Hebrews 11 11

Hebrews 11:11 kjv

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Hebrews 11:11 nkjv

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.

Hebrews 11:11 niv

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

Hebrews 11:11 esv

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Hebrews 11:11 nlt

It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 11 Meaning

Hebrews 11:11 teaches that Sarah, despite her advanced age and barrenness, supernaturally received the capacity to conceive a child through faith. This miraculous event occurred because she steadfastly believed in the faithfulness and reliability of God, who had given the promise. It underscores that true faith trusts God's power to overcome natural limitations, making the impossible possible according to His divine word.

Hebrews 11 11 Context

Hebrews 11:11 is an integral part of the "Hall of Faith" chapter, which chronicles numerous examples of Old Testament figures who demonstrated exemplary faith in God. The chapter begins by defining faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1). It then systematically illustrates this definition through the lives of individuals from Abel to the prophets, showing how faith empowered them to act on God's word and endure hardship. Immediately preceding this verse, Abraham's faith is highlighted, specifically his obedient response to God's call and his dwelling in tents, looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God (Heb 11:8-10). Verse 11 seamlessly transitions to Sarah, his wife, and her crucial role in the fulfillment of God's promise concerning Abraham's numerous offspring. The historical context involves the severe social stigma of barrenness in ancient times, the natural impossibility of conception at their advanced age (Abraham 100, Sarah 90, Gen 17:17, 18:11), and God's repeated, unconditional promises of a son to Abraham through Sarah. The author of Hebrews uses Sarah's case as a powerful polemic against any notion that God's plans are limited by natural laws or human incapacities; it emphatically states that divine promise, upheld by God's faithfulness, transcends all such boundaries.

Hebrews 11 11 Word analysis

• By faith (Πίστει - Pistei): Dative case of pistis, emphasizing the means or instrument through which Sarah acted and received. It indicates that her ability to conceive was not due to any natural changes or remedies, but directly a result of her active trust in God. Faith is presented as the catalyst for the supernatural.
• Sarah herself also (αὐτὴ καὶ Σάρρα - autē kai Sarra): The inclusion of "herself also" or "even Sarah" highlights the surprising and significant nature of her faith. Given her initial laughter and disbelief at the promise (Gen 18:12-15), this phrase subtly acknowledges her initial skepticism, while unequivocally stating that she, too, eventually came to a decisive point of faith, or that her overall life trajectory was one of trust despite initial doubt. It underscores that God's faithfulness can draw even the doubtful into believing.
• received strength (δύναμιν ἔλαβεν - dynamin elaben): Dynamin refers to power or inherent ability, the same root from which "dynamite" derives. Elaben means "she received." This phrasing explicitly states that a supernatural impartation of ability took place in her physical being. It wasn't just bearing a child, but receiving the capacity to do so, overcoming her physical limitations and the natural "death" of her womb (Rom 4:19).
• to conceive seed (εἰς καταβολὴν σπέρματος - eis katabolēn spermatos): Katabolē (casting down, implantation, foundation) in this context refers to conception or the implanting of the male seed, while spermatos is "seed." This detail focuses on the physiological aspect of conception, which was physically impossible for Sarah. The phrase highlights that God acted specifically upon her reproductive system, restoring or enabling function beyond natural bounds.
• and she bare a child when she was past age (καὶ παρὰ καιρὸν ἡλικίας ἔτεκεν - kai para kairon hēlikias eteken): Para kairon hēlikias translates to "contrary to the time of age" or "beyond the proper season of life/age." This directly references her elderly status, well past the age of childbearing (Gen 18:11), and underscores the extraordinary, miraculous nature of the birth. Eteken means "she bore/gave birth," confirming the tangible result of the received strength.
• because (ἐπεὶ - epei): A causal conjunction, indicating the reason or ground for her receiving strength and conceiving. It ties her action (judging God faithful) directly to God's intervention and the resulting miracle.
• she judged him faithful (πιστὸν ἡγήσατο - piston hēgēsato): Piston means "faithful, trustworthy, reliable." Hēgēsato means "she considered, deemed, judged." This is the pivotal act of her faith. Her "judging" God faithful was not just an intellectual assent but a profound conviction that God, who made the promise, would undeniably fulfill it. It signifies her confident reliance on God's character.
• who had promised (τὸν ἐπαγγειλάμενον - ton epangeilamenon): This perfect active participle ("the one who had promised") highlights that the promise was already made (a past action with ongoing effect) and the focus of Sarah's faith was directly on the Promise-Giver, God Himself, specifically in His capacity as the faithful covenant-maker. It is not faith in an abstract concept, but faith in the person of God because of His declared word.

Hebrews 11 11 Bonus section

It is significant that the author of Hebrews highlights Sarah's faith, rather than her initial laughter and disbelief found in Gen 18. This demonstrates a key principle in how the New Testament often views the Old Testament saints: not by their momentary lapses or human weaknesses, but by the prevailing direction of their lives towards God, or by the critical moment of their yielding to faith that led to a significant outcome. Sarah's story, therefore, teaches that true faith does not mean an absence of struggle or initial doubt, but a decisive choice to ultimately trust in God's character and word despite personal limitations or prior skepticism. Her faith was not static, but ultimately active and yielded results because she shifted her focus from her aged body to the One who promised. Her inclusion here signifies that God credits the decisive act of trust that overcomes initial unbelief and sees a promise fulfilled.

Hebrews 11 11 Commentary

Hebrews 11:11 presents Sarah's miraculous conception as a triumph of faith. While the Genesis account highlights her initial doubt and laughter, the author of Hebrews focuses on the decisive and operative faith that ultimately defined her experience regarding this promise. Her "judging God faithful" implies a profound and enduring trust in God's integrity and omnipotence, outweighing any natural impossibility. It's a testament to the fact that God can supernaturally intervene and empower us when we commit to believing His word, even when our circumstances seem hopeless or our natural abilities fall short. Sarah received the strength, a divine infusion, enabling the physically impossible to become reality. This serves as a powerful encouragement for believers to rely on God's unwavering faithfulness when facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, reminding them that faith aligns us with the power of the Creator who calls into existence things that do not exist.