Hebrews 11:13
New International Version
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

New Living Translation
All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.

English Standard Version
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Berean Standard Bible
All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Berean Literal Bible
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having embraced them, and having confessed that they are strangers and sojourners on the earth.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

New American Standard Bible
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

NASB 1995
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

NASB 1977
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Legacy Standard Bible
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Amplified Bible
All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Christian Standard Bible
These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.

American Standard Version
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Contemporary English Version
Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth.

English Revised Version
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All these people died having faith. They didn't receive the things that God had promised them, but they saw these things coming in the distant future and rejoiced. They acknowledged that they were living as strangers with no permanent home on earth.

Good News Translation
It was in faith that all these persons died. They did not receive the things God had promised, but from a long way off they saw them and welcomed them, and admitted openly that they were foreigners and refugees on earth.

International Standard Version
All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on earth.

Majority Standard Bible
All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

NET Bible
These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.

New Heart English Bible
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
All these died in the possession of faith. They had not received the promised blessings, but had seen them from a distance and had greeted them, and had acknowledged themselves to be foreigners and strangers here on earth;

World English Bible
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
All these died in faith, having not received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having been persuaded, and having greeted [them], and having confessed that they are strangers and sojourners on the earth,

Berean Literal Bible
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having embraced them, and having confessed that they are strangers and sojourners on the earth.

Young's Literal Translation
In faith died all these, not having received the promises, but from afar having seen them, and having been persuaded, and having saluted them, and having confessed that strangers and sojourners they are upon the earth,

Smith's Literal Translation
According to faith died all these, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and been persuaded, and having embraced, and assented that they are strangers and newly arrived from a foreign country upon earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
All these died according to faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them afar off, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers on the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
All of these passed away, adhering to faith, not having received the promises, yet beholding them from afar and saluting them, and confessing themselves to be sojourners and guests upon the earth.

New American Bible
All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,

New Revised Standard Version
All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
These all died in faith not having received the promised land, but they saw it from afar off, and rejoiced in it; and they acknowledged that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
These died in faith, all of them, and they did not receive their promise, but they saw it from a distance and rejoiced in it and confessed that they were foreigners and nomads in The Earth.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and having embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners in the land.

Godbey New Testament
These all died in the faith, not having received the promises, but seeing them afar off, and embracing them, and confessing that they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Haweis New Testament
All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them at a great distance, though believing and embracing them, and confessing that they were strangers and sojourners in the land.

Mace New Testament
These all died in faith, without receiving what was promised, having only a distant view of what they eagerly expected, professing to live as strangers and pilgrims in the land.

Weymouth New Testament
All these died in the possession of faith. They had not received the promised blessings, but had seen them from a distance and had greeted them, and had acknowledged themselves to be foreigners and strangers here on earth;

Worrell New Testament
These all died according to faith, not having obtained the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having greeted them, and having confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.

Worsley New Testament
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seen them from afar, and been persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
Audio Bible



Context
The Faith of Abraham and Sarah
12And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.…

Cross References
1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Genesis 23:4
“I am a foreigner and an outsider among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead.”

1 Chronicles 29:15
For we are foreigners and strangers in Your presence, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

Psalm 39:12
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.

John 8:56
Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”

Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? / But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

2 Corinthians 5:6-7
Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. / For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Genesis 47:9
“My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”

Acts 7:5
He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.

2 Peter 3:13
But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Matthew 13:17
For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Romans 4:18-21
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” / Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. / Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ...

Galatians 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Exodus 2:22
And she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”


Treasury of Scripture

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.

all died.

Genesis 25:8
Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 27:2-4
And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: …

Genesis 48:21
And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

in faith.

Hebrews 11:39
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

but.

Hebrews 11:27
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Numbers 24:17
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

and were.

Romans 4:21
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Romans 8:24
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

1 John 3:19
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

confessed.

Genesis 23:4
I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

Genesis 47:9
And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

1 Chronicles 29:14,15
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee…

Jump to Previous
Acknowledged Admitted Afar Blessings Confessed Delight Died Distance Earth Embraced End Exiles Faith Far Foreigners Greeted Heritage Persuaded Pilgrims Possession Promised Promises Receive Received Receiving Strangers Themselves Wanderers Welcomed Witness
Jump to Next
Acknowledged Admitted Afar Blessings Confessed Delight Died Distance Earth Embraced End Exiles Faith Far Foreigners Greeted Heritage Persuaded Pilgrims Possession Promised Promises Receive Received Receiving Strangers Themselves Wanderers Welcomed Witness
Hebrews 11
1. What faith is.
6. Without faith we cannot please God.
7. The examples of faithfulness in the fathers of old time.














