorists, but in English the present participle is joined to the perfect tense as characterizing the action. 'He refused ... choosing;' 'he refused ... having chosen' would make a different time of it, not the same. In Greek all is referred to the time of speaking. 11:27 fearing (c-7) These are aorists, but in English the present participle is joined to the perfect tense as characterizing the action. 'He refused ... choosing;' 'he refused ... having chosen' would make a different time of it, not the same. In Greek all is referred to the time of speaking. 11:28 celebrated (d-4) Here and ver. 17, as to the offering up Isaac, the verbs are in the perfect; this is remarkable. The other facts are generally passing facts, part of the whole history; these are of standing significance, either figuratively setting the believer on a new ground, or viewed as continued till the time of the epistle. 'by faith Abraham has offered,' 'by faith he has celebrated;' only this is not possible in English. It was not external continuance, for the blood sprinkling was only once. 11:31 in (e-17) Lit. 'with.' 11:33 promises, (f-9) i.e. 'what was promised.' 11:35 tortured, (g-11) Perhaps 'beaten [to death].'