The author has been urging his readers to persevere in faith despite persecution and hardship, warning them against falling away from Christ and returning to Judaism. He has just emphasized that the righteous shall live by faith and that shrinking back leads to destruction, while faith leads to the preservation of the soul. To encourage his audience, he now transitions into an extended discourse demonstrating how faith has always been the means by which God's people pleased Him and received His promises. He prepares to illustrate this principle through numerous examples from Israel's history, beginning with a definition of faith and then cataloging the faithful actions of the patriarchs and heroes who trusted God despite not yet receiving the fulfillment of what was promised.
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2] For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
[3] By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
[4] By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
[5] By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. [6] But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
[7] By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
[8] By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. [9] By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; [10] for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
[11] By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. [12] Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
[13] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. [14] For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. [15] And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. [16] But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
[17] By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, [18] of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” [19] concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
[20] By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
[21] By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
[22] By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
[23] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
[24] By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, [25] choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, [26] esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
[27] By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. [28] By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
[29] By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
[30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. [31] By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
Adam and Eve have been expelled from the Garden of Eden following their disobedience in eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God pronounced judgments upon the serpent, the woman, and the man, declaring that Eve would experience pain in childbirth and that Adam would toil painfully to work the ground, which God cursed because of him. God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve, then sent them out from Eden to prevent them from eating from the tree of life. He stationed cherubim and a flaming sword east of the garden to guard the way to the tree of life. Now living outside Eden, Adam and Eve begin their life together in the cursed world where they must labor for survival.
[1] Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” [2] Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. [3] And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. [4] Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, [5] but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
[6] So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? [7] If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
[8] Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
Adam, having been created by God and placed in the Garden of Eden with Eve, has experienced both the blessing of life and the devastating consequences of disobedience. After eating from the forbidden tree, God pronounced judgments upon the serpent, Eve, and Adam, including pain in childbirth for women and toil in working the ground for men. God expelled Adam and Eve from the garden to prevent them from eating from the tree of life and living forever in their fallen state. Outside Eden, Eve bore Cain and Abel, but Cain murdered Abel out of jealousy after God accepted Abel's offering but rejected his own. God then cursed Cain to be a wanderer, and Eve subsequently gave birth to another son named Seth, whom she regarded as a replacement for Abel.
[3] And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. [4] After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters. [5] So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.
[6] Seth lived one hundred and five years, and begot Enosh. [7] After he begot Enosh, Seth lived eight hundred and seven years, and had sons and daughters. [8] So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died.
[9] Enosh lived ninety years, and begot Cainan. [10] After he begot Cainan, Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years, and had sons and daughters. [11] So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died.
Enoch has been living during the early generations of humanity, descended from Adam through Seth. The genealogy records the lifespans and descendants of the patriarchs from Adam to Noah, documenting how each patriarch lived, fathered children, and eventually died. Enoch represents the seventh generation from Adam in this lineage. Unlike his predecessors and contemporaries who followed the typical pattern of birth, procreation, and death, Enoch's account introduces a distinctive element in this otherwise repetitive genealogical record. The passage occurs within a broader narrative establishing the longevity of the antediluvian patriarchs and the continuity of the godly line through Seth's descendants, contrasting with the earlier account of Cain's lineage.
[23] So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. [24] And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Noah, a descendant of Adam through Seth's righteous lineage, has reached five hundred years of age. He stands in stark contrast to the increasingly wicked world around him, having found favor in God's eyes as a righteous and blameless man who walks faithfully with God. The genealogy from Adam through Seth has traced ten generations, emphasizing the longevity of the patriarchs and the continuation of the godly line despite humanity's growing corruption. Noah represents hope for mankind's future as God observes the earth's violence and moral decay, though divine judgment looms on the horizon.
