Difference between revisions of "Hebrews 11:3"
(The present-tense translation of the second half of this verse by the Geneva Bible (which was the first full English translation of the Bible with commentary) is better:) |
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| − | '''Hebrews 11:3''' describes [[creation]] as being from what cannot be seen, or the invisible: | + | '''Hebrews 11:3''' describes [[creation]] as being from what cannot be seen, or the invisible ([[ESV]]): |
{{cquote|By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.<ref>{{bibleref|Heb|11|3|ESV}}</ref>}} | {{cquote|By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.<ref>{{bibleref|Heb|11|3|ESV}}</ref>}} | ||
| − | + | The present-tense translation of the second half of this verse by the [[Geneva Bible]] (which was the first full English translation of the [[Bible]] with commentary) is better: | |
| + | {{cquote|Through faith we understand that the world was ordained by the word of God, so that the things which we see, are not made of things which did appear.<ref>1599 edition of the Geneva Bible.</ref>}} | ||
Notice the conflict in tense reflected by the phrase "things that are visible," if it relates to creation long ago. The respected [[NASB]] version likewise translates the last phrase in an identical manner, with the present tense "things that are visible." | Notice the conflict in tense reflected by the phrase "things that are visible," if it relates to creation long ago. The respected [[NASB]] version likewise translates the last phrase in an identical manner, with the present tense "things that are visible." | ||
Revision as of 16:37, May 20, 2025
Hebrews 11:3 describes creation as being from what cannot be seen, or the invisible (ESV):
| “ | By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.[1] | ” |
The present-tense translation of the second half of this verse by the Geneva Bible (which was the first full English translation of the Bible with commentary) is better:
| “ | Through faith we understand that the world was ordained by the word of God, so that the things which we see, are not made of things which did appear.[2] | ” |
Notice the conflict in tense reflected by the phrase "things that are visible," if it relates to creation long ago. The respected NASB version likewise translates the last phrase in an identical manner, with the present tense "things that are visible."
Its original Greek permits an inference that the creation of the visible from the invisible is in the present, not merely at the origin of the universe, and modern quantum mechanics confirms that interpretation. The verse could better be translated with consistent use of the present tense, as follows:
| “ | By faith we understand that the universe is created by the word of God, so that what is seen is not made out of things that are visible. | ” |
The New Living Translation renders this verse superbly as follows:
| “ | By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. | ” |
This verse is a statement of physics, and is one of the most-analyzed verses in the Bible. Most likely it was authored by Jesus, see Mystery:Did Jesus Write the Epistle to the Hebrews?