Hebrews 11:4 (DRB)

Passage

By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice exceeding that of Cain, by which he obtained a testimony that he was just, God giving testimony to his gifts. And by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Nearby Context

Hebrews 11:2 For by this the ancients obtained a testimony.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God: that from invisible things visible things might be made.

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice exceeding that of Cain, by which he obtained a testimony that he was just, God giving testimony to his gifts. And by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Henoch was translated that he should not see death: and he was not found because God had translated him. For before his translation he had testimony that he pleased God.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is: and is a rewarder to them that seek him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "abel", "offered", "sacrifice", "exceeding", "cain", "obtained", and "testimony". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "abel", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "By faith we understand that the world..." into verse 5's "By faith Henoch was translated that he...", so "faith" and "abel" 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 "abel" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.