Hebrews 11

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The line’s distinctive content terms include evidence, faith, hoped. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For by it the elders obtained a good report.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not…” Naming Through keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was…” Naming Abel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for…” Naming Enoch keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his…” Naming Noah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed…” Naming Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past…” Naming Sara and Through keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them…” The line’s distinctive content terms include afar, confessed, died. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have…” The line’s distinctive content terms include country, mindful, opportunity. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only…” Naming Abraham and Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Naming Accounting keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” Naming Esau and Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his…” Naming Jacob and Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment…” Naming Israel and Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;” Naming Moses and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” Naming Choosing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of…” Naming Christ and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch…” Naming Through keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” Naming Egyptians and Red keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” Naming Rahab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,” The line’s distinctive content terms include faith, kingdoms, lions. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in…” Naming Quenched keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might…” Naming Women keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:” The line’s distinctive content terms include bonds, cruel, imprisonment. Its relationship to verses 35 and 37 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins…” The line’s distinctive content terms include afflicted, asunder, destitute. Its relationship to verses 36 and 38 shows what work it does in this passage.

“(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include caves, dens, deserts. Its relationship to verses 37 and 39 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.