Hebrews 11 7

Hebrews 11:7 kjv

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Hebrews 11:7 nkjv

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.

Hebrews 11:7 niv

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

Hebrews 11:7 esv

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 11:7 nlt

It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 7 Meaning

By faith, Noah, having been divinely warned about events not yet seen by human eyes, and moved by a reverent, godly fear, obediently constructed a massive ark. This obedient act resulted in the salvation of his entire household through the impending deluge. Through his unwavering faith and actions, he implicitly condemned the unbelieving world of his time, whose disobedience demonstrated their lack of faith. Consequently, Noah became a recipient and exemplar of the righteousness that God imputes and accounts to those who live by faith.

Hebrews 11 7 Context

Hebrews chapter 11, often referred to as the "Hall of Faith," celebrates individuals from the Old Testament who exemplified active, living faith. The author's purpose is to demonstrate that faith has always been the fundamental principle through which humans rightly relate to God, from Abel to the patriarchs, and now to Christ. This chapter is framed by the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1-2: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Noah perfectly illustrates this definition. His life served as a tangible example to the early Christian audience, encouraging them to persevere in their own trials by trusting in God's promises despite not seeing their immediate fulfillment. Noah's context was a world rife with deep moral corruption and violence, as described in Genesis 6:5, where humanity's thoughts and intentions were continuously evil. God's judgment was imminent, yet God, in His grace, chose Noah, who "found favor in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen 6:8). This divine favor preceded Noah's obedient response of faith. His construction of the ark, over many decades, against all natural appearances and societal norms, was an incredible act of faith in an unseen future event (the Flood) and a direct, unique divine warning, highlighting that God had, even then, a path to salvation.

Hebrews 11 7 Word analysis

• By faith (Pistei - πίστει): The dative singular of pistis, meaning "faith," "trust," "reliance." It introduces the foundational principle for Noah's actions. His faith was not a mere intellectual assent but a profound trust and active dependence on God's spoken word. This aligns with the opening definition of faith in Heb 11:1, being the "conviction of things not seen."
• Noah (Noe - Νῶε): The biblical patriarch, the tenth from Adam, chosen by God to preserve humanity and animal life through the global flood. His name suggests comfort or rest, anticipating God's new beginning for creation through him.
• being warned by God (chrēmatistheis - χρηματισθείς): A divinely instructed warning or oracle. This is a crucial term, implying a direct, supernatural communication from God. It indicates authoritative revelation, not merely human conjecture or an inner feeling. Noah received a clear, verbal directive from the Creator.
• concerning events as yet unseen (peri mellontōn ouk epomennōn - περὶ μελλόντων οὐ βλεπομένων): "Concerning future things not seen." Mellontōn refers to things "about to happen" or "future." Ouk epomennōn (from blepō) means "not seen" or "not visible." This emphasizes the abstract and unprecedented nature of the warning. Noah had no natural precedent for a global flood or experience of widespread torrential rain (some ancient traditions suggest no rain before the Flood, only mist and dew - Gen 2:5-6), making his belief and obedience entirely dependent on God's word, rather than empirical evidence.
• in reverent fear (eulabeias - εὐλαβείας): This signifies a carefulness born out of religious awe, piety, and profound respect for God. It is a godly fear that produces caution and obedience, rather than a debilitating terror. This reverence compelled Noah to respond diligently and meticulously to God's detailed instructions, understanding the gravity of God's word and the judgment.
• constructed (katergeisan - κατεσκεύασεν): Literally "prepared" or "made ready." It denotes active, diligent work in response to God's command. This was not a passive faith but a faith that resulted in tangible, long-term labor.
• an ark (kivoton - κιβωτόν): The specific vessel designed for the preservation of life. The construction was massive, intricate, and required immense resources and time, emphasizing the scale of Noah's obedient act.
• for the saving (eis sōtērian - εἰς σωτηρίαν): "Into salvation." The ultimate purpose and outcome of Noah's action. This salvation was physical and limited to his immediate family and the animal kingdom he protected.
• of his household (tou oikou autou - τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ): Specifically refers to Noah's family—his wife, his three sons, and their wives (8 souls total), as mentioned in 1 Pet 3:20. It shows the familial blessing and scope of his obedience.
• by which he condemned the world (di' hs katekrinen ton kosmon - δι’ ἧς κατέκρινεν τὸν κόσμον): "Through which [the ark] he condemned the world." His obedience, visible through the construction of the ark, served as a powerful indictment of the surrounding society's unbelief, godlessness, and refusal to heed God's warning through Noah's actions. The world chose to ignore the clear sign.
• and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith (kai tēs kata pistin dikaiosynēs egeneto klēronomos - καὶ τῆς κατὰ πίστιν δικαιοσύνης ἐγενετο κληρονόμος): "And became a possessor/inheritor of the righteousness according to faith." This is a profoundly significant theological statement. Noah received "righteousness" not through merit or law, but by his active faith in God. He became an "heir" or "possessor" of this righteousness, emphasizing God's imputation rather than Noah's inherent goodness. This phrase directly links Noah to Abraham and ultimately to the Christian doctrine of justification by faith, showing a consistent principle of salvation throughout redemptive history.

Hebrews 11 7 Bonus section

• The construction of the ark is estimated to have taken Noah around 100 years (between Gen 5:32 when his sons were born, and Gen 7:6 when the flood began, Noah was 500 when he began building the ark, and 600 when the flood started). This sustained, unwavering obedience over such a long period, without immediate visible confirmation, profoundly underlines the nature of his faith.
• While not explicitly stated in Hebrews 11:7, 2 Peter 2:5 identifies Noah as a "herald of righteousness." This indicates that Noah not only built the ark but also verbally proclaimed God's impending judgment and call to repentance to the people around him during that century-long period. His actions were a sermon, but he likely also preached God's message directly.
• The ark serves as a powerful type, or symbolic foreshadowing, of salvation through Christ and even baptism (1 Pet 3:20-21). Just as the ark, through water and judgment, brought physical salvation to Noah's family, so Christ provides spiritual salvation through His death and resurrection, and baptism serves as an outward sign and appeal for a good conscience toward God.

Hebrews 11 7 Commentary

Hebrews 11:7 portrays Noah as a pivotal example of true faith, not merely belief, but a responsive, obedient trust in God. His faith was severely tested because God's warning concerned an unprecedented global cataclysm—"events as yet unseen." There was no prior experience or observable sign of a coming worldwide flood, demanding absolute reliance on God's supernatural revelation. Noah's "reverent fear" (eulabeia) was a godly awe and cautious reverence, propelling him to meticulous and timely obedience. This was not simply building a boat, but a monumental, long-term undertaking that required sustained faith against ridicule and practical impossibility. The construction of the ark served two primary functions: first, it secured the "saving of his household," demonstrating God's provision for His faithful people amidst judgment. Second, it "condemned the world." By diligently responding to God's warning for over a century, Noah’s actions stood as a living sermon, visibly testifying against the prevalent unbelief and rebellion of his contemporaries who refused to repent. His obedience highlighted their deliberate choice to ignore God. Crucially, the verse concludes that Noah "became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." This is a retrospective and prophetic declaration. It retroactively applies the core Gospel truth that righteousness is granted by God to those who trust in Him, bridging the Old Testament example with the New Testament doctrine of justification by faith. Noah’s standing before God was not earned by his works but was graciously bestowed by God in response to his active faith, which naturally led to those works.