Hebrews 11:11

Simplified Cowboy Version

It was by a heapin' of faith that Abe's wife Sarah was able to have a kid. She was way too long in the tooth and she was dry to boot. A child had to come from God and she believed that God keeps his word.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful.

King James Version (1611)
Through faith also Sara her selfe receiued strength to conceiue seede, and was deliuered of a child when she was past age, because she iudged him faithful who had promised.

King James Version
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

English Standard Version
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

New American Standard Bible
By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

New Century Version
He was too old to have children, and Sarah could not have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father, because he trusted God to do what he had promised.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

Legacy Standard Bible
By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she regarded Him faithful who had promised.

Berean Standard Bible
By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

Contemporary English Version
Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son.

Complete Jewish Bible
By trusting , he received potency to father a child, even when he was past the age for it, as was Sarah herself; because he regarded the One who had made the promise as trust worthy.

Darby Translation
By faith also Sarah herself received strength for [the] conception of seed, and [that] beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who promised.

Easy-to-Read Version
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.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Through faith Sara also receiued strength to conceiue seede, and was deliuered of a childe when she was past age, because she iudged him faithfull which had promised.

George Lamsa Translation
Through faith also Sarah who was barren, received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she was sure that he who had promised her was faithful.

Good News Translation
It was faith that made Abraham able to become a father, even though he was too old and Sarah herself could not have children. He trusted God to keep his promise.

Lexham English Bible
By faith also, with Sarah, he received the ability to procreate even past the normal age, because he regarded the one who had promised to be faithful.

Literal Translation
Also by faith Sarah herself received power for conceiving seed even beyond the time of age, and gave birth; since she deemed the One having promised to be faithful.

Amplified Bible
By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive [a child], even [when she was long] past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliable and true [to His word].

American Standard Version
By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

Bible in Basic English
And by faith Sarah herself had power to give birth, when she was very old, because she had faith in him who gave his word;

Hebrew Names Version
By 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.

International Standard Version
By faith Sarah, even though she was old and barren, received the strength to conceive, because she was convinced that the one who had made the promise was faithful.Genesis 17:19; 21:2; Luke 1:36; Romans 4:21; Hebrews 10:23;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
By faith Saro, who was barren, received strength to conceive seed, and, which (thing) was not in the time of her years, gave birth (to a son); because she was sure that he who had promised to her was faithful.

Murdock Translation
By faith, Sarah also, who was barren, acquired energy to receive seed; and, out of the time of her years, she brought forth; because she firmly believed, that he was faithful who had promised her.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Through fayth also Sara her selfe receaued strength to conceaue seede, and was delyuered of a chylde whe she was past age, because she iudged hym faythfull which had promised.

English Revised Version
By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

World English Bible
By 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.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
By faith Sarah also herself received power to conceive seed, even when she was past age, because she accounted him faithful who had promised.

Weymouth's New Testament
Through faith even Sarah herself received strength to become a mother--although she was past the time of life for this--because she judged Him faithful who had given the promise.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Bi feith also the ilke Sara bareyn, took vertu in consceyuyng of seed, yhe, ayen the tyme of age; for sche bileuede hym trewe, that hadde bihiyte.

Update Bible Version
By faith even Sarah herself, who was barren, received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

Webster's Bible Translation
Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

New English Translation
By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, he received the ability to procreate, because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.

New King James Version
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child [fn] when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

New Living Translation
It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

New Life Bible
Because Sarah had faith, she was able to have a child long after she was past the age to have children. She had faith to believe that God would do what He promised.

New Revised Standard
By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
By faith, even Sarah herself, received power for founding a seed, even beyond the season of life's prime, - seeing that, faithful, she reckoned, him that had promised;

Douay-Rheims Bible
By faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to conceive seed, even past the time of age: because she believed that he was faithful who had promised,

Revised Standard Version
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Thorow fayth Sara also receaved stregth to be with chylde and was delivered of a chylde when she was past age because she iudged him faythfull which had promysed.

Young's Literal Translation
By faith also Sarah herself did receive power to conceive seed, and she bare after the time of life, seeing she did judge Him faithful who did promise;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
By faith Sara also receaued strength to be with childe, and was delyuered of a childe whan she was past age, because she iudged him to be faithfull which had promysed.

Mace New Testament (1729)
'Twas likewise through faith that Sara, though barren, received the power of becoming pregnant, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

THE MESSAGE
By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.

