Hebrews 11:6

Easy-to-Read Version

Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

King James Version (1611)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for hee that commeth to God, must beleeue that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seeke him.

King James Version
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

English Standard Version
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

New American Standard Bible
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.

New Century Version
Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Berean Standard Bible
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Contemporary English Version
But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.

Complete Jewish Bible
And without trusting , it is impossible to be well pleasing to God , because whoever approaches him must trust that he does exist and that he becomes a Rewarder to those who seek him out.

Darby Translation
But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]. For he that draws near to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them who seek him out.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But without faith it is vnpossible to please him: for he that commeth to God, must beleeue that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seeke him.

George Lamsa Translation
Without faith, man cannot please God: for he who comes near to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Good News Translation
No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.

Lexham English Bible
Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Literal Translation
But without faith it is impossible to please God . For it is right that the one drawing near to God should believe that He is, and that He becomes a rewarder to the ones seeking Him out.

Amplified Bible
But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

American Standard Version
and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.

Bible in Basic English
And without faith it is not possible to be well-pleasing to him, for it is necessary for anyone who comes to God to have the belief that God is, and that he is a rewarder of all those who make a serious search for him.

Hebrew Names Version
Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

International Standard Version
Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.

Etheridge Translation
But without faith it is not possible for man to please Aloha; for he who draweth near unto Aloha must believe that he is, and that of those who seek him he will be the rewarder.

Murdock Translation
But, without faith, a man cannot please God. For he that draweth near to God, must believe his existence, and that he will recompense those who seek him.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But without fayth it is vnpossible to please hym: For he that cometh to God, must beleue that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seeke him.

English Revised Version
And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.

World English Bible
Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Weymouth's New Testament
But where there is no faith it is impossible truly to please Him; for the man who draws near to God must believe that there is a God and that He proves Himself a rewarder of those who earnestly try to find Him.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And it is impossible to plese God without feith. For it bihoueth that a man comynge to God, bileue that he is, and that he is rewardere to men that seken hym.

Update Bible Version
And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing [to him]; for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of those that seek after him.

Webster's Bible Translation
But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

New English Translation
Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

New King James Version
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

New Living Translation
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

New Life Bible
A man cannot please God unless he has faith. Anyone who comes to God must believe that He is. That one must also know that God gives what is promised to the one who keeps on looking for Him.

New Revised Standard
And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, apart from faith, it is impossible to be well-pleasing; for he that approacheth unto God - must needs have faith, that he is, and that, to them who seek him out, a rewarder he becometh.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is: and is a rewarder to them that seek him.

Revised Standard Version
And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
but with out fayth it is vnpossible to please him. For he that commeth to God must beleve that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that seke him.

Young's Literal Translation
and apart from faith it is impossible to please well, for it behoveth him who is coming to God to believe that He is, and to those seeking Him He becometh a rewarder.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But without faith it is vnpossible to please God. For he that commeth vnto God, must beleue that God is, & yt he is a rewarder of them that seke him.

Mace New Testament (1729)
now without faith it is impossible to be acceptable to him: for he that presents himself to God, cannot but believe he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who make their addresses to him.

Simplified Cowboy Version
You can't please the Boss without a heapin' of faith, because in order to knock on his door you must believe that he's there and he surely gives favors to those who know where to look and who to ask.

Contextual Overview

⁴ Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices to God. But Abel offered a better sacrifice to God because he had faith. God said he was pleased with what Abel offered. And so God called him a good man because he had faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking. ⁵ Enoch was carried away from this earth, so he never died. The Scriptures tell us that before he was carried off, he was a man who pleased God. Later, no one knew where he was, because God had taken Enoch to be with him. This all happened because he had faith. ⁶ Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him. ⁷ Noah was warned by God about things that he could not yet see. But he had faith and respect for God, so he built a large boat to save his family. With his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong. And he became one of those who are made right with God through faith. ⁸ God called Abraham to travel to another place that he promised to give him. Abraham did not know where that other place was. But he obeyed God and started traveling because he had faith. ⁹ Abraham lived in the country that God promised to give him. He lived there like a visitor who did not belong. He did this because he had faith. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who also received the same promise from God. ¹⁰ Abraham was waiting for the city that has real foundations. He was waiting for the city that is planned and built by God. ¹¹ Sarah was not able to have children, and Abraham was too old. But he had faith in God, trusting him to do what he promised. And so God made them able to have children. ¹² Abraham was so old he was almost dead. But from that one man came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. So many people came from him that they are like grains of sand on the seashore. ¹³ All these great people continued living with faith until they died. They did not get the things God promised his people. But they were happy just to see those promises coming far in the future. They accepted the fact that they were like visitors and strangers here on earth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

