Hebrews 11 13

Hebrews 11:13 kjv

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.

Hebrews 11:13 nkjv

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.

Hebrews 11:13 niv

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.

Hebrews 11:13 esv

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.

Hebrews 11:13 nlt

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.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 13 Meaning

This verse illuminates the profound nature of faith exemplified by the Old Testament patriarchs and matriarchs. It states that all these heroes of faith died still holding onto their belief, even though they did not physically receive the ultimate, overarching promises of God in their lifetimes. Instead, they spiritually foresaw these promises from afar, eagerly embraced them with full conviction, and publicly declared themselves to be temporary residents, strangers, and pilgrims on the earth, thereby affirming their expectation of a heavenly home.

Hebrews 11 13 Context

Hebrews chapter 11, often termed the "Hall of Faith," commences by defining faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen (11:1). It then systematically provides a rich lineage of Old Testament figures, from Abel to the prophets, illustrating how their lives were defined by this faith. Hebrews 11:13 serves as a pivotal summary and collective statement regarding the ultimate destiny and perspective of many of these forebears. It highlights their unwavering commitment to God's future promises, contrasting with their present, often challenging, earthly circumstances. The chapter's primary aim, particularly relevant to its original Jewish-Christian audience, was to encourage perseverance in their Christian faith amidst persecution and the temptation to revert to traditional Judaism. The author argues that enduring faith, looking beyond immediate gratification to God's eternal purposes in Christ, is the path exemplified by their revered ancestors. Their designation as "strangers and pilgrims" signifies their detachment from earthly allegiances, mirroring the call for the New Covenant believer to embrace a heavenly citizenship.

Hebrews 11 13 Word analysis

• These all: Refers collectively to the many Old Testament faithful mentioned previously in the chapter, including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, indicating a shared, fundamental experience among them.
• died in faith (Greek: κατὰ πίστιν, kata pistin): The phrase literally means "according to faith" or "in agreement with faith." It emphasizes that their deaths occurred in a manner consistent with their unwavering trust in God, with their belief persisting until their final breath. Their entire lives were characterized by active faith that extended through life's challenges and even to the point of physical death, without abandoning their conviction in God's future promises.
• not having received the promises (Greek: μὴ λαβόντες τὰς ἐπαγγελίας, mē labontes tas epangelias): mē labontes is a negative participle emphasizing that they did not physically "take hold of" or experience the full, ultimate realization of God's overarching redemptive and spiritual promises during their lifetime. While some received partial, temporal fulfillments (like Abraham having a son or possessing some land), the "promises" here refer to the ultimate spiritual inheritance, the heavenly city, and particularly the promised Messiah who brings full redemption, which would only come much later in history through Christ (Heb 11:39-40).
• but having seen them afar off (Greek: ἀλλὰ πόρρωθεν ἰδόντες, alla porrōthen idontes): porrōthen means "from a distance." This refers to a spiritual discernment or foresight, not physical sight. Their faith granted them a profound perception and conviction of future realities, enabling them to "see" what was still far off in time and not yet visible in their present circumstances, aligning with faith as the conviction of things unseen (Heb 11:1).
• and were persuaded of them, and embraced them (Greek: καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι, kai aspasamenoi): The King James Version translates the single Greek word aspasamenoi with two phrases, "were persuaded of them, and embraced them." Modern translations like ESV, NASB, and NIV usually render it as "greeted them" or "welcomed them." The term aspasamenoi (a participle from aspazomai) means "to greet," "to welcome warmly," "to salute," or "to embrace affectionately." It conveys a sense of eager, joyful, and confident anticipation of the promises, actively receiving them into their hearts even before physical manifestation. It is a hearty welcome and affectionate embrace, reflecting a deep-seated assurance and personal appropriation of the unseen future.
• and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Greek: καὶ ὁμολογήσαντες ὅτι ξένοι καὶ παρεπίδημοι ἦσαν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, kai homologēsantes hoti xenoi kai parepidēmoi ēsan epi tēs gēs):
  • homologēsantes: "having confessed," "having openly declared," "having agreed." This implies a settled, public, and deliberate acknowledgment of their identity and allegiance. It was not just an internal belief but an outward manifestation through their lifestyle and declarations.
  • ξένοι (xenoi): "strangers" or "foreigners." Denotes someone from a foreign land, a non-citizen, emphasizing that they did not truly belong to the world's systems or a specific earthly nation in terms of ultimate identity.
  • παρεπίδημοι (parepidēmoi): "pilgrims," "sojourners," or "temporary residents." Denotes someone living temporarily in a place that is not their own country. It implies movement, a transient status, and a journey towards a true homeland or destination.
  • ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς (epi tēs gēs): "on the earth." This phrase highlights the stark contrast between their temporary, transient earthly existence and their true, eternal, heavenly destination which they were seeking.

• Words-group analysis:
  • "These all died in faith, not having received the promises": This phrase underscores the perseverance of genuine faith unto death, emphasizing that the validity of faith does not depend on immediate gratification or the full receipt of earthly blessings. It highlights a steadfast trust in a God who transcends the present moment.
  • "but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them": This group of phrases reveals the spiritual vitality of their faith. Their faith was not passive or blind; it was an active spiritual perception ("seen afar off") coupled with an enthusiastic and affectionate acceptance ("persuaded/embraced") of what God had revealed, even when unseen and unpossessed. It illustrates faith as a vibrant engagement with future hope.
  • "and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth": This confession is a concrete demonstration of their heavenly orientation. By openly declaring their temporary status on earth, they implicitly disavowed ultimate allegiance to worldly kingdoms or achievements. This act reveals their inner conviction that their true citizenship and permanent home were in a heavenly, spiritual realm, compelling them to live distinctly from the world around them.

Hebrews 11 13 Bonus section

The concept of "not having received the promises" is further elaborated in Hebrews 11:39-40, revealing that God had "provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect." This emphasizes the unified nature of God's plan across redemptive history, where the full, perfect realization of the promises for the Old Testament saints (and for us) is only achieved in and through Christ. Their deferred inheritance highlights the absolute centrality of Christ as the fulfillment of all God's promises. Their status as "strangers and pilgrims" indirectly challenges any contemporary belief (Jewish or pagan) that confined God's blessings and human identity strictly to an earthly territory or nationalistic pride, reorienting the reader towards a transcendent, divine citizenship.

Hebrews 11 13 Commentary

Hebrews 11:13 summarizes the remarkable consistency and depth of faith demonstrated by Old Testament saints. Their defining characteristic was not their perfect lives, but their enduring trust in God's promises, particularly the ultimate spiritual and redemptive ones embodied in Christ, even though they were not realized in their earthly lifetime. Their ability to "see" these promises "afar off" points to a spiritual perception that transcends physical sight, allowing them to joyfully embrace a future hope. This conviction led them to publicly declare their detachment from earthly identification, acknowledging themselves as mere temporary residents ("strangers and pilgrims") on their journey towards a heavenly city (Heb 11:14-16). This mindset fostered patient endurance, prioritizing an unseen, eternal inheritance over transient worldly comforts or rewards. Their lives serve as a powerful witness to present believers, encouraging us to maintain a similar heavenly focus and steadfast faith, knowing that our true citizenship lies beyond this transient world. For believers today, this means not settling for temporary comforts, investing in eternal treasures, patiently enduring life's trials as part of a journey, and consistently living with a focus on Christ's ultimate return and the new heaven and earth.