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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Context
Set within the chapter on faith, this verse generalizes from the example of Enoch, who pleased God, into a universal principle about the necessity of faith for anyone who approaches God.
What Does Hebrews 11:6 Mean?
Hebrews 11:6 declares that without faith it is impossible to please God, and that He rewards those who believe He exists and earnestly seek Him. The statement is absolute: faith is not one option among many but the necessary foundation of a relationship with God. Without it, even good intentions fall short of pleasing Him, because faith is the posture in which we honor God as trustworthy.
The verse then defines what such faith involves. First, "he that cometh to God must believe that he is" -- one must believe that God truly exists and is real. This is the starting point: approaching God assumes He is there to be approached. Second, one must believe "that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." This is faith in God's character, trusting not only that He exists but that He responds to those who pursue Him. The word "diligently seek" implies an earnest, sustained search, not a casual glance. The promise is encouraging: God does not ignore those who genuinely seek Him; He rewards them. Coming in the flow of the chapter, this verse explains why all the figures who follow could please God -- each acted on confident trust in God's reality and goodness. Faith remains the door through which we come to Him.
In the Original Language
The Greek pisteuō ("believe") means to trust or have confidence in, and ekzēteō ("diligently seek") means to seek out earnestly and persistently.
Cross References
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
- Hebrews 11:1
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
- Jeremiah 29:13
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
- James 4:8
Application
Approach God with confident trust that He is real and that He responds to those who earnestly seek Him, and let that conviction shape your pursuit of Him.