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20 By faith Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esau concerning their future.

21 By faith Jacob blessed each of Joseph’s sons as he was dying and bowed in worship over the head of his staff.[a]

22 By faith Joseph recalled the exodus of the Israelites at the end of his life, and gave instructions about burying his bones.

23 By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months when he was born, because they saw that the child was beautiful and they weren’t afraid of the king’s orders.

24 By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter when he was grown up. 25 He chose to be mistreated with God’s people instead of having the temporary pleasures of sin. 26 He thought that the abuses he suffered for Christ were more valuable than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking forward to the reward.

27 By faith he left Egypt without being afraid of the king’s anger. He kept on going as if he could see what is invisible.

28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, in order that the destroyer could not touch their firstborn children.

29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if they were on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were drowned.

30 By faith Jericho’s walls fell after the people marched around them for seven days.

31 By faith Rahab the prostitute wasn’t killed with the disobedient because she welcomed the spies in peace.

32 What more can I say? I would run out of time if I told you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, realized promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 put out raging fires, escaped from the edge of the sword, found strength in weakness, were mighty in war, and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured and refused to be released so they could gain a better resurrection.

36 But others experienced public shame by being taunted and whipped; they were even put in chains and in prison. 37 They were stoned to death, they were cut in two, and they died by being murdered with swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats, needy, oppressed, and mistreated. 38 The world didn’t deserve them. They wandered around in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground.

39 All these people didn’t receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith. 40 God provided something better for us so they wouldn’t be made perfect without us.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:21 Gen 47:31 LXX

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.(A)

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons,(B) and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.(C)

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,(D) because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.(E)

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.(F) 25 He chose to be mistreated(G) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace(H) for the sake of Christ(I) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.(J) 27 By faith he left Egypt,(K) not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer(L) of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.(M)

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.(N)

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.(O)

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[a](P)

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,(Q) Barak,(R) Samson(S) and Jephthah,(T) about David(U) and Samuel(V) and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,(W) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,(X) 34 quenched the fury of the flames,(Y) and escaped the edge of the sword;(Z) whose weakness was turned to strength;(AA) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.(AB) 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.(AC) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(AD) and even chains and imprisonment.(AE) 37 They were put to death by stoning;[b](AF) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.(AG) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,(AH) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves(AI) and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended(AJ) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,(AK) 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us(AL) would they be made perfect.(AM)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving
  2. Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;