The Meaning of Hebrews 11:19 Explained

Hebrews 11:19

KJV: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

YLT: reckoning that even out of the dead God is able to raise up, whence also in a figure he did receive him.

Darby: counting that God was able to raise him even from among the dead, whence also he received him in a figure.

ASV: accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Accounting  that  God  [was] able  to raise [him] up,  even  from  the dead;  from whence  also  he received  him  in  a figure. 

What does Hebrews 11:19 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 11:19

Accounting [λογισαμενος]
First aorist middle participle of λογιζομαι — logizomai Abraham had God‘s clear command that contravened God‘s previous promise. This was his solution of his difficult situation. God is able God had given him Isaac in his old age. God can raise him from the dead. It was Abraham‘s duty to obey God. In a parable See note on Hebrews 9:9 for παραβολη — parabolē Because of (οτεν — hothen whence) Abraham‘s superb faith Isaac was spared and so he received him back (εκομισατο — ekomisato) as almost from the dead. This is the test that Abraham stood of which James speaks (James 2:23). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 11:19

Luke 4:23 This parable [την παραβολην ταυτην]
See discussion on Matthew 13. Here the word has a special application to a crisp proverb which involves a comparison. The word physician is the point of comparison. Luke the physician alone gives this saying of Jesus. The proverb means that the physician was expected to take his own medicine and to heal himself. The word παραβολη — parabolē in the N.T. is confined to the Synoptic Gospels except Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 11:19. This use for a proverb occurs also in Luke 5:36; Luke 6:39. This proverb in various forms appears not only among the Jews, but in Euripides and Aeschylus among the Greeks, and in Cicero‘s Letters. Hobart quotes the same idea from Galen, and the Chinese used to demand it of their physicians. The point of the parable seems to be that the people were expecting him to make good his claim to the Messiahship by doing here in Nazareth what they had heard of his doing in Capernaum and elsewhere. “Establish your claims by direct evidence” (Easton). This same appeal (Vincent) was addressed to Christ on the Cross (Matthew 27:40, Matthew 27:42). There is a tone of sarcasm towards Jesus in both cases.Heard done (ηκουσαμεν γενομενα — ēkousamen genomena). The use of this second aorist middle participle γενομενα — genomena after ηκουσαμεν — ēkousamen is a neat Greek idiom. It is punctiliar action in indirect discourse after this verb of sensation or emotion (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1040-42, 1122-24).Do also here Ingressive aorist active imperative. Do it here in thy own country and town and do it now. Jesus applies the proverb to himself as an interpretation of their real attitude towards himself. [source]
John 10:6 This parable [ταυτην την παροιμιαν]
Old word for proverb from παρα — para (beside) and οιμος — oimos way, a wayside saying or saying by the way. As a proverb in N.T. in 2 Peter 2:22 (quotation from Proverbs 26:11), as a symbolic or figurative saying in John 16:25, John 16:29, as an allegory in John 10:6. Nowhere else in the N.T. Curiously enough in the N.T. παραβολη — parabolē occurs only in the Synoptics outside of Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 11:19. Both are in the lxx. Παραβολη — Parabolē is used as a proverb (Luke 4:23) just as παροιμια — paroimia is in 2 Peter 2:22. Here clearly παροιμια — paroimia means an allegory which is one form of the parable. So there you are. Jesus spoke this παροιμια — paroimia to the Pharisees, “but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them” Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō and note ην — ēn in indirect question as in John 2:25 and both the interrogative τινα — tina and the relative α — ha “Spake” (imperfect ελαλει — elalei) should be “Was speaking or had been speaking.” [source]
Romans 4:17 Before him whom he believed even God [κατεναντι ου επιστευσεν τεου]
Incorporation of antecedent into the relative clause and attraction of the relative ωι — hōi into ου — hou See Mark 11:2 for κατεναντι — katenanti “right in front of.” Calleth the things that are not as though they were (καλουντος τα μη οντα ως οντα — kalountos ta mē onta hōs onta). “Summons the non-existing as existing.” Abraham‘s body was old and decrepit. God rejuvenated him and Sarah (Hebrews 11:19). [source]
Romans 4:17 Calleth the things that are not as though they were [καλουντος τα μη οντα ως οντα]
“Summons the non-existing as existing.” Abraham‘s body was old and decrepit. God rejuvenated him and Sarah (Hebrews 11:19). [source]
Hebrews 9:9 A figure [παραβολὴ]
Outside of the Synoptic Gospels, only here and Hebrews 11:19. Here of a visible symbol or type. See on Matthew 13:3. [source]
Hebrews 9:9 Which [ητις]
“Which very thing,” the first tent Only in the Synoptic Gospels in the N.T. and Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 11:19. See note on Matthew 13:3 for the word (from paraballō to place alongside). Here like παραβαλλω — tupos (type or shadow of “the heavenly reality,” Moffatt). For the time now present “For the present crisis “ Perfect active articular (repeated article) participle of παραβολη — enistēmi (intransitive), the age in which they lived, not the past, not the future. See 1 Corinthians 3:22; Romans 8:38 for contrast between σκηνης — enestōta and κατα συνειδησιν — mellonta This age of crisis, foreshadowed by the old tabernacle, pointed on to the richer fulfilment still to come. According to which Here the relative refers to τελειωσαι τον λατρευοντα — parabolē just mentioned, not to skēnēs See Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 8:3. As touching the conscience For suneidēsis see 1 Corinthians 8:10; Hebrews 10:1-43; Romans 2:15. This was the real failure of animal sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-4). Make the worshipper perfect First aorist active infinitive (Hebrews 2:10). At best it was only ritual or ceremonial purification (Hebrews 7:11), that called for endless repetition (1714093349_60). [source]
1 Peter 5:12 As I suppose [ὡς λογίζομαι]
Too feeble, since the verb denotes a settled persuasion or assurance. See Romans 3:28, “we conclude ” or reckon, as the result of our reasoning. Compare Romans 8:18; Hebrews 11:19. Rev., as I account him. [source]
1 Peter 1:9 Receiving [κομιζόμενοι]
The verb originally means to take care of or provide for; thence to receive hospitably or entertain; to bring home with a view to entertaining or taking care of. Hence, to carry away so as to preserve, to save, rescue, and so to carry away as a prize or booty. Generally, to receive or acquire. Paul uses it of receiving the awards of judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:25). In Hebrews it is used of receiving the promise (Hebrews 10:36; Hebrews 11:39), and of Abraham receiving back Isaac (Hebrews 11:19). Peter uses it thrice, and in each case of receiving the rewards of righteousness or of iniquity. See 1 Peter 5:4; 2 Peter 2:13. [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 11:19 mean?

having reasoned that even out from [the] dead to raise able [was] - God from where him also in a simile he received
λογισάμενος ὅτι καὶ ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγείρειν δυνατὸς Θεός ὅθεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐν παραβολῇ ἐκομίσατο

λογισάμενος  having  reasoned 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λογίζομαι  
Sense: to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
καὶ  even 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἐκ  out  from 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
νεκρῶν  [the]  dead 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: νεκρός  
Sense: properly.
ἐγείρειν  to  raise 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
δυνατὸς  able  [was] 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: δυνατός  
Sense: able, powerful, mighty, strong.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεός  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ὅθεν  from  where 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὅθεν  
Sense: from which, whence.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
παραβολῇ  a  simile 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: παραβολή  
Sense: a placing of one thing by the side of another, juxtaposition, as of ships in battle.
ἐκομίσατο  he  received 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κομίζω  
Sense: to care for, take care of, provide for.