Contextual Overview

⁴It was Abel's heapin' of faith that helped him bring a sacrifice to God that was worthy of what it was supposed to be. Cain's was not. Abel's sacrifice showed his faith in God and God showed his approval. Even though Abel has long been in the grave, his example still speaks. ⁵It was because Enoch had a heapin' of faith that he was taken up to heaven without dying. Before he left, he had a reputation as being someone God admired. ⁶You 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. ⁷It was by a heapin' of faith that Noah built him a big boat for his family to ride out the storm that wiped everyone else out. It was as simple as listening to God and doing what he said—even though no one had even heard of such a thing happening before. Noah's faith was the dividing line between who was saved and who was lost. ⁸It was by a heapin' of faith that Abraham saddled up and rode off to new country like God told him to. God said there was a great inheritance waitin' on him. He rode off without a clue as to where he was going. ⁹Even when he rode in to the new country, he lived there purely by faith in their cowboy teepees. Same goes for his kids, Isaac and Jake. They received the same promise their daddy had. ¹⁰But what ol' Abe was really waiting on was a city with foundations that would last forever built by God's own hands. ¹¹It was by a heapin' of faith that Abe's wife Sarah was able to have a kid. She was way too long in the tooth and she was dry to boot. A child had to come from God and she believed that God keeps his word. ¹²A whole new nation came from one old cowboy with one foot in the grave. This new people, God's own people, numbered more than the rocks in the rivers and the stars in the sky. You couldn't have counted them any easier than counting every blade of grass in a hundred years' worth of hay bales. ¹³All of them died, but they died with God's promise of a better life on their lips. They didn't get it in their lifetime, but they got to see it and it made them glad. They knew they were just day hands on this earth and that their home was in the next life.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Sara: Genesis 17:17-19, Genesis 18:11-14, Genesis 21:1, Genesis 21:2, Luke 1:36, 1 Peter 3:5, 1 Peter 3:6

because: Hebrews 10:23, Romans 4:20, Romans 4:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:12 - laughed Genesis 21:6 - God Numbers 1:46 - General Deuteronomy 7:9 - the faithful 2 Kings 4:17 - General Isaiah 54:1 - for more Matthew 1:2 - Abraham Luke 1:7 - well Luke 1:25 - hath Romans 4:19 - considered Romans 9:9 - Sarah 1 Corinthians 1:9 - God 1 Corinthians 10:13 - but Galatians 4:23 - but Hebrews 11:19 - from the 1 John 1:9 - he is

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Through faith also Sarah herself,.... Some copies add "being barren"; and so read the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions; which is a circumstance which makes her faith appear the greater: but it is a question whether the apostle speaks of the faith of Sarah, or of Abraham; some think he speaks of Abraham's faith; and that it was through his faith that Sarah conceived; and observe, that the last clause may be rendered, "because he judged him faithful", c. and the rather, because the apostle, both before and after, is speaking of Abraham's faith, Hebrews 11:8. And in Hebrews 11:12 mention is made only of one, even of Abraham and in Romans 4:17 only notice is taken of Abraham's faith, respecting this matter; nor is Sarah's faith observed in the history of it, but her diffidence: but why may not Sarah be joined with Abraham, in this commendation, as well as Isaac and Jacob? and though, at first, she distrusted, yet she afterwards feared, and believed: other women are mentioned in this catalogue of believers; and they share in the same grace and privileges as men: and Sarah, being a believer, as well as Abraham,

received strength to conceive seed: sometimes "strength" itself signifies seed, as in Proverbs 31:3 and so to receive strength is to receive seed; which the female does from the male; hence that saying of the Jews t, the male does not receive strength from another, but the female מקבלת כח "receiveth strength" from another; but here it is to be understood of receiving power from God to retain seed, received from men, and conceive by it; which Sarah, in her circumstances, without the interposition of the almighty power, could never have done. The nymph Anobret is so called, in imitation of this conception of Sarah's; or as she is called in the Phoenician language, חן ענברת, which signifies "conceiving by grace": as this conception must be entirely ascribed to the power and grace of God:

and was delivered of a child when she was past age; of bearing and bringing forth children, being ninety years of age, Genesis 17:17. Now though the conception, bearing, and bringing forth of children are things natural, ordinary, and common, yet here was a particular promise respecting this matter; and there were great difficulties in nature attending it, and such as to reason were insuperable; but these were got over, through the power and grace of God, and which is ascribed to faith in the faithfulness of a promising God:

because she judged him faithful who had promised; that she should have a son at the time of life; Genesis 17:17- :.

t Caphtor, fol. 21. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed - The word “herself” here - αὐτὴ autē - implies that there was something remarkable in the fact that “she” should manifest this faith. Perhaps there may be reference here to the incredulity with which she at first received the announcement that she should have a child; Genesis 18:11, Genesis 18:13. Even “her” strong incredulity was overcome, and though everything seemed to render what was announced impossible, and though she was so much disposed to laugh at the very suggestion at first, yet her unbelief was overcome, and she ultimately credited the divine promise. The apostle does not state the authority for his assertion that the strength of Sarah was derived from her faith, nor when particularly it was exercised. The argument seems to be, that here was a case where all human probabilities were against what was predicted, and where, therefore, there must have been simple trust in God. Nothing else but “faith” could have led her to believe that in her old age she would have borne a son.

When she was past age - She was at this time more than ninety years of age; Genesis 17:17; compare Genesis 18:11.

Because she judged him faithful who had promised - She had no other ground of confidence or expectation. All human probability was against the supposition that at her time of life she would be a mother.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hebrews 11:11. Through faith also Sara — Her history, as far as the event here is concerned, may be seen Genesis 17:19, and Genesis 21:2. Sarah at first treated the Divine message with ridicule, judging it to be absolutely impossible, not knowing then that it was from God; and this her age and circumstances justified, for, humanly speaking, such an event was impossible: but, when she knew that it was God who said this, it does not appear that she doubted any more, but implicitly believed that what God had promised he was able to perform.