Hebrews 11 8

Hebrews 11:8 kjv

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Hebrews 11:8 nkjv

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.

Hebrews 11:8 niv

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8 esv

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8 nlt

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 8 Meaning

Hebrews 11:8 presents Abraham as a prime exemplar of faith, highlighting his unwavering trust and obedience to God's divine command. When called to leave his familiar homeland for an unspecified destination that God promised would be his inheritance, Abraham responded in faith by simply obeying. The verse underscores that he departed without prior knowledge of his destination, relying solely on God's word, demonstrating a radical submission to God's will over human reason or security.

Hebrews 11 8 Context

Hebrews 11 is famously known as the "Hall of Faith," a testament to the power and nature of faith through the lives of Old Testament figures. Preceding this chapter, the author has emphasized that "the righteous shall live by faith" (Heb 10:38), warning against shrinking back from the Christian confession due to trials or persecution. Chapter 11 then provides historical examples to illustrate what true faith looks like in action. It begins by defining faith (Heb 11:1-3) and then lists individuals like Abel, Enoch, and Noah, whose lives demonstrated a living trust in God despite challenging circumstances or the unseen future. Abraham is introduced in verse 8 as a pivotal figure, serving as a comprehensive example of faith's practical outworking, specifically regarding obedience to an unknown divine calling. For the original Hebrew Christian audience facing social ostracization and potential persecution, contemplating reverting to familiar Jewish practices, Abraham's decision to abandon the tangible security of his homeland for an unseen promise offered profound encouragement and challenged any wavering commitment. His example served as a powerful counter-narrative to reliance on present comfort or earthly identity over God's future, unseen inheritance.

Hebrews 11 8 Word analysis

• By faith: (Greek: pistei, dative form of pistis) This signifies that faith was the instrument, the means, or the very foundation upon which Abraham's action rested. His obedience was not accidental or out of convenience but flowed directly from his internal conviction and trust in God. It highlights faith as an active principle, not passive belief.
• Abraham: The patriarch of the Israelite nation and a foundational figure in the monotheistic religions. His story is central to understanding God's covenant promises. The author of Hebrews uses him as a key example because his life embodied radical trust and walking with God over a prolonged period, laying the groundwork for the promises of salvation later fulfilled in Christ.
• when he was called: (Greek: kaloumenos, present passive participle) This implies that God initiated the call; it was not Abraham's idea. The present tense suggests an ongoing nature of the call, highlighting its enduring power. It also sets Abraham apart, showing his divine selection. This points directly to the narrative in Gen 12:1-3.
• to go out: (Greek: exelthein, aorist infinitive) Denotes a definitive act of departure, a leaving behind of the familiar and secure. It signifies a radical break from his past and established life in Ur of the Chaldeans and Haran.
• into a place: (Greek: eis topon) A general, indeterminate description. It emphasizes the absolute lack of specific geographical information given to Abraham by God at this point. He did not have a map or a clear itinerary.
• which he was to receive: (Greek: ho emellen lambanein) The verb mello denotes certainty and inevitability of the future event. It indicates that the receiving of the place was divinely purposed and certain, even though the timing and method were unknown to Abraham.
• as an inheritance: (Greek: eis klēronomian) This defines the nature of the "place" – not merely a temporary abode, but a permanent, promised possession, divinely gifted. This inheritance referred primarily to the land promised to Abraham and his descendants (Canaan), but in the broader theological context of Hebrews, it points to a spiritual and heavenly inheritance as well.
• obeyed: (Greek: hypēkoúsen, aorist indicative) A strong word for immediate, willing, and decisive submission to authority. This one word encapsulates the active response of Abraham's faith. It shows faith is not merely intellectual assent but results in concrete action in compliance with God's word.
• And he went out: (Greek: kai exēlthen) A simple, declarative statement of completed action, directly following his obedience. It shows the practical, physical manifestation of his inner faith.
• not knowing: (Greek: mē epistamenos) A key phrase stressing Abraham's absolute lack of personal geographical knowledge or forethought about his destination. He possessed no specific route or ultimate location in mind, emphasizing his dependence entirely on divine guidance.
• where he was going: (Greek: pou erkhetai) The specific lack of knowledge concerning his precise destination. This underscores the truly unprecedented nature of his journey – embarking on a divinely ordered path with only the promise of a guide.

Words-group analysis

• "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called": This phrase links faith directly to obedience and positions divine calling as the catalyst. It shows that true faith is not merely a mental construct but expresses itself through active, concrete obedience to God's summons, even if it demands sacrifice or uncertainty. Abraham's faith was responsive to God's initiative.
• "to go out into a place which he was to receive as an inheritance": This group highlights the object and purpose of Abraham's call. While the immediate destination was unknown, the ultimate goal—an inheritance—was divinely ordained. This shows that God's calls, though mysterious in method, always have a promised and purposeful outcome, aligning His command with His covenant promise.
• "And he went out, not knowing where he was going": This powerful clause emphasizes the extent and purity of Abraham's trust. His obedience was blind in the geographical sense but clear in the spiritual sense; he knew who was leading, even if he did not know where. This acts as the ultimate proof of his faith – absolute reliance on the Divine Director rather than earthly maps or personal understanding. It reveals a faith that embraces uncertainty, trusting the One who is certain.

Hebrews 11 8 Bonus section

Abraham's departure was unique because it wasn't a call to escape imminent destruction (like Noah's ark), or to perform a specific task within a known context, but simply to "go out" on an open-ended journey. This act therefore sets a high bar for proactive, self-sacrificial faith. His willingness to sever ties with his cultural and family roots, driven solely by God's promise and without knowing the specific destination, emphasizes that genuine faith transcends familial and national allegiances when God's call demands it. It demonstrates a "pilgrim" mindset from the outset of his covenant relationship with God, a theme central to Hebrews' depiction of faithful living for Christ. His response foreshadows the believer's call to be "strangers and aliens on earth," always looking for the "city that has foundations" (Heb 11:13, 10).

Hebrews 11 8 Commentary

Hebrews 11:8 profoundly illustrates that genuine faith is active obedience to God's Word, especially when it demands venturing into the unknown. Abraham's departure from Ur was not an escape from hardship but a response to an adventurous, future-oriented divine call, carrying an inherent promise of inheritance without revealing the journey's details. His faith meant choosing the unseen divine purpose over the seen human comfort and security. This act underscores a core biblical principle: God often calls His people to leave the familiar and secure, stepping out into an unknown future where their trust is placed entirely on His character and promises. Abraham's decision, characterized by immediate and unreserved obedience despite uncertainty, sets a timeless example for believers to follow God's leading, not by sight or comprehensive understanding, but by confident trust in the Divine Guide and His infallible Word. His faith-driven journey reflects the spiritual pilgrimage of all believers, called to walk by faith, looking to a promised, greater inheritance, even when the path ahead remains veiled.