[32] And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
After the flood, Noah and his family emerged from the ark to repopulate the earth. God established a covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood and setting the rainbow as a sign of this covenant. God blessed Noah and his sons, instructing them to be fruitful and multiply. Noah became a farmer and planted a vineyard. An incident occurred involving Noah's drunkenness and his sons' responses to his nakedness, which led to Noah pronouncing a curse on Canaan, Ham's son, and blessings on Shem and Japheth. Following these events, Noah continued to live for many years.
[28] And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. [29] So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.
Lot, Abram's nephew, had been living in Sodom when a coalition of four eastern kings led by Chedorlaomer invaded the region and defeated five local kings, including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. During their conquest, these invading kings plundered Sodom and Gomorrah, taking captives and goods as they departed northward. Among those captured was Lot, along with his possessions and family. A survivor escaped and brought news of Lot's capture to Abram, who was dwelling by the oaks of Mamre near Hebron. Upon hearing this report, Abram immediately assembled his trained men, numbering three hundred eighteen, who were born in his household. He pursued the invading kings northward to Dan, launching a nighttime attack that routed the enemy forces and continued chasing them beyond Damascus.
[14] Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. [15] He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. [16] So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
[17] And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.
[18] Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. [19] And he blessed him and said:
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
[20] And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And he gave him a tithe of all.
Abraham lived one hundred seventy-five years before his death. His sons Isaac and Ishmael, who had been estranged since Hagar and Ishmael's expulsion from Abraham's household decades earlier, reunited to bury their father in the cave of Machpelah alongside Sarah. This burial site, located near Mamre in the field Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite, became the family tomb. Following Abraham's death, God blessed Isaac, who had received the covenant promises as Abraham's chosen heir through Sarah rather than through Hagar. Isaac then settled near Beer-lahai-roi, the well where Hagar had encountered the angel of the Lord years before, marking a transition in the patriarchal narrative from Abraham's generation to Isaac's leadership.
[7] This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. [8] Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. [9] And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, [10] the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife. [11] And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.
Jacob arrives at his father Isaac's home in Mamre, near Kiriath-arba, which is also known as Hebron, where both Abraham and Isaac had previously lived. This location holds significant family history as the place where Abraham had settled after separating from Lot and where he had purchased the cave of Machpelah as a burial site. Isaac has been living here in his old age, having sent Jacob away to Paddan-aram decades earlier to escape Esau's anger and to find a wife. Jacob returns after his long sojourn with Laban, his reconciliation with Esau, and his recent time at Bethel where God reaffirmed the covenant and renamed him Israel.
[27] Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt. [28] Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. [29] So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Jacob's sons had gathered around him in Egypt to receive his final blessings and prophecies concerning their descendants. After blessing all twelve sons, Jacob gave specific instructions about his burial, commanding them to carry his body back to Canaan and bury him in the cave of Machpelah with his ancestors Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah. This cave, located in the field near Mamre, had been purchased by Abraham as a family burial site. Jacob then drew his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and died. The passage follows immediately after Jacob's death as Joseph and his brothers begin the process of mourning and preparing to fulfill their father's burial wishes.
[32] The field and the cave that is there were purchased from the sons of Heth.” [33] And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
[1] Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed him. [2] And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. [3] Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
[4] Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, [5] ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’ ”
[6] And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”
[7] So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, [8] as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen. [9] And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.
[10] Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father. [11] And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
[12] So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them. [13] For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place.
Joseph, now advanced in age and nearing death, gathers his brothers in Egypt where they have been living for many years since the famine that brought them there. The family of Jacob has grown and prospered in the land of Goshen under Joseph's protection and influence. Jacob himself died earlier and was buried in Canaan according to his wishes, with Joseph leading the funeral procession back to the promised land before returning to Egypt. The brothers have continued dwelling in Egypt, and Joseph has maintained his position of authority in Pharaoh's court while caring for his extended family. Joseph is addressing his brothers.
