Chapter 13:7 Rule over you, etc. The word hegoumenoi means properly leaders, conductors, guides, such as lead the way, and according to its secondary meaning, presidents, chiefs, governors, rulers. It is rendered "prefects -- praefectorum," by the Vulg.; "leaders -- ductorum," by Beza and Stuart; and "rulers" by Macknight; Doddridge paraphrases it, "Who have presided over you." The version most suitable to the context is "your leaders;" for they are spoken of as persons to be followed; they were such as took the lead in religion and were examples to others. But in verse 17 the idea of a ruler is most suitable, for they were to be obeyed. The specific meaning of a word which has various senses is ever to be ascertained from the context. The leaders here referred to were those who had finished their course; for they were to remember them, and not to observe their conduct then as though they were living; and contemplating the end or conclusion of their life, they were to follow their faith.

The word echthasis; means an outlet, a way of escape, also the end, conclusion, or termination of a thing, or the issue; and anastrophe signifies manner of life, intercourse, behavior, conduct, the way in which one lives. There is no English word that can suitably express it. It may be rendered here "life," -- "and contemplating the end of their life, follow their faith;" that is, what they believed. They ended their life in peace, and were enabled to triumph over all evils by means of the faith which they professed and possessed.