Albert Barnes Commentary Hebrews 11:20

Albert Barnes Commentary

Hebrews 11:20

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Hebrews 11:20

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come." — Hebrews 11:20 (ASV)

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. See Genesis 27:26-40. The meaning is that he pronounced a blessing on them regarding their future condition. This was by faith in God, who had communicated it to him, and in full confidence that He would accomplish all that was predicted here.

The act of faith here was simply that which believes that all God says is true. There were no human probabilities at the time when these prophetic announcements were made that could have been the basis of his calculation; but all that he said must have rested merely on the belief that God had revealed it to him. A blessing was pronounced on each, of a very different nature, but Isaac had no doubt that both would be fulfilled.