Hebrews 10 38

Hebrews 10:38 kjv

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hebrews 10:38 nkjv

Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

Hebrews 10:38 niv

And, "But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back."

Hebrews 10:38 esv

but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."

Hebrews 10:38 nlt

And my righteous ones will live by faith.
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away."

Hebrews 10 verses

Hebrews 10 38 Meaning

Hebrews 10:38 proclaims a foundational truth regarding the nature of Christian living: salvation and life are by faith, and this faith must be characterized by enduring perseverance. The first part, "Now the just shall live by faith," asserts that true spiritual life and righteousness before God are granted and maintained through ongoing trust in Him. The second part delivers a stark warning: "but if he draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." This warns against apostasy or a wilful, deliberate turning away from Christ and His new covenant, indicating God’s severe displeasure with such unfaithfulness. The verse acts as both a divine promise of life for the faithful and a solemn warning against abandoning that faith, underscoring the necessity of endurance for all who claim righteousness in Christ.

Hebrews 10 38 Context

Hebrews chapter 10 is part of a larger argument establishing the supremacy of Christ's sacrifice and new covenant over the old covenant, specifically the Levitical sacrificial system. The author highlights that Christ's "one sacrifice for sins" (v. 12) eternally perfects believers, providing a "new and living way" to God (v. 20). Following this profound theological exposition, the chapter transitions into exhortations regarding Christian living and perseverance. Verses 19-25 encourage believers to "draw near" to God with full assurance, to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering," and to "stir up one another to love and good works," emphasizing the importance of communal worship. Verses 26-31 issue a dire warning against "willful sin after we have received the knowledge of the truth," alluding to deliberate apostasy, emphasizing the terrible consequence of falling away.

This immediate context sets the stage for verse 38. The author recalls the suffering endured by the readers in their past (vv. 32-34) and encourages them to recall their "confidence" which has great reward (v. 35). He then explicitly states the need for "endurance" (v. 36) to receive the promise, anticipating Christ's imminent return (v. 37). Hebrews 10:38 then functions as a powerful summary of the requirements for entering and maintaining that promised salvation: living by faithful endurance, contrasted with the perilous outcome of "drawing back." The original audience, primarily Jewish Christians facing persecution, would have been tempted to revert to the safety of Judaism and its familiar rituals, and this verse directly addresses the spiritual danger of such a return.

Hebrews 10 38 Word analysis

• Now the just (Ὁ δὲ δίκαιος - Ho de dikaios):
  • The: Definite article emphasizing a specific group.
  • Just: From Greek dikaios (δίκαιος), meaning righteous, upright, conforming to divine law, equitable. It signifies one declared righteous by God through faith (imputed righteousness) and one who lives righteously as a result of that new nature. This aligns with the New Testament concept of righteousness not being achieved by human effort or law-keeping but as a gift received by faith (Rom 3:21-26, Phil 3:9).
• shall live (ζήσεται - zēsetai):
  • From Greek zaō (ζάω), future indicative form. It signifies not merely physical existence, but true, spiritual, and eternal life in union with God. It speaks of spiritual vitality, flourishing, and possessing the life that comes from God, both now and in the age to come (John 6:51, Rom 6:23). This future tense highlights the promised reward for faithful living.
• by faith (ἐκ πίστεως - ek pisteōs):
  • By: Greek ek (ἐκ), meaning "out of" or "from," indicating source or means.
  • Faith: From Greek pistis (πίστις), meaning trust, belief, conviction, faithfulness, reliance. This is not mere intellectual assent but a profound, active, and abiding trust in God and His promises in Christ. It's the primary means by which one enters into and maintains a saving relationship with God (Eph 2:8-9). This phrase is foundational to New Testament theology.
• but if he draw back (καὶ ἐὰν ὑποστείληται - kai ean hyposteiletē):
  • But if: Introduces a strong contrasting condition, a warning.
  • He draw back: From Greek hypostellō (ὑποστέλλω), in the subjunctive mood. It means to draw back, shrink away, flinch, withdraw, hold back, hide. In this context, it signifies a deliberate act of retreating from the faith or turning away from one's Christian confession, particularly under pressure or persecution. It implies cowardice or unfaithfulness, abandoning the commitment made to Christ. This is not a temporary lapse but a definitive withdrawal.
• My soul (ἡ ψυχή μου - hē psychē mou):
  • My: Refers to God Himself.
  • Soul: Greek psychē (ψυχή), denoting the seat of emotion, will, and the very essence of a person. When God says "My soul," it conveys the depth of His personal disposition and deep disapproval, an emotional response from the Divine Being Himself. This emphasizes the gravity of turning away from Him.
• shall have no pleasure in him (οὐκ εὐδοκεῖ ἐν αὐτῷ - ouk eudokei en autō):
  • No pleasure: From Greek oudokeō (εὐδοκέω), meaning to take delight in, to be well pleased with. The negation (ouk) conveys absolute lack of approval or satisfaction. God’s ultimate displeasure and disapproval. This implies removal of His favor, protection, and potentially the eternal life He promises to the faithful. This phrase highlights the severe consequences of unfaithfulness and underscores the seriousness of perseverance in faith.

