By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that Abraham's obedience wasn't just following a map; it was a response to a call to a future inheritance, a promise not yet realized or even fully known. This underscores that true faith leaps into the unknown, trusting the caller's character more than the clarity of the path.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The book of Hebrews is unfolding the grand story of God's faithfulness through history, focusing on how different people lived by faith. This passage zeroes in on Abraham, the "father of believers," showing that his life was a testament to trusting God even when things were uncertain. Abraham's story here is about a radical departure from everything familiar, prompted by God's call to move to a land he'd never seen and didn't know.
Abraham didn't just believe; he acted in a way that defied logic. What does it mean to obey when the 'why' and 'where' are completely unknown?
Hebrews highlights Abraham's obedience as a profound act of faith. It wasn't just a passive belief; it was an active step into the unknown.
The Divine Call:
God called Abraham to leave his homeland, a place of comfort and familiarity, for an unspecified destination. This wasn't a suggestion; it was a command.
The Leap of Obedience:
Abraham's response wasn't to question or delay. The text emphasizes he 'obeyed' and then 'went out.' This immediate action, despite not knowing the destination, showcases the heart of faith. It was a trust so deep that it propelled him forward, even without a clear map.
Abraham was leaving behind everything he knew. What was so compelling about the 'inheritance' he couldn't even see?
Abraham's journey wasn't just about leaving; it was about moving towards something promised by God, even though that promise was shrouded in mystery at the start.
The Future Inheritance:
The text states he was called 'to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance.' This wasn't a guaranteed possession at that moment, but a future certainty guaranteed by God.
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Trusting God's Word:
Even though he didn't know where he was going, Abraham trusted Who was sending him. His faith wasn't in his own understanding or in the visible circumstances, but in God's faithfulness to fulfill His word. This promise, though unseen, became more real to him than his current reality.
Understand the original words
hypakouō · Greek Verb
To hear under, implying an active, submissive response to a command or call. Biblical obedience is the outward demonstration of an inward faith and trust in the authority of the speaker.
klēronomia · Greek Noun
That which is received by birthright or divine grant, specifically the blessings promised by God to His people. In a theological sense, it refers to the spiritual benefits and the eternal kingdom God bestows upon believers.
The calling of Abraham wasn't just a one-time event but a journey initiated by God's word and sustained by faith, even when the destination and future were uncertain. This highlights that true faith involves immediate obedience and a willingness to step into the unknown based on God's promise.
c. 2100-2000 BC
Abraham leaves Ur of the Chaldees
Called by God, Abraham, his father Terah, and nephew Lot departed from their homeland of Ur in Mesopotamia to travel toward Canaan. This marked the beginning of Abraham's faith journey, though the initial journey stopped in Haran.
c. 2000 BC
Death of Terah in Haran
Abraham's father, Terah, died in Haran. After this, the call to go to the land God would show him was renewed to Abraham, and he, along with Lot and their household, finally set out for Canaan.
c. 2000 BC— this verse
Abraham enters Canaan
Abraham arrived in the land of Canaan, where God first appeared to him and promised, "To your offspring I will give this land." Abraham's immediate obedience and lack of knowledge regarding the specifics of his destination are highlighted.
c. 2000 BC
Famine drives Abraham to Egypt
A severe famine in Canaan forced Abraham and his household, including Lot, to sojourn in Egypt for a time, testing his faith and reliance on God's provision in unfamiliar circumstances.
c. 1990 BC
Separation from Lot
Due to strife between their herdsmen, Abraham generously allowed Lot to choose the land first, leading to Lot settling near the Jordan River, while Abraham remained in Canaan, reaffirming God's promise to him.
c. 1970 BC
God establishes covenant with Abraham
God formally established His covenant with Abraham, reiterating the promise of countless descendants and the inheritance of the land of Canaan, a promise Abraham embraced by faith.
This is the foundational narrative for Abraham's call, showing the direct command from God and Abraham's immediate, obedient response as the basis for the faith described in Hebrews.
Acts 7:2-4Stephen recounts Abraham's call and departure, emphasizing that Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldeans and went to a land God promised to show him, reinforcing the theme of faith in the unknown.
Romans 4:18-22Paul explains that Abraham's faith was counted to him as righteousness, particularly in the context of believing God's promises for future descendants, echoing the forward-looking aspect of his obedience in Hebrews.
Joshua 1:9God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous because He will be with him, mirroring the divine assurance Abraham likely relied upon when stepping out into the unknown, demonstrating that God's presence empowers obedience.
John 14:15Jesus states, 'If you love me, you will keep my commandments,' highlighting that true obedience, like Abraham's, stems from a deep love and trust in God, even when the path forward isn't fully clear.
ellicottHebrews 11:8: "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."
(8) When he was called to go out. —Our older versions are here better than the Authorised, bringing in the word “obeyed” after “called”—“obeyed to go out into,” &c. Which he should after receive.—The English rendering may seem to imply that when “called” Abraham received the promise that the land to which he would be…
cambridgeHebrews 11:8: "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."
8 . Abraham ] As was natural, the faith of “the father of the faithful was one of the commonest topics of discussion in the Jewish Schools. Wordsworth ( Eccles. Sonnets , xxvi.) speaks of “ Faith , which to the Patriarchs did dispense Sure guidance ere a ceremonial fence Was needful to men thirsting to transgress.” wh…
The verse highlights that Abraham's obedience wasn't just following a map; it was a response to a call to a future inheritance, a promise not yet realized or even fully known. This underscores that true faith leaps into the unknown, trusting the caller's character more than the clarity of the path.
The book of Hebrews is unfolding the grand story of God's faithfulness through history, focusing on how different people lived by faith. This passage zeroes in on Abraham, the "father of believers," showing that his life was a testament to trusting God even when things were uncertain. Abraham's story here is about a radical departure from everything familiar, prompted by God's call to move to a land he'd never seen and didn't know.
The book of Hebrews is unfolding the grand story of God's faithfulness through history, focusing on how different people lived by faith. This passage zeroes in on Abraham, the "father of believers," showing that his life was a testament to trusting God even when things were uncertain. Abraham's story here is about a radical departure from everything familiar, prompted by God's call to move to a land he'd never seen and didn't know.
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." — The verse highlights that Abraham's obedience wasn't just following a map; it was a response to a call to a future inheritance, a promise not yet realized or even fully known. This underscores that…
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Last reviewed October 2026