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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Hebrews 11:4 - 11:4
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
A more excellent sacrifice (pleiona thusian). Literally, “more sacrifice” (comparative of polus, much). For this rather free use of pleiōn with the point implied rather than stated see Mat 6:25; Luk 10:31; Luk 12:23; Heb 3:3.
Than Cain (para Kain). For this use of para after comparative see Heb 1:4, Heb 1:9. For the incident see Gen 4:4.
Through which (di' hēs). The sacrifice (thusia).
He had Witness borne to him (emarturēthē). First aorist passive indicative of martureō as in Heb 11:2, “he was witnessed to.”
That he was righteous (einai dikaios). Infinitive in indirect discourse after emarturēthē, personal construction of dikaios (predicate nominative after einai) agreeing with the subject of emarturēthē (cf. Rom 1:22, einai sophoi).
God bearing witness (marturountos tou theou). Genitive absolute with present active participle of martureō.
Through it (di' autēs). Through his faith (as shown by his sacrifice). Precisely why Abel’s sacrifice was better than that of Cain apart from his faith is not shown.
Being dead (apothanōn). Second aorist active participle of apothnēskō, “having died.”
Yet speaketh (eti lalei). Cf. Gen 4:10; Heb 12:24. Speaks still through his faith.