"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
— Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
Hebrews 11:6 is the "without faith it is impossible to please God" verse, a one-line explanation in the middle of the Bible's best-known chapter on faith. This page gives the verse, what the key words mean, where it sits in Hebrews 11, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about faith, Hebrews 11:1, and Bible verses about hope.
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The verse
The King James reads: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
"Faith" is pistis (G4102), trust or confidence. "Impossible" is adynatos (G102). "Please" is euaresteo (G2100), to be well-pleasing. "Comes" is proserchomai (G4334), to draw near. "Rewards" (KJV "rewarder") is misthapodotes (G3406), one who pays what is due, and "earnestly seek" is ekzeteo (G1567), to seek out carefully.
Where it sits in Hebrews 11
The chapter opens with a definition: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). It then walks through people who lived by that kind of trust: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and more.
Verse 5 says Enoch "was commended as one who pleased God." Verse 6 explains why that commendation required faith. Verse 7 moves on to Noah, who "in holy fear built an ark to save his family."
What the verse is saying
The verse names two things a person who comes to God believes: that God exists, and that he rewards those who seek him. The first is about who God is. The second is about what he is like: seeking him is not wasted effort.
This is not saying faith is a work that earns God's favor. Elsewhere Paul writes that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Hebrews 11:6 describes the posture of a person drawing near: trust in God, not in their own record. Jesus says something close: "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33).
Questions people ask
What does Hebrews 11:6 say?
In the NIV it says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." The KJV reads, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
What does "he rewards those who earnestly seek him" mean?
The Greek word misthapodotes means one who pays what is due. The verse says God is not indifferent to people who seek him; drawing near to him is not in vain.
Why is it impossible to please God without faith?
Coming to God at all means trusting that he is real and good. The examples in Hebrews 11 show people pleasing God by trusting him before they could see the outcome.
What comes right before Hebrews 11:6?
Hebrews 11:5 tells of Enoch, who "was commended as one who pleased God." Verse 6 explains that this pleasing came by faith.
What verses go with Hebrews 11:6?
Hebrews 11:1 (the definition of faith), 2 Corinthians 5:7 ("we live by faith, not by sight"), and Matthew 6:33 (seek first his kingdom) are close companions.
