Hebrews 11:10 kjv
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:10 nkjv
for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:10 niv
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:10 esv
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:10 nlt
Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
Hebrews 11 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrews 11:10 | "For he was looking for the city with foundations, whose designer and builder is God." | Gen 15:1-6 (God's promise to Abraham) |
| Gen 17:1-8 (Covenant and promise of land) | ||
| Gen 22:1-19 (Abraham's faith tested) | ||
| Psalm 46:4-5 (God in the city, it will never be shaken) | ||
| Psalm 87:1-3 (The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all other dwellings) | ||
| Isaiah 14:32 (What answer shall be given to the messengers of the nation? That God founded Zion) | ||
| Isaiah 33:20-21 (Look on Zion, the city of appointed feasts. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved) | ||
| Isaiah 60:14 (They will call you the City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.) | ||
| Zechariah 2:5 (And I myself will be a wall of fire around it, declares the Lord, and I will be its glory within.) | ||
| Zechariah 8:3 (This is what the Lord says: I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the Lord Almighty, the Holy Mountain.) | ||
| Matthew 16:18 (On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.) | ||
| John 1:14 (The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.) | ||
| John 14:2-3 (My Father's house has many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.) | ||
| Ephesians 2:19-22 (Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. In him you too are built together to become a dwelling for God, by the Spirit.) | ||
| Philippians 3:20 (But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly wait for a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,) | ||
| Revelation 3:12 (The one who is victorious, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is from my God above.) | ||
| Revelation 21:2 (I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.) | ||
| Revelation 21:10 (And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.) | ||
| Revelation 21:14 (The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.) | ||
| Revelation 22:3 (No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.) |
Hebrews 11 verses
Hebrews 11 10 Meaning
The verse speaks of Abraham's faith centered on the city of God. This city had foundations and a builder. It was not visible to earthly eyes, but designed and constructed by God Himself. This shows Abraham's focus was not on temporary earthly possessions but on the eternal, divine plan and dwelling place.
Hebrews 11 10 Context
Hebrews 11 details the faithfulness of Old Testament figures. This verse focuses on Abraham, placed within a narrative of faith that looks beyond the present. Abraham was promised land and descendants, but he lived as a sojourner in Canaan. His faith was directed towards a more enduring inheritance, an "better country" (v. 16), which is heavenly. The writer of Hebrews is addressing a community facing persecution, reminding them of the endurance of faith demonstrated by past heroes. Abraham's perspective on the unseen city of God serves as a model for their own spiritual journey, urging them to fix their eyes on eternal realities rather than temporary hardships.
Hebrews 11 10 Word Analysis
- "For": (Greek: γάρ, gar) - Indicates a reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
- "he was looking": (Greek: ἐπιδεχόμενος, epidechomenos) - Present participle, meaning to await, expect, or look for with anticipation. Implies continuous expectation.
- "for the city": (Greek: τὴν πόλιν, tēn polin) - Refers to a city, specifically God's city.
- "with foundations": (Greek: τῶν θεμελίων, tōn themeliōn) - Plural, referring to foundations. Contrasts with temporary dwellings.
- "whose designer and builder": (Greek: ἧς ὁ τεχνίτης καὶ ὁ κατασκευαστής, hēs ho technitēs kai ho kataskeuastēs)
- "designer" (Greek: τεχνίτης, technitēs) - Craftsman, architect, one who creates skillfully.
- "builder" (Greek: κατασκευαστής, kataskeuastēs) - Maker, builder, one who constructs.
- This emphasizes divine craftsmanship and construction, not human effort.
- "is God": (Greek: ὁ θεός, ho theos) - The ultimate source and reality of this city.
Word Group Analysis
- "the city with foundations, whose designer and builder is God": This phrase encapsulates the essence of faith's focus beyond the earthly. The "foundations" speak of stability and permanence. The explicit attribution of "designer and builder" to God highlights its divine origin, perfection, and reliability, unlike any humanly constructed city. Abraham wasn't looking at the physical landscape of Canaan as the ultimate destination, but a heavenly reality architected and established by God Himself.
Hebrews 11 10 Bonus Section
The concept of a divine city is prevalent throughout Scripture, often symbolized by Zion or Jerusalem. This "city with foundations" is not merely a physical location but represents God's presence, His people, and His reign. Abraham's gaze was spiritual, discerning the reality of this city through faith. This verse underscores the importance of having a heavenly perspective, which provides resilience in the face of earthly trials and fosters a confident hope in God’s ultimate victory and establishment of His eternal kingdom. The Greek word technitēs also highlights the intricate and skillful nature of God's creation and redemption plan.
Hebrews 11 10 Commentary
Abraham’s faith was forward-looking, anticipating a celestial home. He understood that the true, lasting city was one designed and built by God. This city possesses eternal foundations, symbolizing its stability and divine permanence, in contrast to the temporary, man-made structures and political powers of this world. His faith wasn't fixated on an earthly kingdom or dwelling, but on God’s sovereign plan for His people, culminating in a heavenly city. This perspective is vital for believers navigating transient earthly circumstances; it encourages trust in God’s eternal purposes and perseverance in faith, knowing our ultimate citizenship and dwelling are secured in heaven through Christ.
- Practical implication: Like Abraham, Christians should fix their hope on God’s eternal kingdom and city, drawing strength from knowing God is the ultimate architect and builder of our spiritual home, giving us an unshakeable foundation in Christ.