What does worlds mean in hebrews 11 3
Hebrews 11:3
Hebrews 11:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the
word of God
The celestial world, with its inhabitants, the angels; the starry and ethereal worlds, with all that is in them, the sun, moon, stars, and fowls of the air; the terrestrial world, with all upon it, men, beasts and the watery world, the sea, and all that is therein: perhaps some respect may be had to the distinction of worlds among the Jews; (
See Gill on Hebrews 1:2
), though the apostle can scarce be thought to have any regard to their extravagant notions of vast numbers of worlds being created: they often speak of three hundred and ten worlds, in all which, they say, there are heavens, earth, stars, planets
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; and sometimes of eighteen thousand
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; but these notions are rightly charged by Philo
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with ignorance and folly. However, as many worlds as there are, they are made "by the Word of God"; by Christ, the essential Word of God, to whom the creation of all things is ascribed in ( John 1:1-3 ) . And this agrees with the sentiments of the Jews, who ascribe the creation of all things to the Word of God, as do the Targumists
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, and Philo the Jew
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. An
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
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EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(3) Through faith.—Rather, By faith, as in the following verses. The first place is not given to “the elders,” for the writer’s object is to set forth the achievements of faith.With these, he would say, the Scripture record is filled. Even where there is no mention of this principle we must trace it in the lives of God’s servants; even where there is no history of men
Hebrews 11:3
ESVBy 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.
NIVBy faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
NASBBy faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.
CSBBy faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
NLTBy 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.
KJVThrough faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
NKJVBy faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
What does "worlds framed by God's Word" mean?
Definition and Background
In Hebrews 11:3, we read in part, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed by God’s command…” This passage has often been cited, translated, or paraphrased as “the worlds were framed by the word of God.” The phrase seeks to convey that all of creation, including the cosmos in its entirety, came into being through the very utterance and authority of the Creator. The word “worlds” can be understood broadly as the totality of all realms-physical, spiritual, and everything in existence.
When Scripture speaks of things being “framed” or “formed,” it highlights both the intentional design and the sustaining power of God’s Word. This concept stands in contrast to the notion that the universe arose from mere chance or an impersonal force. Rather, it emphasizes a personal, divine act of creative power in which things were brought into existence “so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3, latter phrase).
Biblical Context of “Framed by God’s Word”
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