Hebrews 11:6 (DRB)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

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.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noe, having received an answer concerning those things which as yet were not seen, moved with fear, framed the ark for the saving of his house: by the which he condemned the world and was instituted heir of the justice which is by faith.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith he that is called Abraham obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "without", "impossible", "please", "cometh", "must", "believe", and "rewarder". 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 Henoch was translated that he..." into verse 7's "By faith Noe having received an answer...", 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.