Hebrews 11:10 Meaning: What City Did Abraham Look For?
For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
for he was looking for the city having the foundations, whose artificer and constructor is God.
for he waited for the city which has foundations, of which God is [the] artificer and constructor.
Meaning in one sentence
What was the city with foundations Abraham looked for? Hebrews 11:10 shows his faith reached beyond tents to God's eternal dwelling.
Context
Hebrews 11 is often called the faith hall of fame. The writer walks through Old Testament believers who trusted God when they could not see the outcome. Abraham gets more space than most. The account recalls how he left his home by faith, lived in tents in a land that was promised but not yet possessed, and kept his eyes on something more permanent. This verse gives the reason for his patience: he was waiting for a city with real foundations. Not an earthly city, but the one God Himself was building. The contrast between tents and foundations is the point. Abraham accepted instability because he trusted God's future.
Key Words
The Greek verb behind 'looking for' is exedecheto, it means to wait with eager expectation, like someone watching for a loved one to arrive. Abraham was not passively hoping; he was actively anticipating. The city he waited for is described with two words that together capture God's work: technitēs, the architect who designs every detail, and dēmiourgos, the maker who builds it. Dēmiourgos originally meant a craftsman who works for the public good. So God is both the master planner and the one who constructs the city. It is personal, careful work. The foundations (themelios) speak of permanence, unlike tents that could be folded up and moved. Abraham's faith held onto a future that God had already designed and was actively building. That is why he could stay steady when everything around him was temporary.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have identified this city as a heavenly reality. John Calvin wrote that the city has foundations 'because of its perpetuity', heaven is not a fading world. The Cambridge Bible for Schools links it to 'the Jerusalem above' from Galatians 4:26. Gill's Baptist commentary connects it to the new Jerusalem of Revelation, with foundations that include God's love and Christ's work. All of these readings agree: Abraham's hope was not for a piece of real estate but for the very dwelling place of God.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that Abraham was looking for an earthly city like Jerusalem to be built in the Promised Land. In fact, the writer of Hebrews clarifies later that Abraham was seeking a heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16) and that we 'don't have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come' (Hebrews 13:14). The foundations of this city are not stone and mortar but the unshakable work of God.
Living This Out
This week, you might feel the tent-life of uncertainty, a job that could change, a relationship that feels shaky, a health concern that won't go away. Abraham did not pretend the tent was permanent; he just kept his eyes on the city. You can do the same. When you start to feel anxious about the temporary, let it remind you that your real home is being built by the Architect who never makes mistakes. Instead of scrambling to make everything stable here, ask God for the same steady hope Abraham had. Say to yourself throughout the day: 'I am waiting for God's city. This tent is not the end of the story.'
Main takeaway: Abraham's faith kept him looking beyond his temporary circumstances to the eternal city God Himself was designing and building.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Abraham lived in a tent that could be moved. But he was waiting for a city that God was building, a city so strong it would never fall. You can trust God's promises too, even when you can't see them yet.
For ages 9, 12
Abraham left his home and lived in tents his whole life. But he never stopped believing that God had a permanent home waiting for him. The Bible calls it a city with foundations. When you feel like your life is shaky or you don't quite fit, remember that God is building a real place where you will live with Him forever. That is your true home, and it's worth waiting for.
Questions People Ask
What does 'the city which has foundations' mean in Hebrews 11:10?
This phrase refers to the heavenly Jerusalem, the eternal dwelling place of God's people. The author of Hebrews later calls it 'the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem' (12:22). Unlike the earthly tents Abraham lived in, this city has permanent foundations, it cannot be shaken or destroyed. It is the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham, pointing beyond the land of Canaan to a heavenly home.
Was Abraham looking for an actual city on earth?
Many readers wonder this, but the context of Hebrews 11 suggests otherwise. Abraham lived in the Promised Land but never owned it except a burial plot. The author says Abraham was 'looking forward to the city with foundations' and elsewhere that he desired 'a better country, a heavenly one' (11:16). So the city is a symbol for the eternal life and communion with God that all believers will share.
Why does the writer use the words 'architect and builder' to describe God?
The Greek words are technitēs and dēmiourgos. Technitēs means a skilled craftsman or designer, one who plans carefully. Dēmiourgos means a maker or constructor, originally someone who works for the public good. Together they show that God both designs the city and builds it Himself. It is not made by human hands; it is God's own work, permanent and perfect.
How does this verse encourage Christians who feel unsettled?
Abraham's life was one of constant movement and uncertainty. He lived in tents and never had a permanent home on earth. Yet he remained steady because his hope was set on God's city. This verse tells us that feeling unsettled is not a failure of faith. It can be a sign that we are looking for something more lasting. Our true stability comes from the city God is building, not from our current address.
What does 'looking for' (Greek: exedecheto) imply about Abraham's attitude?
The Greek word exedecheto carries a stronger meaning than simply 'looking.' It implies waiting with eager expectation, like someone who is scanning the horizon for a long-expected traveler. Abraham did not passively drift through life; he actively anticipated the fulfillment of God's promise. This same word is used in Romans 8:19 for creation's eager longing for redemption. It is a hopeful, active waiting.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study