• The Just shall live by faith: This phrase, directly quoted from Habakkuk 2:4 (LXX version, a slight variation from the MT that emphasizes "his faith" rather than "his faithfulness" in general) and also used in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11, encapsulates the core principle of biblical righteousness. It highlights that the standing of a righteous person before God, and the continuation of true life (spiritual and eternal), are not contingent on adherence to law or human effort, but solely upon unwavering trust and reliance on God. The life lived "by faith" implies not only the initial act of belief but a continuous walk of dependence on God.
• But if he draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him: This part introduces a critical conditional warning. It juxtaposes the life of faith with the severe consequence of abandoning it. "Draw back" (ὑποστείληται) in the Septuagint refers to the person in Habakkuk who is "unsteady" or "shrinks back" in their resolve, showing lack of faithfulness. In Hebrews, this implies a wilful apostasy or abandonment of one's confession of Christ, not a mere stumble. God's "no pleasure" (οὐκ εὐδοκεῖ) signifies His deepest displeasure and an ultimate withholding of divine favor and blessing from such an individual. It implies that genuine faith must be demonstrated by endurance, and its abandonment invites divine judgment, aligning with the strong warnings against apostasy seen elsewhere in Hebrews (e.g., Heb 6:4-6, 10:26-31).

Hebrews 10 38 Bonus section

The quoting of Habakkuk 2:4 in Hebrews 10:38 is taken from the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament. While the Hebrew Masoretic Text of Habakkuk 2:4 states, "the righteous shall live by his faithfulness," the LXX translates it as "the righteous shall live by my faithfulness" or "by his faithfulness." The slight variance often attributed to 'my' (μου - mou) in some LXX manuscripts and 'his' (autou) in others for "faithfulness," the NT usage universally aligns with "by faith" (ek pisteōs). This shift highlights the New Testament's emphasis on human faith in God as the means of righteousness and life, rather than primarily God's faithfulness (though that undergirds everything) or human faithfulness in an abstract sense. The "drawing back" phrase also specifically refers back to the unsettled, vacillating heart described in Habakkuk's context, emphasizing an internal choice to abandon steadfastness. This verse highlights the inseparable connection between justification (being declared righteous) and sanctification (living righteously) in the believer's life; true saving faith is always active and enduring. The book of Hebrews stresses this deeply practical implication: one cannot simply assent to truth; one must also walk in consistent obedience born of faith.

Hebrews 10 38 Commentary

Hebrews 10:38 distills the essence of Christian discipleship into a succinct dichotomy: persevere in faith to live, or draw back to incur God's wrath. Building upon the superiority of Christ's perfect sacrifice and the new covenant, the author calls for sustained, active trust in God. The assertion "the just shall live by faith" underlines that spiritual life and righteous standing before God are eternally secured not through human works or legal adherence, but through an unwavering, continual reliance on God's grace revealed in Christ. This "living by faith" means embracing His finished work, enduring trials, and pressing onward toward the promised reward.

Conversely, the verse presents a chilling counter-possibility: "if he draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." This is not a casual warning against temporary weakness or doubt, but against a deliberate, settled turning away or shrinking back from one's Christian commitment. It points to a severe act of unfaithfulness or apostasy, indicating a rejection of the grace and truth once embraced. God's declaration of having "no pleasure" in such an individual signifies His deepest disapproval and the dire spiritual consequences of abandoning Him, reinforcing the solemn reality that while salvation is by faith alone, true saving faith is always an enduring faith. It reminds believers that perseverance is both a gift of God's grace and a responsibility on the part of the believer to actively hold fast to the hope they profess.