What Does Hebrews 11:19 Mean?
Hebrews 11:19 explains that Abraham believed God could even raise Isaac from the dead, showing the depth of his faith. This verse comes right after the story in Genesis where God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his promised son. Though it seemed impossible, Abraham trusted that God would keep His word - no matter what.
Hebrews 11:19
He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Key Facts
Book
Author
The author is traditionally anonymous, though often attributed to Paul or a close associate in the early church.
Genre
Epistle
Date
Estimated between 60-80 AD, likely before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70 AD.
Key Takeaways
- Faith believes God can bring life from death.
- Abraham trusted God's promise even in sacrifice.
- Real faith holds on when all seems lost.
The Test of Abraham's Faith in Genesis 22
This verse points back to the dramatic moment in Genesis 22 when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac - the very son through whom God had promised to bless the whole world.
Abraham obeyed, not because he enjoyed the idea of losing Isaac, but because he believed God would somehow keep His promise even if it meant raising Isaac from the dead. He didn't know exactly how God would do it, but he trusted that God was powerful enough to make it happen. This is why the writer of Hebrews says Abraham 'considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead.'
In that sense, Abraham received Isaac back 'figuratively' when God stopped him and provided a ram instead - like getting him back from the edge of death.
Faith That Envisions Resurrection: The Meaning of 'Figuratively Speaking' in Hebrews 11:19
This verse highlights Abraham's obedience. It also reveals a faith so deep that he believed in resurrection before it was part of God's public plan.
The phrase 'figuratively speaking' (from the Greek *parabolē*) suggests this event was more than history - it became a kind of symbol or illustration pointing forward to Jesus' actual resurrection. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac and his belief that God could raise him prefigures how God would later fulfill His promises through Jesus, who truly rose from the dead. The writer of Hebrews retells a story. He also shows how faith in God's power over death has been part of trusting Him all along - even when the full picture wasn't yet revealed. In this way, Isaac's near-death and deliverance serve as a 'type,' an early pattern of the greater reality to come.
Some might have thought God's promises were only about land, children, or success in this life, but Hebrews makes clear they pointed to something deeper: life beyond death. The author argues that the heroes of faith didn't receive the full promise in their lifetime - yet they trusted God anyway, believing He could bring life even from human impossibility. This redefines what it means to 'receive' a promise: not always in the moment, not always in the way expected, but ultimately through resurrection.
Abraham didn't just hope things would work out - he trusted God could rewrite the story, even through resurrection.
This understanding of faith shapes how we read the Old Testament as a story moving toward new life, not merely ancient history. And it prepares us for the next examples in Hebrews 11, where faith faces suffering and delay, yet still holds on to God's future.
Faith That Trusts God's Power Over Death Today
This kind of faith - Abraham’s resurrection-level trust - still defines what it means to follow God today.
It moves us beyond seeing faith as a way to get blessings in this life. It reminds us that God’s ultimate promise is life forever through Jesus, not comfort now. The New Testament makes this clear: in 2 Corinthians 4:6, it says, 'For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,' showing that the same power that created the world and raised Isaac from the brink is now at work in believers through Christ.
Real faith isn't just believing God will fix things now - it's trusting Him even when the story ends in death, because He can bring life from the impossible.
So when life feels hopeless or God’s promises seem delayed, we don't lose heart. We trust the One who brings life from death, as Abraham did.
Abraham's Faith and the Promise of Resurrection: Linking to Hebrews 13:20 and Pauline Hope
This hope that began with Abraham - believing God could bring life from death - reaches its fulfillment in Jesus’ resurrection, which the Bible presents as the foundation of our faith and future.
Hebrews 13:20 speaks of 'the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant' - showing that God did for Jesus what Abraham only trusted Him to do for Isaac. This same resurrection power, seen in Abraham’s story and fulfilled in Christ, becomes the source of our hope and strength, as Paul emphasizes in passages like 1 Corinthians 15:20, where Jesus is called 'the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.'
Abraham’s trust in God’s power to raise the dead points forward to the real resurrection we have in Jesus, our great Shepherd of the sheep.
When we face loss, delay, or suffering, we’re not left hoping in the dark - we follow a God who has already proven He can bring life from death, and that truth should shape how we encourage one another in church and live with courage in the world.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
A few years ago, a friend of mine faced a diagnosis that shattered her hopes - her doctor said the chances were nearly zero. She didn’t pretend it wasn’t terrifying, but she told me, 'I’m holding onto the God who raises the dead.' That’s the kind of faith Abraham had. It’s not pretending pain isn’t real, but choosing to believe that God’s promise is bigger than the worst outcome. When bills pile up, relationships break, or dreams seem buried, this kind of faith doesn’t flee from grief - it walks into it, trusting that God can bring life even from the grave. That changes how we face every setback: not with blind optimism, but with resurrection hope.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my life am I struggling to believe God can bring life from what feels like death?
- What promise of God am I holding onto, even if I don’t see it fulfilled yet?
- How can I live differently this week if I truly believe God is able to raise the dead - literally and spiritually?
A Challenge For You
This week, identify one situation where you’ve given up hope or settled for less. Speak to God about it daily, reminding yourself of His power to bring life from death, as Abraham did. Then, take one small step of obedience in that area - not because you see the outcome, but because you trust the One who does.
A Prayer of Response
God, I admit there are times I don’t believe You can do the impossible. Forgive me for limiting Your power. Thank You for Abraham’s example - showing me that real faith trusts You even when the path leads to death. Help me believe You can bring life where it seems impossible. I’m asking for a miracle. I’m choosing to trust the miracle-worker. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Hebrews 11:17-18
Describes Abraham offering Isaac, setting up the crisis of faith that Hebrews 11:19 resolves with resurrection trust.
Hebrews 11:20
Continues the chain of faith, showing how Isaac’s blessing flows from Abraham’s example of trust in God’s power.
Connections Across Scripture
Romans 4:17
Paul affirms Abraham believed God could give life to the dead, directly echoing the faith described in Hebrews 11:19.
Genesis 22:14
Abraham names the place 'The Lord will provide,' showing his expectation of divine intervention, which Hebrews interprets as resurrection faith.
1 Corinthians 15:20
Christ’s resurrection is called the firstfruits, revealing the ultimate fulfillment of the hope Abraham held by faith.