Hebrews 11:7

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 11:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “By faith Noah, being warned [of God] concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

By faith Noah, being warned [of God] concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Hebrews 11:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
7By faith Noah, being warned [of God] concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“By faith Noah, being warned of God, etc..] In the Greek text, Noah is called “Noe”, and so the Septuagint interpreters of the Old Testament call him; but Josephus calls him “Noeos”: or “having received an oracle from God”; in which he was admonished, how to make an ark, as Moses was, in like manner, how to make a tabernacle, (<580805>Hebrews 8:5). This oracle or warning is extant, in (<010613>Genesis 6:13-22) and it was of things not seen as yet; as the universal deluge; the building of an ark or ship, which was the first that ever was in the world; the entrance of all creatures into it; their preservation in it, and the destruction of all without it: and this divine warning, or oracle,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“warned of God--The same Greek, Heb 8:5, "admonished of God." moved with fear--not mere slavish fear, but as in Heb 5:7; see on Heb 5:7; Greek, "reverential fear": opposed to the world's sneering disbelief of the revelation, and self-deceiving security. Join "by faith" with "prepared an ark" (Pe1 3:20). by the which--faith. condemned the world--For since he believed and was saved, so might they have believed and been saved, so that their condemnation by God is by his case shown to be just. righteousness which is by faith--Greek, "according to faith." A Pauline thought. Noah is first called "righteous" in Gen 6:9. Christ calls Abel so, Mat 23:35. Compare as to Noah's righteousness, Eze 14:14,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“By faith Noah - It is less difficult to see that Noah must have been influenced “by faith” than that Abel and Enoch were. Everything which Noah did in reference to the threatened deluge, was done in virtue of simple faith or belief of what God said. It was not because he could show from the course of events that things were tending to such a catastrophe; or because such an event had occurred before, rendering it probable that it would be likely to occur again; or because this was the common belief of men, and it was easy to fall into this himself. It was simply because God had informed him of it, and he put unwavering reliance on the truth of the divine declaration. Being warned of God -…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Noah being warned of things not seen as yet - Of the future deluge. Moved with fear, prepared an ark, by which open testimony he condemned the world - Who neither believed nor feared. Hebrews 11:8”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“11:7 The story of Noah (see Gen 6:1–9:17) further demonstrates that faith involves obedience in the face of the unseen. • things that had never happened before: Namely, the flood. Noah’s faith condemned the rest of the world by bearing witness to God’s reality and his desire for holiness.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Noah: Gen 6:13, Gen 6:22, Gen 7:1, Gen 7:5; Mat 24:38; Luk 17:26, Noe, Pe2 2:5 warned: Gen 6:13, Gen 19:14; Exo 9:18-21; Pro 22:3, Pro 27:12; Eze 3:17-19; Mat 3:7; Mat 24:15, Mat 24:25; Pe2 3:6 things: Heb 11:1 moved with fear: or, being wary, Heb 5:7 \*Gr. prepared: Gen 6:18, Gen 7:1, Gen 7:23, Gen 8:16; Eze 14:14, Eze 14:20; Pe1 3:20 he condemned: Mat 12:41, Mat 12:42; Luk 11:31, Luk 11:32 righteousness: Rom 1:17, Rom 3:22, Rom 4:11, Rom 4:13, Rom 9:30, Rom 10:6; Gal 5:5; Phi 3:9; Pe2 1:1 Hebrews 11:8”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification