Hebrews 11:39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,

◄ Hebrews 11:39 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,

English Standard Version
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

New American Standard Bible
And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

King James Bible
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,

International Standard Version
All these people won approval for their faith but they did not receive what was promised,

American Standard Version
And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And all these being approved by the testimony of faith, received not the promise;

Darby Bible Translation
And these all, having obtained witness through faith, did not receive the promise,

Young's Literal Translation
and these all, having been testified to through the faith, did not receive the promise,

Cross References

Hebrews 9:15
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.

Hebrews 11:2
For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Hebrews 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

11:39,40 The world considers that the righteous are not worthy to live in the world, and God declares the world is not worthy of them. Though the righteous and the worldlings widely differ in their judgment, they agree in this, it is not fit that good men should have their rest in this world. Therefore God receives them out of it. The apostle tells the Hebrews, that God had provided some better things for them, therefore they might be sure that he expected as good things from them. As our advantages, with the better things God has provided for us, are so much beyond theirs, so should our obedience of faith, patience of hope, and labour of love, be greater. And unless we get true faith as these believers had, they will rise up to condemn us at the last day. Let us then pray continually for the increase of our faith, that we may follow these bright examples, and be, with them, at length made perfect in holiness and happiness, and shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father for evermore.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

39. having obtained a good report—Greek, "being borne witness of." Though they were so, yet "they received not the promise," that is, the final completion of "salvation" promised at Christ's coming again (Heb 9:28); "the eternal inheritance" (Heb 9:15). Abraham did obtain the very thing promised (Heb 6:15) in part, namely, blessedness in soul after death, by virtue of faith in Christ about to come. The full blessedness of body and soul shall not be till the full number of the elect shall be accomplished, and all together, no one preceding the other, shall enter on the full glory and bliss. Moreover, in another point of view, "It is probable that some accumulation of blessedness was added to holy souls, when Christ came and fulfilled all things even as at His burial many rose from the dead, who doubtless ascended to heaven with Him" [Flacius in Bengel]. (Compare Note, see on [2592]Eph 4:8). The perfecting of believers in title, and in respect to conscience, took place once for all, at the death of Christ, by virtue of His being made by death perfect as Saviour. Their perfecting in soul at, and ever after Christ's death, took place, and takes place at their death. But the universal and final perfecting will not take place till Christ's coming.