Bible Strands
Hebrews 11:10
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author addresses Jewish Christians under pressure, explaining Abraham’s faith immediately after describing his tent-dwelling in the promised land. This verse functions as the theological anchor for why Abraham rejected permanent earthly settlement.
The words — The Greek verb ἐξεδέχετο (exedecheto) means “he was awaiting” or “he was looking forward to,” conveying sustained expectation. The participle θεμελίου ἔχουσαν (themeliou echousan) literally translates to “having foundations,” describing the city’s permanent construction.
The thread — This focus on a divinely built, permanent city reappears in Hebrews 13:14, which contrasts the present world with the city to come. Paul echoes the same expectation in Philippians 3:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:1 by framing the believer’s hope as heavenly citizenship and an eternal dwelling from God.
Why it lands — The text states that Abraham’s faith directed his attention to a city with foundations whose architect and builder is God. It asks the reader to anchor their long-term hope in divine permanence rather than temporary earthly security.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 13:14 For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
- Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
- 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
- Hebrews 12:22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels
- John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
- Hebrews 3:4 And every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
- Revelation 21:2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
- Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
- Isaiah 14:32 What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.”