Hebrews 11:11

[Van]

Every once in a while you come across an amazing problem with translation. This once boggles the mind.

Hebrews 11:11 NASB
By faith even Sarah herself received [fn]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

And the NASB footnote reads "power for the laying down of seed."
​

Now take a look at the NET rendering of the very same text!

11:11 By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, he received the ability to procreate, because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.​

So we have either Sarah or Abraham receiving the ability to either "conceive" or "procreate." Now turn your eyes back to the NASB footnote, and see that normally it is the male who has or is given the ability to "throw down" seed. But where did all these "he" references come from? Not the text of the verse.

On the other hand, women do "ovulate" or if you will "throw down the egg (female seed). Thus the verse if translated according to the Greek, might read,

"Through faith even Sarah herself received the ability to ovulate [fn], and brought forth even though beyond the prime period, since she deemed the One promising faithful.
Footnote: Greek "throw down seed"

 

[37818]

@Van,
The NET Bible Hebrews,11:11 using "he" those 3x does seem odd.

NRSV,
By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered him faithful who had promised.

The "he" is pulled from the context beginning verse 8.

 

[percho]

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Bubbling over with faith?

 

[Van]

The immediate context of Hebrews 11:11 is contained in Hebrews 11:8-12, which describes how Abraham and Sarah accomplished things through faith. Nothing in the context turns Sarah into Abraham.

I did not see where G846, in the Personal Pronoun - Nominative, Single, Female form was ever translated as "he." OTOH, the Greek pronoun was found to be translated as (1) she, (2) her, (3) she herself, (4) herself, and (5) itself.

 

[Van]

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Bubbling over with faith?

Are you claiming Hebrews 11:11 does not actually indicate Sarah by faith received the ability to ovulate? If not, exactly what are you suggesting by your post?

We do not start out with full blown faith, we start with "little faith" and then by prayer and meditation we build it into a deeply rooted commitment to God as Lord and Savior.

Peter did not start out with a faith by which he would sacrifice his life for Jesus, but he would arrive at that faith, see John 21.

 

[Scarlett O.]

I can't answer your question as to the NET, but I can only say this: Both Sarah AND Abraham were not able to bear children.

She was past the time [not having a menstrual cycle anymore] says your verse and Romans 4:19 says Abraham's body was "as good as dead". Meaning even Viagra would not help him.

They both were past the time. That's what made it miraculous.

One criticism of the NET is that "The NET sometimes is a little too dynamic in its renderings, delving into interpretation rather than simple translation. At the same time, the NET is more formal than most of the other English Bible translations that are considered dynamic."

What is the New English Translation (NET)? | GotQuestions.org

 

[canadyjd]

Yet another “let’s rewrite this verse” thread.

peace to you

 

[Van]

Yet another “let’s rewrite this verse” thread.

peace to you

Folks the NET appears to have rewritten Hebrews 11:11, and this poster charges me with maleficence. Ever hear the term "blind hatred?

 

[percho]

Are you claiming Hebrews 11:11 does not actually indicate Sarah by faith received the ability to ovulate? If not, exactly what are you suggesting by your post?

We do not start out with full blown faith, we start with "little faith" and then by prayer and meditation we build it into a deeply rooted commitment to God as Lord and Savior.

Peter did not start out with a faith by which he would sacrifice his life for Jesus, but he would arrive at that faith, see John 21.

I do not believe the word of God states Sarah ovulated either by or through faith.

What was the ultimate purpose for God calling Abraham out of the country of his birth?

Was it not for the purpose of the seed of Abraham, Jesus of Nazareth to be born in Bethlehem, die, be raised out of the dead, and the giving of the Holy Spirit?

I believe the word of God states Sarah ovulated, to faith as in, to, the following spoken of, the faith.

Gal 3:23-25 YLT And before the coming of the faith, under law we were being kept, shut up to the faith about to be revealed, so that the law became our child-conductor -- to Christ, that by faith we may be declared righteous, and the faith having come, no more under a child-conductor are we,

When did one go from being, "under law," to being, "under grace"? After the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
The grace of life.
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Yes or No?

John 16:7 YLT 'But I tell you the truth; it is better for you that I go away, for if I may not go away, the Comforter will not come unto you, and if I go on, I will send Him unto you;

IMHO Everything that took place in Chapter 11 of Hebrews took place to faith. The faith spoken of in Gal 3:23-25

The suffering unto death of Jesus of Nazareth was the Son learning the obedience. The obedience of faith.

Heb 5:7,8 who in the days of his flesh both prayers and supplications unto Him who was able to save him from death -- with strong crying and tears -- having offered up, and having been heard in respect to that which he feared, through being a Son, did learn by the things which he suffered -- the obedience,

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb 11:1 KJV The resurrected Jesus of Nazareth is, the faith.

 

[Van]

I do not believe the word of God states Sarah ovulated either by or through faith. SNIP

You can ignore Hebrews 11:11, but I trust what it says is true.
There is no significant difference between "by faith" and "through" (utilizing) faith.

 

[Van]

To be candid about the NET bible's questionable rendering of Hebrews 11:11 they did footnote the appropriate translation.

13tn Grk “power to deposit seed.” Though it is not as likely, some construe this phrase to mean “power to conceive seed,” making the whole verse about Sarah: “by faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and too old, she received ability to conceive, because she regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.” ​