These all died in faith
This phrase refers to the patriarchs and matriarchs mentioned earlier in Hebrews 11, such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah. The Greek word for "faith" is "pistis," which implies a deep trust and confidence in God. Despite not receiving the promises during their lifetimes, they maintained their faith, demonstrating a steadfast belief in God's promises. This highlights the essence of faith as described in Hebrews 11:1, "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." Their faith was not in vain, as it was rooted in the eternal promises of God, which transcend earthly life.

not having received the things promised
The patriarchs lived with the expectation of God's promises, yet they did not see their fulfillment in their earthly lives. This speaks to the nature of God's promises, which often extend beyond our immediate understanding and timeline. The promises referred to here include the land, descendants, and blessings to all nations through Abraham's seed. Historically, these promises were partially fulfilled in the Old Testament but find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ and the eternal kingdom. This teaches believers to trust in God's timing and sovereignty, even when immediate results are not visible.

but having seen them and welcomed them from afar
The imagery here is of seeing something in the distance and greeting it with joy and anticipation. The Greek word "aspazomai" for "welcomed" conveys a sense of embracing or saluting. The patriarchs had a vision of God's promises and embraced them with faith, even though they were not yet realized. This reflects a spiritual insight and foresight, recognizing the reality of God's promises as if they were already present. It encourages believers to live with a forward-looking faith, confident in the fulfillment of God's word.

and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth
The acknowledgment of being "strangers and exiles" underscores the temporary nature of earthly life and the eternal perspective of the faithful. The Greek word "xenos" for "strangers" and "parepidēmos" for "exiles" suggest a sense of being foreigners or sojourners. This reflects the understanding that their true citizenship was in heaven, as Paul later writes in Philippians 3:20. The patriarchs lived with the awareness that their ultimate home was not in this world, but in the heavenly city prepared by God. This perspective challenges believers to live with a heavenly mindset, prioritizing eternal values over temporal concerns.

(13) These all died in faith.--We must not change the order of the original. Seven verses up to this point have begun with the emphatic words "by faith." There is a change here, but not in the emphasis of this thought. We should not expect to read "By faith these died;" what is said is, "In accordance with faith all these died;" faith had been the support and guide of their life, and their death was in accordance with the same principle. That is, they (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah) did not die in possession of what had been promised (Hebrews 11:39), but saw at a distance the blessings of which God had spoken (Hebrews 11:1).

And were persuaded of them.--These words do not belong to the true text; and the word "embraced" should be rendered "greeted," or "saluted." We read, therefore: "Not having received the promises, but having seen and greeted them from far" (Genesis 49:18), "and having confessed that they were strangers and sojourners upon the earth" (Genesis 47:9; Genesis 23:4). (Comp. 1Chronicles 29:15; Psalm 39:12; Psalm 119:19; Psalm 119:54; also 1Peter 1:1; 1Peter 2:11. The verses which follow are a comment on this. For the last words, "on the earth." see Hebrews 11:16. . . .

Verse 13. - These all (i.e. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the nomadic patriarchs, not in-eluding the antediluvian heroes, to whom what is further said does not apply) died in faith (literally, according to faith, κατὰ πίστιν, as in ver. 7), not having received the promises, but having seen and greeted them from afar off (omitting the ill-supported καὶ πεισθέντες of the Textus Receptus), and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. The reference is to the confession of Abraham to the sons of Heth (Genesis 23:4), "I am a stranger and a sojourner with yon," together with Jacob's words to Pharaoh (Genesis 47:9), "The days of the years of my pilgrimage," etc. The import of such confession, intimated in the preceding part of the verse, is now educed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
All
πάντες (pantes)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

these [people]
οὗτοι (houtoi)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

died
ἀπέθανον (apethanon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 599: To be dying, be about to die, wither, decay. From apo and thnesko; to die off.

in
Κατὰ (Kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

faith,
πίστιν (pistin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

without
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

having received
κομισάμενοι (komisamenoi)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

the things
τὰς (tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

they were promised.
ἐπαγγελίας (epangelias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1860: A promise. From epaggello; an announcement.

However,
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

they saw [them]
ἰδόντες (idontes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

welcomed
ἀσπασάμενοι (aspasamenoi)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 782: To greet, salute, pay my respects to, welcome. To enfold in the arms, i.e. to salute, to welcome.

them
αὐτὰς (autas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

from afar.
πόρρωθεν (porrōthen)
Adverb
Strong's 4207: From afar, far off, from a distance. From porrho with adverbial enclitic of source; from far, or at a distance, i.e. Distantly.

And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they acknowledged
ὁμολογήσαντες (homologēsantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3670: From a compound of the base of homou and logos; to assent, i.e. Covenant, acknowledge.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

they were
εἰσιν (eisin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

strangers
ξένοι (xenoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3581: Apparently a primary word; foreign; by implication, a guest or entertainer.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

exiles
παρεπίδημοί (parepidēmoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3927: From para and the base of epidemeo; an alien alongside, i.e. A resident foreigner.

on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

earth.
γῆς (gēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith not having (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 11:12
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