The Meaning of Hebrews 11:18 Explained

Hebrews 11:18

KJV: Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

YLT: of whom it was said -- 'In Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;'

Darby: as to whom it had been said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:

ASV: even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Of  whom  it was said,  That  in  Isaac  shall  thy  seed  be called: 

What does Hebrews 11:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Hebrews 11:11-22 - Seeking The Better Country
Faith has the twofold power, first, of making the unseen real; and second, of receiving the grace and strength of God into the heart. Sarah, through faith, received strength to bear Isaac. By faith may come physical as well as spiritual strength.
The pilgrim life is possible only for those who have seen the city of God beckoning them from afar. Then they strike their tents and follow the gleam. By faith they so comport themselves that God is not ashamed to own them. They will discover, even in this life, that they have not trusted Him in vain, and that the half has not been told. On the mere rumor that a new gold field is found, men sell off everything in their mad rush. How many are disappointed! But none of those that trust God shall be left desolate.
Abraham was absolutely sure that Isaac would return with him, even though the lad might die beneath the knife. When leaving the young men at Moriah's foot, he said: "We will worship and come again." Had not God's voice definitely designated Isaac as his heir? [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 11

1  What faith is
6  Without faith we cannot please God
7  The examples of faithfulness in the fathers of old time

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 11:18

To whom it was said [προς ελαλητη]
First aorist passive indicative of λαλεω — laleō (Genesis 21:12). God‘s very words were in the heart of Abraham now about Isaac “his only son” (τον μονογενη — ton monogenē Cf. Luke 7:12). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 11:18

Hebrews 11:11 To conceive seed [εἰς καταβολὴν σπέρματος]
In every other instance in N.T. καταβολή means foundation, and appears in the phrase καταβολὴ κόσμου foundationof the world. Originally it means throwing down; hence, the depositing of the male seed in the womb. The sentence may be explained either, “received strength as regarded the deposition of seed,” to fructify it; or, “received strength for the foundation of a posterity,” σπέρμα being rendered in accordance with Hebrews 2:16; Hebrews 11:18, and καταβολή in the sense of foundation, as everywhere else in N.T. [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 11:18 mean?

as to whom it was said - In Isaac will be reckoned your offspring
πρὸς ὃν ἐλαλήθη ὅτι Ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα

πρὸς  as  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: πρός  
Sense: to the advantage of.
ὃν  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἐλαλήθη  it  was  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
ὅτι  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
Ἰσαὰκ  Isaac 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰσαάκ  
Sense: the son of Abraham and Sarah.
κληθήσεταί  will  be  reckoned 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καλέω  
Sense: to call.
σοι  your 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
σπέρμα  offspring 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: σπέρμα  
Sense: from which a plant germinates.

What are the major concepts related to Hebrews 11:18?

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