For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Parallel translations
- WEB For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
- BSB For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
- NKJV for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
- NASB for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
- NLT Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Abraham endured as a tent-dweller because he was looking ahead to a permanent, God-built city. His true hope was heavenly and eternal, not earthly.
Overview
This verse explains why Abraham was content to live in tents: he set his hope on "the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Unlike his temporary dwellings, this city is permanent and divinely established—the heavenly Jerusalem (12:22). His faith reached beyond the earthly land to the eternal dwelling God prepares for his people through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Heb 13:14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
- Phil 3:20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
- 2 Cor 5:1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
- Heb 12:22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
- John 14:2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
- Heb 3:4For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
- Rev 21:2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- Rev 21:10–27And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
- Heb 12:28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
- Isa 14:32What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 11:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.