Hebrews 11:4
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.
Original Language Analysis
Πίστει
By faith
G4102
Πίστει
By faith
Strong's:
G4102
Word #:
1 of 27
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
πλείονα
a more excellent
G4119
πλείονα
a more excellent
Strong's:
G4119
Word #:
2 of 27
more in quantity, number, or quality; also (in plural) the major portion
θυσίαν
sacrifice
G2378
θυσίαν
sacrifice
Strong's:
G2378
Word #:
3 of 27
sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively)
παρὰ
than
G3844
παρὰ
than
Strong's:
G3844
Word #:
5 of 27
properly, near; i.e., (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subj
προσήνεγκεν
offered
G4374
προσήνεγκεν
offered
Strong's:
G4374
Word #:
7 of 27
to bear towards, i.e., lead to, tender (especially to god), treat
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ
God
G2316
θεοῦ
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
9 of 27
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
δι'
by
G1223
δι'
by
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
10 of 27
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
ἧς
which
G3739
ἧς
which
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
11 of 27
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
μαρτυροῦντος
he obtained witness
G3140
μαρτυροῦντος
he obtained witness
Strong's:
G3140
Word #:
12 of 27
to be a witness, i.e., testify (literally or figuratively)
δίκαιος
righteous
G1342
δίκαιος
righteous
Strong's:
G1342
Word #:
14 of 27
equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively)
μαρτυροῦντος
he obtained witness
G3140
μαρτυροῦντος
he obtained witness
Strong's:
G3140
Word #:
15 of 27
to be a witness, i.e., testify (literally or figuratively)
ἐπὶ
of
G1909
ἐπὶ
of
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
16 of 27
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτῆς
his
G846
αὐτῆς
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
19 of 27
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ
God
G2316
θεοῦ
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
21 of 27
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
22 of 27
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
δι'
by
G1223
δι'
by
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
23 of 27
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
αὐτῆς
his
G846
αὐτῆς
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
24 of 27
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Cross References
Hebrews 12:24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.Matthew 23:35That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.Genesis 4:10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.Jude 1:11Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.Genesis 4:8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.Genesis 4:15And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.Leviticus 9:24And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.Hebrews 9:22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.Hebrews 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Historical Context
Abel's sacrifice predates the Mosaic law by millennia, showing that the principle of substitutionary blood atonement has always been God's plan. The first biblical martyr died at the hands of unbelieving religious activity.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Abel's sacrifice teach about approaching God on His terms rather than yours?
- How does your faith speak testimony to others even beyond your lifetime?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Abel offered 'a more excellent sacrifice than Cain' (Genesis 4:3-5), demonstrating faith. The quality difference showed Abel understood God's requirement of blood sacrifice for sin, while Cain brought mere produce. 'By it he obtained witness that he was righteous'—God testified to his righteousness by accepting his sacrifice. Though dead, Abel's faith 'yet speaketh,' testifying that faith pleases God and the way to God is through blood sacrifice.