Hebrews 11:4

² This is why the ancients were commended.

³ By 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.

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
KJV: 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.
WEB: By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
ASV: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.
DARBY: By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony of being righteous, God bearing testimony to his gifts, and by it, having died, he yet speaks.
BLB: By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he was testified to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts; and through it, having died, he still speaks.

ÅB: Ved tro bar Abel fram for Gud et bedre offer enn Kain; ved den fikk han det vitnesbyrd at han var rettferdig, idet Gud vitnet om hans gaver, og ved den taler han enda etter sin død.
OTB: Ved tro bar Abel fram et bedre offer til Gud enn Kain, gjennom hvilket han ble anerkjent som rettferdig, Gud vitnet om hans gaver. Ved tro taler han enda, selv om han er død.
B1930: Ved tro bar Abel frem for Gud et bedre offer enn Kain; ved den fikk han det vidnesbyrd at han var rettferdig, idet Gud vidnet om hans gaver, og ved den taler han ennu efter sin død.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Genesis 4:3–5
So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,
Read in context
1 John 3:11–12
This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
Read in context
Hebrews 12:24
to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Read in context
Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Read in context
Genesis 4:10
“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
Read in context
Matthew 23:35
And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Read in context
Jude 1:11
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
Read in context
Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Read in context