Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) says: "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." It means coming to God starts with trusting two things: that God is real, and that He is good to those who seek Him with their whole heart.
Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Faith. It lists men and women who trusted God before they saw His promises come true: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab and many more. Verse 6 sits right in the middle of Enoch's story and explains the whole chapter. Enoch "walked with God" (Genesis 5:24), and Hebrews says he pleased God. How? By faith. The writer then gives a short definition of the faith that pleases God: you must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Below is Hebrews 11:6 in the King James Version with the verses around it, then verses on each half of the promise: believing that God is, and seeking Him. If you are studying all of Hebrews 11, this page also works as a short guide to the chapter. For more, see Bible verses about faith and walking by faith, not by sight.
Hebrews 11:6 in its setting
1. Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
The chapter begins with its famous description of faith: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Substance means something solid underneath. Faith is not a feeling or a guess. It is confident trust that stands on what God has said, even before we see it. Everything in Hebrews 11, including verse 6, builds on this foundation. Faith looks ahead to promises and looks past what eyes can see to the God who keeps them.
2. Hebrews 11:2
"For by it the elders obtained a good report."
For by it the elders obtained a good report. The elders are the believers of the Old Testament, the people the rest of the chapter will name. A good report means God spoke well of them. They were not perfect. Noah got drunk, Abraham lied about his wife and Moses lost his temper. What God commended was their faith. That is good news: God is not looking for flawless people but for people who trust Him.
3. Hebrews 11:5
"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God."
Verse 6 explains this verse, so it helps to read them together: By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death. Translated means taken up. Genesis says only that Enoch walked with God and then was not found, because God had translated him. Hebrews adds a key detail: before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Enoch's life is the example; verse 6 is the lesson. Walking with God every day is what faith looks like.
4. Hebrews 11:6
"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."
Now the main verse: But without faith it is impossible to please him. It does not say good works are worthless. It says nothing can please God if we refuse to trust Him. Then it explains why: he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Two beliefs make up saving faith. First, God exists. Second, God is good and rewards those who seek Him. Many people believe the first but doubt the second. Faith holds both.
He that cometh to God must believe that he is
5. Psalms 14:2
"The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God."
The first half of Hebrews 11:6, believe that he is, answers a question David raised: The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. Verse 1 of the psalm says the fool claims there is no God. The person of faith takes the opposite path: God is real, God is watching and God is worth seeking. Believing that God is comes before everything else.
6. Isaiah 45:19
"I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right."
God is not hiding from people who search for Him. He told Israel, I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. Seeking God is never a waste. He has spoken openly: I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. This verse gives confidence to the second half of Hebrews 11:6. If God has invited us to seek Him, He will not let that seeking go unrewarded.
7. Hebrews 11:17-19
"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure."
Abraham's hardest test shows what it means to believe that God is: By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac. Isaac was the son of promise, and God stopped the knife before any harm was done (Genesis 22). Hebrews says Abraham reasoned that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead. That is faith in who God is: so powerful and so faithful that even death cannot cancel His promise.
8. Hebrews 11:24-26
"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward."
Moses could have kept the comforts of Egypt's palace, but he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God. Why? For he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Recompence of the reward is the same idea as Hebrews 11:6: God rewards those who seek Him. Moses valued God's future reward above the pleasures of sin for a season. Faith weighs what lasts.
A rewarder of them that diligently seek him
9. Amos 5:4
"For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:"
The second half of Hebrews 11:6 is about seeking, and the prophets kept calling Israel to it: For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live. Seeking God is not a hobby for the extra-spiritual. It is the way to life. The reward of seeking God is, first of all, God Himself: knowing Him, walking with Him as Enoch did and living in His favor.
10. 2 Chronicles 15:2
"And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you."
The prophet Azariah gave King Asa a simple promise: The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you. Asa listened, and his kingdom found rest (2 Chronicles 15:15). This is what diligently seek looks like in practice: turning toward God on purpose, again and again. God does not hide from such seeking. He lets Himself be found.
11. Hebrews 11:32-34
"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."
The writer runs out of time to tell every story: the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel. Through faith they subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, and out of weakness were made strong. Many of these heroes were flawed and fearful at first. Faith did not make them great; God did, as they trusted Him.
12. Hebrews 11:39-40
"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."
The chapter ends honestly: these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. Many died before they saw God's plan fulfilled in Christ. Their reward was still sure, because God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. The reward Hebrews 11:6 promises may not come on our timetable, but it is certain. Hebrews 12 goes on to call these believers a great cloud of witnesses.
A short prayer
Father, I believe that You are, and that You reward those who diligently seek You. Help my faith to grow when I cannot see what You are doing. Like Enoch, teach me to walk with You each day. Like Abraham, help me trust that You keep Your promises. Like Moses, help me value Your reward above anything this world offers. I want to please You, so I come to You by faith in Jesus. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Study Hebrews 11 with our free SOAP study page · Keep going with the SOAP Bible Study Journal · Memorize Hebrews 11:6 with the Scripture Memory Cards
Frequently asked questions
What does Hebrews 11:6 mean?
Hebrews 11:6 means that trust in God is the starting point of a relationship with Him. Without faith we cannot please Him, because coming to God requires believing two things: that He exists, and that He rewards those who seek Him. The verse explains Enoch's story in Hebrews 11:5. For a fuller picture, see Bible verses about faith and seeking the Lord.
What is the reward in Hebrews 11:6?
The Bible does not promise wealth to everyone who seeks God. The greatest reward is God Himself: forgiveness, His presence and eternal life. God told Abram, "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15:1). Hebrews 11 also points to a heavenly city God has prepared (Hebrews 11:16). Some rewards come in this life and many come later, but all are sure.
What is Hebrews 11 about?
Hebrews 11 is the Bible's great chapter on faith, often called the Hall of Faith. It defines faith (verse 1), then shows it in the lives of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab and many others. The point is to encourage Christians who were tempted to give up: these believers kept trusting God, and so can you. See also Bible verses about never giving up.
How can I have faith that pleases God?
Faith grows by hearing God's Word (Romans 10:17), by praying honestly and by obeying in small steps. You do not need perfect faith; one man told Jesus, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24), and Jesus helped him. Start by reading a passage each day, perhaps with our Bible reading plans, and bring your doubts to God. For more, see Bible verses about doubt.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Faith · Walking by Faith · Seeking the Lord · Doubt · Walking With God · God's Promises · Never Give Up · Trusting God
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