Hebrews 11 39

Hebrews 11:39 kjv

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

Hebrews 11:39 nkjv

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

Hebrews 11:39 niv

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

Hebrews 11:39 esv

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

Hebrews 11:39 nlt

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 39 Meaning

This verse declares that all the faithful individuals listed throughout Hebrews chapter 11, despite having received God's commendation or testimony for their unwavering faith, did not in their lifetime obtain the complete, ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive promise, specifically referring to the inauguration of the New Covenant in Christ and its full blessings. They lived and died looking forward to a greater, unseen reality that would only be realized later.

Hebrews 11 39 Context

Hebrews 11 is famously known as the "Hall of Faith" or "Roll Call of Faith," detailing numerous Old Testament saints who demonstrated extraordinary faith. The chapter aims to encourage the original Jewish Christian audience, who faced persecution and temptation to revert to Judaism, by reminding them of the enduring nature of faith and the superior provision of the New Covenant in Christ. It underscores that all these ancient figures lived and died with a forward-looking faith, believing in God's promises despite not seeing their ultimate fulfillment in their lifetime. Verse 39 serves as a concluding summary statement for these heroes, leading directly into the critical point of verse 40, which reveals why they didn't receive the promise and how their ultimate fulfillment is intricately tied to believers in Christ.

Hebrews 11 39 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A conjunction connecting this summary statement to the long list of faith examples provided throughout the chapter. It implies continuity, building upon the narratives just concluded.

• these all (οὗτοι πάντες - houtoi pantes): Refers collectively to every individual mentioned or implied from Abel (v.4) through the nameless martyrs and suffering saints (v.35-38). The phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature of their collective experience. It highlights that the pattern of faith and waiting applied to all, from the renowned to the obscure.

• having obtained a good report (μαρτυρηθέντες - martyrēthentes): This is a passive perfect participle, meaning "having been attested," "having been testified of," or "having received commendation." It implies that God Himself bore witness to their faith. The "good report" is God's divine approval of their lives of faith, consistent with Hebrews 11:2: "For by it the elders obtained a good report." Their lives stood as a testimony, not just to people, but primarily to God.

• through faith (διὰ πίστεως - dia pisteōs): This instrumental phrase modifies "having obtained a good report." It specifies the means by which they received God's commendation. Their unwavering trust in God, despite challenges and delay, was the very characteristic God approved of. It underscores the central theme of the entire chapter and book: the pivotal role of faith.

• received not (οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο - ouk ekomisanto): Ouk is a strong negation, and ekomisanto means "to receive back," "to obtain," or "to get hold of." It highlights that the ultimate promise remained an unrealized reality in their earthly lives. Despite their faith and God's approval, they did not experience the full manifestation of God's redemptive plan while alive.

• the promise (τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν - tēn epangelian): This refers not to any promise, but the specific, ultimate promise that completes God's redemptive work. In the context of Hebrews, this "promise" signifies the spiritual realities brought forth by Christ's advent: the new covenant (Heb 8:6-13), perfect forgiveness, access to God (Heb 10:19-22), resurrection life, and the inheritance of the new heavens and new earth. It contrasts with earthly or partial promises they did receive (e.g., Abraham had Isaac, Noah built the ark, but these were not the full telos). It's the full spiritual inheritance centered in Christ.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith": This phrase functions as a concluding summary, binding together the varied experiences of all the faith heroes. It stresses that regardless of their specific challenges or accomplishments, their common thread was God's positive attestation of their faith. Their lives, through faith, stood as approved examples to God Himself.
  • "received not the promise": This crucial phrase creates a theological tension and a climactic statement for the "Hall of Faith." It points to a pivotal difference between the Old Covenant saints and the New Covenant believers. Their journey of faith, though commended by God, was always forward-looking towards a Messiah who had not yet appeared and a New Covenant that had not yet been inaugurated.

Hebrews 11 39 Bonus section

The profound implication of this verse, especially in conjunction with Hebrews 11:40, is the concept of a singular, overarching, and corporate salvation history. God's plan of redemption does not deal with individuals in isolation, nor does it rigidly separate dispensations. Instead, it meticulously weaves together the destinies of believers from all ages into one grand tapestry, culminating in Christ. The Old Testament saints are not made "perfect" (complete in their salvific goal) without New Testament believers because the full redemptive promise was centered in Christ's atoning work, which inaugurated the new covenant and empowers believers from all eras. Their waiting signifies God's patience and the interconnectedness of the spiritual family throughout time. They died in expectation, and their consummation awaits the final bringing together of all the elect in Christ, illustrating that their hope and our hope ultimately converge.

Hebrews 11 39 Commentary

Hebrews 11:39 serves as a crucial bridge between the testimonies of Old Testament saints and the reality of the New Covenant believer. The heroes of faith, encompassing diverse roles from patriarchs to prophets, judges to common people, were united by one thing: a commendation from God received through their unwavering trust in Him. They displayed perseverance and hope, believing in what they could not see and living for an unseen heavenly country (Heb 11:13-16). Yet, despite their profound faith and divine approval, the author explicitly states they "received not the promise." This "promise" is not merely land or descendants, which some did experience, but the ultimate spiritual fulfillment anchored in Christ's completed work – the superior covenant, perfect redemption, and full spiritual inheritance (Heb 8:6; 9:15).

They awaited the parousia (coming) of the Messiah and the inaugurated New Covenant. Their faith, though powerful, was prospective, a belief in a coming reality. This verse highlights the profound theological point that the Old Testament era, great as it was, remained incomplete without Christ. Their "perfection" (τελειωθῶσιν - teleiōthōsin, being brought to the goal or consummation) was not realized apart from us, the New Covenant believers, because God had provided something "better" for us (Heb 11:40). This demonstrates God's unified redemptive plan, transcending historical dispensations, uniting saints from all ages in the one Body of Christ, reaching their full destiny together at Christ's ultimate return. Their faithful endurance, even without seeing the promise's fulfillment, challenges believers today to similarly persevere, knowing we have the advantage of Christ's finished work.