Hebrews 11:10 (GNV)

Passage

For he looked for a citie hauing a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.

Nearby Context

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed God, to goe out into a place, which hee should afterward receiue for inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Hebrews 11:9 By faith he abode in the land of promise, as in a strange countrey, as one that dwelt in tents with Isaac and Iacob heires with him of the same promise.

Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a citie hauing a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11:11 Through faith Sara also receiued strength to conceiue seede, and was deliuered of a childe when she was past age, because she iudged him faithfull which had promised.

Hebrews 11:12 And therefore sprang there of one, euen of one which was dead, so many as the starres of the skie in multitude, and as the land of the sea shore which is innumerable.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "looked", "citie", "hauing", "foundation", "whose", "builder", and "maker". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "looked" and "citie", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 9's "By faith he abode in the land..." into verse 11's "Through faith Sara also receiued strength to...", so "looked" and "citie" 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 "looked" and "citie" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.