without: Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 3:18, Hebrews 3:19, Hebrews 4:2, Hebrews 4:6, Numbers 14:11, Numbers 20:12, Psalms 78:22, Psalms 78:32, Psalms 106:21, Psalms 106:22, Psalms 106:24, Isaiah 7:9, Mark 16:17, John 3:18, John 3:19, John 8:24, Galatians 5:6, Revelation 21:8

he that: Hebrews 7:25, Job 21:14, Psalms 73:28, Isaiah 55:3, Jeremiah 2:31, John 14:6

must: Romans 10:14

a rewarder: Hebrews 11:26, Genesis 15:1, Ruth 2:12, Psalms 58:11, Proverbs 11:18, Matthew 5:12, Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16, Matthew 10:41, Matthew 10:42, Luke 6:35

diligently: 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalms 105:3, Psalms 105:4, Psalms 119:10, Proverbs 8:17, Song of Solomon 3:1-4, Jeremiah 29:13, Jeremiah 29:14, Matthew 6:33, Luke 12:31, 2 Peter 1:5, 2 Peter 1:10, 2 Peter 3:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 5:22 - General Genesis 5:24 - for Deuteronomy 32:20 - children 2 Chronicles 20:20 - Believe in the Lord Psalms 14:2 - seek Psalms 19:11 - keeping Psalms 27:4 - seek Jeremiah 31:16 - for Matthew 7:7 - seek Mark 9:23 - If Luke 6:23 - your Luke 11:9 - seek Acts 26:18 - faith Romans 1:17 - The just Romans 8:8 - please Romans 14:23 - whatsoever Colossians 3:24 - ye shall 1 Thessalonians 4:1 - to please 1 Timothy 1:5 - faith Hebrews 2:2 - recompense Hebrews 6:1 - faith Hebrews 11:5 - that he James 1:6 - let James 2:18 - Thou

Cross-References

Genesis 3:22
The Lord God said, "Look, the man has become like us—he knows about good and evil. And now the man might take the fruit from the tree of life. If the man eats that fruit, he will live forever."

Genesis 6:5
The Lord saw that the people on the earth were very evil. He saw that they thought only about evil things all the time.

Genesis 8:21
The Lord smelled these sacrifices, and it pleased him. The Lord said to himself, "I will never again curse the earth as a way to punish people. People are evil from the time they are young, but I will never again destroy every living thing on the earth as I did this time.

Genesis 9:19
These three men were Noah's sons. And all the people on earth came from these three sons.

Genesis 11:1
There was a time when the whole world spoke one language. Everyone used the same words.

Genesis 11:4
Then the people said, "Let's build ourselves a city and a tower that will reach to the sky. Then we will be famous. This will keep us together so that we will not be scattered all over the earth."

Judges 10:14
You like worshiping those gods, so go call to them for help. Let them save you when you are in trouble."

1 Kings 18:27
At noon Elijah began to make fun of them. He said, "If Baal really is a god, maybe you should pray louder! Maybe he is busy. Maybe he is thinking about something, or maybe he stepped out for a moment! He could be sleeping! Maybe you should pray louder and wake him up!"

Ecclesiastes 11:9
So young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young. Be happy. Do whatever your heart leads you to do. Do whatever you want, but remember that God will judge you for everything you do.

