Hebrews 11:6 (DBY)

Passage

But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]. For he that draws near to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them who seek him out.

Nearby Context

Hebrews 11:4 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.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before [his] translation he has the testimony that he had pleased God.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]. For he that draws near to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them who seek him out.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith, Noah, oracularly warned concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which [is] according to faith.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out into the place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and went out, not knowing where he was going.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "without", "impossible", "please", "draws", "near", "must", and "believe". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "without", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "By faith Enoch was translated that he..." into verse 7's "By faith Noah oracularly warned concerning things...", so "faith" and "without" belong inside that flow. In Hebrews context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "faith" and "without" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.