Hebrews 11:20 kjv
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Hebrews 11:20 nkjv
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Hebrews 11:20 niv
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
Hebrews 11:20 esv
By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.
Hebrews 11:20 nlt
It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.
Hebrews 11 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 27:27-29 | "Come near now, and kiss me, my son; and he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him..." | Old Testament Covenant Blessing |
| Gen 27:30-35 | "...And Isaac trembled exceedingly...And Jacob went out from his father's presence." | Recognition of God's Choice |
| Gen 48:8-19 | "And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?...And Joseph took them both... and brought them to his father's knees, and blessed them." | Generational Blessing Practice |
| Rom 9:10-13 | "And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger." | Divine Election and Purpose |
| Heb 1:1-3 | "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son..." | Continuity of God's Revelation |
| Heb 11:1 | "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." | Definition of Faith |
| Heb 11:2 | "For by it the elders obtained a good report." | Faith of the Patriarchs |
| Heb 11:21 | "By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." | Future Blessing Emphasis |
| 1 Cor 15:45-49 | "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit... As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly." | Spiritual Inheritance |
| Gal 3:29 | "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." | Heirs of the Promise |
| Eph 1:3-4 | "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world..." | Spiritual Blessings in Christ |
| 1 Pet 1:3-4 | "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you..." | New Testament Inheritance |
| Deut 33:1 | "And this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death." | Prophetic Blessings at Death |
| Joshua 23:14 | "And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof." | Fulfillment of God's Word |
| Acts 7:14-16 | "Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob unto him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money..." | Jacob's Migration to Egypt |
| John 4:24 | "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." | True Worship |
| Rom 4:18-21 | "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God..." | Faith of Abraham |
| Genesis 50:24 | "And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." | Abrahamic Covenant's Future |
Hebrews 11 verses
Hebrews 11 20 Meaning
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come. This signifies Isaac's faith in God's promises extending to his children's future, even when he was blind. His act was an affirmation of God's covenantal faithfulness and a spiritual discernment that transcended his physical sight.
Hebrews 11 20 Context
Hebrews chapter 11 is a rich tapestry of faith, recounting the deeds of heroes from the Old Testament. This particular verse, the twentieth in the chapter, focuses on Isaac. The preceding verses have established the overarching theme of faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). This chapter functions as an encouragement to the original audience, who were facing persecution and considering reverting to Judaism. By highlighting the faith of their ancestors, the author urges them to persevere in their Christian walk, looking towards the heavenly city that God has prepared for them (Hebrews 11:16).
Historically, Isaac was the son of promise, born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. He was the crucial link in the covenantal line through which God's redemptive plan would unfold. His life was marked by his own near sacrifice (Genesis 22) and his continued faith in God's promises. The context here specifically refers to the incident in Genesis 27, where Isaac, old and blind, intended to bless his elder son Esau. However, through a ruse by Rebekah and Jacob, Isaac mistakenly blessed Jacob, conveying the patriarchal blessing. While this event seems fraught with human deceit, the New Testament interprets it through the lens of faith, underscoring that Isaac's act was an expression of belief in God's sovereign purpose and the continuation of the covenant promise through Jacob.
Hebrews 11 20 Word Analysis
"By faith": This introductory phrase, `pistē`, is crucial. It is the instrumental means by which the actions of the faithful are accomplished. Faith is not mere intellectual assent but active trust and reliance on God's character and promises. It sets the standard for evaluating the actions discussed in this chapter. It’s a recurring motif in Hebrews 11, linking all the faithful together.
"Isaac": This refers to Abraham's son, Isaac. His faith is highlighted here not just for his own relationship with God but as a link in the chain of God’s faithfulness to Abraham. He was a patriarch through whom the covenant was to be continued.
"blessed": The Greek word is `eulogeō` (εὐλογέω). This signifies more than just speaking kindly; it means to invoke divine favor and prosperity upon someone, particularly concerning future well-being. In this patriarchal context, the blessing conveyed spiritual authority and a bestowal of God's covenantal promises for the future. It signifies God's endorsement of the one blessed.
"Jacob": Isaac's younger son. The blessing passed to him, a departure from the custom of primogeniture, aligning with God's sovereign choice for the covenant line, as prophesied even before their birth (Gen 25:23).
"and Esau": Isaac's elder twin son. Though Isaac intended to bless Esau, the "blessing" that is referred to in this verse encompasses Isaac's pronouncements to both, even if he was unaware of Jacob's identity when pronouncing the primary blessing meant for Esau, and subsequently acknowledged Jacob as the one chosen.
"concerning things to come": This phrase (`peri mellontōn`, περὶ μελλόντων) refers to future blessings, destinies, and inheritances. It indicates a prophetic dimension to Isaac's act, a foreseeing by faith of the future spiritual and material fortunes of his sons in accordance with God's plan. This aligns with the definition of faith in verse 1, relating to future realities.
Hebrews 11 20 Bonus Section
The significance of Isaac blessing Jacob over Esau, despite Isaac's intent and blindness, underscores a central theme in redemptive history: God's sovereignty in choosing His people. This principle is established early with Cain and Abel, and later prominently with Jacob and Esau (Romans 9:11-13), and even Ishmael and Isaac. This wasn't about a flawed ritual but a prophetic declaration that aligned with God's unfolding plan, recognizing that God's choices are not bound by birth order or human sight. This act by Isaac, viewed through the lens of faith, shows a deeper understanding of God's promises that transcends the immediate deception.
Hebrews 11 20 Commentary
Isaac's blessing of his sons is presented not as an endorsement of deception but as an act of faith in God's sovereign choice for the covenant lineage. Despite his blindness and the manipulation by his wife and younger son, Isaac's blessing, in its ultimate application by God, confirmed Jacob as the heir of the promise. This illustrates that faith operates in ways that transcend human perception and circumstances, trusting God’s predetermined purposes. It demonstrates a discernment beyond the physical, a spiritual perception of God’s will that honors His plan of election over human traditions or flawed sight.