Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author of Hebrews addresses a community of believers to demonstrate how faith sustains obedience across generations. This verse functions within a sequential list of exemplars, positioned between the creation account of Hebrews 11:3 and the translation of Enoch in Hebrews 11:5.
The words — Πίστει (Pistei) translates literally to "by faith," establishing the repeated instrumental cause for Abel's actions. προσήνεγκεν (prosēnegken) means "offered," denoting the specific act of presenting a gift to God.
The thread — The initial offering narrative is recorded in Genesis 4:3, where Cain similarly brings produce. The contrast between the two brothers resurfaces in Hebrews 12:24, which explicitly states that Jesus' sprinkled blood speaks a better word than Abel's blood.
Why it lands — The text states that Abel's faith produced an acceptable offering, secured divine approval, and continues to testify despite physical death. It requires the reader to examine whether their actions stem from faithful reliance on God rather than mere external compliance.
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The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Genesis 4:3 So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,
- Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
- 1 John 3:11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
- Genesis 4:10 “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
- Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
- Matthew 23:35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
- Jude 1:11 Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed for profit into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
- Hebrews 9:22 According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
- Genesis 4:8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
- Genesis 4:15 “Not so!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.