Hebrews 11:2
New International Version
This is what the ancients were commended for.

New Living Translation
Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

English Standard Version
For by it the people of old received their commendation.

Berean Standard Bible
This is why the ancients were commended.

Berean Literal Bible
For in this the ancients were commended.

King James Bible
For by it the elders obtained a good report.

New King James Version
For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

New American Standard Bible
For by it the people of old gained approval.

NASB 1995
For by it the men of old gained approval.

NASB 1977
For by it the men of old gained approval.

Legacy Standard Bible
For by it the men of old gained approval.

Amplified Bible
For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.

Christian Standard Bible
For by this our ancestors were approved.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For our ancestors won God’s approval by it.

American Standard Version
For therein the elders had witness borne to them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And by this there was a testimony concerning the ancients.

Contemporary English Version
It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For by this the ancients obtained a testimony.

English Revised Version
For therein the elders had witness borne to them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
God accepted our ancestors because of their faith.

Good News Translation
It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God's approval.

International Standard Version
By faith our ancestors won approval.

Literal Standard Version
for by this, the elders were well-attested.

Majority Standard Bible
This is why the ancients were commended.

New American Bible
Because of it the ancients were well attested.

NET Bible
For by it the people of old received God's commendation.

New Revised Standard Version
Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.

New Heart English Bible
For by this, the people of old were attested.

Webster's Bible Translation
For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Weymouth New Testament
For by it the saints of old won God's approval.

World English Bible
For by this, the elders obtained approval.

Young's Literal Translation
for in this were the elders testified of;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Faith and Assurance
1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 2 This is why the ancients were commended. 3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.…

Cross References
Hebrews 1:1
On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.

Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

Hebrews 11:39
These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.


Treasury of Scripture

For by it the elders obtained a good report.

the elders.

Hebrews 11:4-39
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh…

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Ancients Approval Borne Commended Divine Elders Fathers Gained God's Good Obtained Power Received Report Saints Testified Testimony Therein Witness Won
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Ancients Approval Borne Commended Divine Elders Fathers Gained God's Good Obtained Power Received Report Saints Testified Testimony Therein Witness Won
Hebrews 11
1. What faith is.
6. Without faith we cannot please God.
7. The examples of faithfulness in the fathers of old time.














(2) For by it.--Better, For therein the elders had witness borne to them. The connection seems to be this: Faith truly accomplishes all this; for it was in the exercise of such a faith that the elders gained the witness which the Scripture bears (see Hebrews 11:4-5; Hebrews 11:39) to them and to their noble deeds. This verse, then, is added to confirm the first.

Verse 2. - For in this (i.e. faith, ἐν ταύτῃ) the elders obtained a good report; literally were witnessed of; i.e. it was in respect of their faith, which inspired their deeds, that they were praised. (For a similar use of the preposition ἐν, cf. 1 Corinthians 11:22, ἐπαινέσω ἐν, τούτῳ). Thus is introduced the illustrative review of Old Testament instances, the purpose of which has been explained above. It begins from the beginning, Abel being the first example. But in the Old Testament the account of the creation precedes that first recorded instance; and, therefore, it is in the first place fittingly referred to, the existence of an unseen creative power mentally perceived beyond things visible, being the primary article - the very foundation - of all religious faith (cf. below, ver. 6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
This is why
ταύτῃ (tautē)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ancients
πρεσβύτεροι (presbyteroi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4245: Comparative of presbus; older; as noun, a senior; specially, an Israelite Sanhedrist or Christian 'presbyter'.

were commended.
ἐμαρτυρήθησαν (emartyrēthēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3140: To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 11:2 For by this the elders obtained testimony (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 11:1
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