[24] And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” [25] Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” [26] So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
The Israelites have journeyed to Mount Hor near Edom's border after being denied passage through Edomite territory. Aaron, Moses' brother and Israel's high priest, has served in this role since the exodus from Egypt and the establishment of the priesthood at Mount Sinai. Throughout the wilderness wanderings, Aaron has been instrumental in leading Israel's worship, though he also shared in Moses' sin at Meribah where they struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded. Because of this disobedience at the waters of Meribah, God declared that neither Moses nor Aaron would enter the Promised Land. Now at Mount Hor, God instructs Moses regarding Aaron's impending death and the transfer of the high priesthood to Aaron's son Eleazar. The LORD is addressing Moses.
[23] And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying: [24] “Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah. [25] Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; [26] and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; for Aaron shall be gathered to his people and die there.” [27] So Moses did just as the Lord commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. [28] Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. [29] Now when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.
Moses has just finished viewing the Promised Land from Mount Nebo after God showed him the entire territory that Israel would inherit. God reminded Moses that he would not cross into the land due to his disobedience at Meribah, where he struck the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded. Moses had completed his final addresses to Israel, including recounting their history, renewing the covenant, and pronouncing blessings upon the twelve tribes. He commissioned Joshua as his successor before the entire assembly, transferring leadership to him through the laying on of hands. Moses then ascended Mount Nebo alone to meet his appointed end, having faithfully led Israel for forty years through the wilderness from Egypt to the edge of Canaan.
[5] So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. [6] And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. [7] Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. [8] And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended.
[9] Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
[10] But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, [11] in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, [12] and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
After Joshua's farewell address at Shechem, where he challenged Israel to choose whom they would serve and the people pledged their loyalty to the Lord, the narrative transitions to the concluding events of this generation. The Israelites had renewed their covenant with God, and Joshua established this commitment as a binding agreement, setting up a stone witness beneath the oak tree at the sanctuary. The people then departed to their respective territorial inheritances throughout the land of Canaan, which had been distributed among the tribes. This passage records the deaths and burials of the key figures who led Israel's conquest and settlement of the Promised Land.
[29] Now it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred and ten years old. [30] And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Serah, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash.
[31] Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel.
[32] The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver, and which had become an inheritance of the children of Joseph.
[33] And Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in a hill belonging to Phinehas his son, which was given to him in the mountains of Ephraim.
Samuel departed to Ramah after his final confrontation with King Saul at Gilgal, where he had delivered God's judgment of rejection upon Saul's kingship due to his incomplete obedience in the battle against the Amalekites. Saul had spared King Agag and kept the best livestock despite God's command for complete destruction, claiming he intended to sacrifice the animals to the Lord. Samuel had declared that obedience is better than sacrifice and announced that God had torn the kingdom from Saul and given it to a better man. After Samuel executed Agag himself, he left Saul, marking the end of their relationship and Saul's prophetic guidance. The passage describes Samuel's grief and God's regret over making Saul king as they permanently separated.
[34] Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. [35] And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
Samuel, who served as Israel's prophet and judge, has died, and all Israel gathered to mourn him at his home in Ramah where they buried him. Samuel had been instrumental in Israel's transition from the period of judges to the monarchy, anointing both Saul as the first king and later David as his successor. Meanwhile, David has been living as a fugitive from King Saul, moving through the wilderness with his band of men to avoid Saul's attempts to kill him. After Samuel's burial, David relocates to the wilderness of Paran, continuing his life on the run while Saul remains king over Israel.
[1] Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.
Jesus is responding to a question posed by the Sadducees, a Jewish religious group that denies the resurrection of the dead. They have just presented him with a hypothetical scenario about a woman who married seven brothers in succession according to the law of levirate marriage, asking whose wife she would be in the resurrection. The Sadducees intend this as a trap to make the concept of resurrection appear absurd. Jesus has been teaching in the temple courts in Jerusalem during the final week before his crucifixion, having already faced challenges from chief priests and scribes about his authority. Jesus is addressing the Sadducees.
[34] Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. [35] But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; [36] nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. [37] But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ [38] For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”
[39] Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” [40] But after that they dared not question Him anymore.