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The Faith of Abraham and Sarah
Hebrews 11:8-19 uses Abraham and Sarah to explain what faith looks like. The passage highlights obedience, waiting, trust in God’s promise, and confidence that reaches beyond what can be seen now.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This part of Hebrews presents examples of faith. In these verses, the writer focuses on Abraham and Sarah, then reflects on what their lives showed. The passage stays in the style of teaching, using their story to explain how faith acts, hopes, and endures.
Hebrews 11:8–19Main takeaway
Faith trusts God’s promise enough to obey, wait, and keep looking toward what God has prepared, even when the outcome is not yet visible.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Abraham obeyed without knowing the destinationThe passage begins by saying Abraham went when he was called, even though he did not know where he was going.
Explanation
The passage begins by saying Abraham went when he was called, even though he did not know where he was going. His faith is shown in action. He obeyed first. Then he lived in the promised land like an outsider, in tents with Isaac and Jacob, while looking for a city built by God.
02Sarah trusted the one who promisedSarah is included as an example of faith. The writer says she received power to conceive when she was past age because she counted the one who promised as faithful.
Explanation
Sarah is included as an example of faith. The writer says she received power to conceive when she was past age because she counted the one who promised as faithful. The result was a great number of descendants from one man, described with images of stars in the sky and sand by the shore.
03They died in faith, still looking aheadThe writer says these people died in faith without receiving the promises in full. They saw them from afar and welcomed them.
Explanation
The writer says these people died in faith without receiving the promises in full. They saw them from afar and welcomed them. They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Their words showed that they were seeking a country of their own, and specifically a better, heavenly one.
04They did not turn backHebrews adds an important contrast. If they had been thinking mainly about the country they left, they had time to return.
Explanation
Hebrews adds an important contrast. If they had been thinking mainly about the country they left, they had time to return. Instead, their desire was set on a better country. Because of this, God is not ashamed to be called their God, and the passage says he has prepared a city for them.
05Abraham trusted God even under testingAbraham’s faith is shown again when he was tested and offered up Isaac, the son connected with the promise.
Explanation
Abraham’s faith is shown again when he was tested and offered up Isaac, the son connected with the promise. The writer explains Abraham’s reasoning: he concluded that God was able even to raise from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he received Isaac back. The focus is Abraham’s confidence in God’s power and promise.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Abraham’s faith look like in Hebrews 11:8-10?
Notice the actions and hopes named in the verses: he obeyed, went out, lived as an alien in tents, and looked for the city whose builder and maker is God.
02Why does the passage say Sarah was able to conceive?
Focus on the reason given in the text itself: she counted the one who promised as faithful.
03How does Hebrews describe the hope of these believers after saying they died in faith?
Look at the phrases about being strangers and pilgrims, seeking a country, desiring a better heavenly one, and God preparing a city.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Hebrews 11:8–19
8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
9By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
10For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.
12Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son,
18to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,”
19concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.