Luke 1:51
He reached out his arm and showed his power. He scattered those who are proud and think great things about themselves.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But without faith it is impossible to please him,.... Or do things well pleasing in his sight; or any of the duties of religion, in an acceptable way; as prayer, praise, attendance on the word and ordinances, or any good works whatever; because such are without Christ, and without his Spirit; and have neither right principles, nor right ends: for this is not to be understood of the persons of God's elect, as considered in Christ; in whom they are well pleasing to him before faith; being loved by him with an everlasting love; and chosen in Christ, before the foundation of the world;

:-.

for he that cometh to God; to the throne of, his grace, to pray unto him, to implore his grace and mercy, help and assistance; to the house of God, to worship, and serve him, and in order to enjoy his presence, and have communion with him; which coming ought to be spiritual and with the heart; and supposes spiritual life; and must be through Christ, and by faith: wherefore such a comer to God,

must believe that he is; or exists, as the Arabic version; and he must not barely believe his existence, but that, as it is revealed in the word: he must believe in the three Persons in the Godhead; that the first Person is the Father of Christ; that the second Person is both the Son of God, and Mediator; and that the third Person is the Spirit of them both, and the applier of all grace; for God the Father is to be approached unto, through Christ the Mediator, by the guidance and assistance of the Spirit: and he must believe in the perfections of God; that he is omniscient, and knows his person and wants; is omnipotent, and can do for him, beyond his thoughts and petitions; is all sufficient, and that his grace is sufficient for him; that he is immutable, in his purposes and covenant; that he is true and faithful to his promises; and is the God of grace, love, and mercy: and he must believe in him, not only as the God of nature and providence, but as his covenant God and Father in Christ:

and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him; who are such, as are first sought out by him; and who seek him in Christ, where he is only to be found; and that with their whole hearts, and above all things else: and, of such, God is a rewarder, in a way of grace; with himself, who is their exceeding great reward; and with his Son, and all things with him; with more grace; and, at last, with eternal glory, the reward of the inheritance.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But without faith it is impossible to please him - Without “confidence” in God - in his fidelity, his truth, his wisdom, his promises. And this is as true in other things as in religion. It is impossible for a child to please his father unless he has confidence in him. It is impossible for a wife to please her husband, or a husband a wife, unless they have confidence in each other. If there is distrust and jealousy on either part, there is discord and misery. We cannot be pleased with a professed friend unless he has such confidence in us as to believe our declarations and promises. The same thing is true of God. He cannot be pleased with the man who has no confidence in him; who doubts the truth of his declarations and promises; who does not believe that his ways are right, or that he is qualified for universal empire. The requirement of faith or confidence in God is not arbitrary; it is just what we require of our children, and partners in life, and friends, as the indispensable condition of our being pleased with them.

For he that cometh to God - In any way - as a worshipper. This is alike required in public worship, in the family, and in secret devotion.

Must believe that he is - That God exists. This is the first thing required in worship. Evidently we cannot come to him in an acceptable manner if we doubt his existence. We do not see him, but we must believe that he is; we cannot form in our mind a correct image of God, but this should not prevent a conviction that there is such a Being. But the declaration here implies more than that there should be a general persuasion of the truth that there is a God. It is necessary that we have this belief in lively exercise in the act of drawing near to him, and that we should realize that we are actually in the presence of the all-seeing Jehovah.

And that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him - This is equally necessary as the belief that he exists. If we could not believe that God would hear and answer our prayers, there could be no encouragement to call upon him. It is not meant here that the desire of the reward is to be the motive for seeking God - for the apostle makes no affirmation on that point; but that it is impossible to make an acceptable approach to him unless we have this belief.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hebrews 11:6. He that cometh to God — The man who professes that it is his duty to worship God, must, if he act rationally, do it on the conviction that there is such a Being infinite, eternal, unoriginated, and self-existent; the cause of all other being; on whom all being depends; and by whose energy, bounty, and providence, all other beings exist, live, and are supplied with the means of continued existence and life. He must believe, also, that he rewards them that diligently seek him; that he is not indifferent about his own worship; that he requires adoration and religious service from men; and that he blesses, and especially protects and saves, those who in simplicity and uprightness of heart seek and serve him. This requires faith, such a faith as is mentioned above; a faith by which we can please God; and now that we have an abundant revelation, a faith according to that revelation; a faith in God through Christ the great sin-offering, without which a man can no more please him, or be accepted of him, than Cain was. As the knowledge of the being of God is of infinite importance in religion, I shall introduce at the end of this chapter a series of propositions, tending to prove the being of God, 1st, a priori; and 2dly, a posteriori; omitting the proofs that are generally produced on those points, for which my readers may refer to works in general circulation on this subject: and 3dly, I shall lay down some phenomena relative to the heavenly bodies, which it will be difficult to account for without acknowledging the infinite skill, power, and continual energy of God.