Hebrews 6 15

Hebrews 6:15 kjv

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Hebrews 6:15 nkjv

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Hebrews 6:15 niv

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Hebrews 6:15 esv

And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.

Hebrews 6:15 nlt

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

Hebrews 6 verses

Hebrews 6 15 Meaning

Hebrews 6:15 declares that Abraham, through his long endurance and steadfast waiting for God's divine word, ultimately received the fulfillment of the promise made to him. This verse emphasizes the certainty of God's sworn commitments and the vital role of patient faith in obtaining His blessings, presenting Abraham as an exemplary figure for believers to emulate in their walk of faith.

Hebrews 6 15 Context

Hebrews 6:15 appears within a pivotal section of the letter to the Hebrews. The author has just issued a serious warning against apostasy (Heb 6:4-8), urging his readers not to fall away from their faith. Immediately following this warning, he expresses confidence in their spiritual state and reminds them of God's faithfulness (Heb 6:9-10). He then exhorts them to "imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Heb 6:12). This directly leads into the example of Abraham (Heb 6:13-14), where God, desiring to show the immutable character of His promise, confirmed it with an oath. Verse 15 is the concluding statement regarding Abraham's journey, providing a concrete example of patience leading to the reception of a divine promise. The historical context for the original audience, Jewish Christians, likely involved temptations to abandon their Christian faith due to persecution or the perceived delay in Christ's return or fulfillment of all messianic promises. Abraham’s long, patient wait for a son despite human impossibility served as a powerful assurance that God keeps His word, no matter how long the delay or how great the obstacles.

Hebrews 6 15 Word analysis

• And so (καὶ οὕτως, kai houtos): This phrase functions as a connective, indicating a direct consequence or result. It links Abraham’s enduring patience in the preceding verses (especially vv. 13-14) to the outcome described in v. 15, emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship.
• after he had patiently endured (μακροθυμήσας, makrothymēsas): Derived from the Greek makrothymia (μακροθυμία), meaning "longsuffering," "patience," "perseverance." It denotes patience not merely in enduring suffering but specifically in waiting for something that is delayed. It implies remaining steadfast and hopeful without giving up, even when circumstances seem to contradict the promise. This isn't passive waiting, but active trust over an extended period. For Abraham, this was decades (25 years from promise of Isaac to his birth, plus other promises stretching beyond his lifetime).
• he obtained (ἐπέτυχεν, epetuchen): From the verb epitunchanō (ἐπιτυγχάνω), which means "to attain," "to gain," "to succeed in getting," or "to meet with." This verb highlights the certainty of reception. It indicates that the patient endurance was not in vain; it resulted in the successful acquisition of the promised outcome. Abraham genuinely got what God promised him.
• the promise (τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, tēs epangelias): This refers specifically to God’s comprehensive promise to Abraham, particularly concerning having countless descendants, being the father of many nations, and the inheritance of the land. While some aspects of the promise were realized in his lifetime (Isaac’s birth), the full scope extends even to Christ and the spiritual inheritance for all believers, showing that patience might extend beyond one's immediate grasp.

Words-group analysis:

• "And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise": This entire phrase encapsulates a foundational theological principle: steadfast perseverance in faith is met with divine faithfulness. It connects God's unbreakable oath (vv. 13-14) with Abraham's demonstrated perseverance (patiently endured) and the certain fulfillment (obtained the promise). The structure highlights that the reception of the promise is a direct consequence of Abraham's patient endurance, anchored in God's own character and oath. It is an argument for why the readers should likewise persevere.

Hebrews 6 15 Bonus section

• The delay of 25 years between the initial promise of a son (Gen 12) and the birth of Isaac (Gen 21) serves as the primary example of Abraham’s "patient endurance" that the author of Hebrews points to. This emphasizes that divine timing often differs from human expectation.
• Abraham’s impatience leading to Ishmael’s birth (Gen 16) is implicitly contrasted here. While not mentioned, the outcome of true, God-honoring "patient endurance" is Isaac, the son of promise, not Ishmael, the son of human initiative.
• The "promise" for Abraham encompassed not only a physical descendant but ultimately the spiritual blessings through Christ that extend to all nations, foreshadowing the comprehensive scope of God's New Covenant promises to believers today.
• This verse undergirds the concept that while salvation is by grace through faith, perseverance (endurance, patience) is a necessary characteristic of genuine faith and an essential element in experiencing the fulfillment of God's promises in one's life. It underscores that spiritual progress often requires a marathon, not a sprint.

Hebrews 6 15 Commentary

Hebrews 6:15 offers a powerful object lesson for believers facing weariness or doubt. Abraham, despite numerous human impossibilities (his old age, Sarah’s barrenness) and a significant delay, held fast to God’s promise. His "patient endurance" (μακροθυμήσας) was not a passive resignation but an active, hopeful, and steadfast trust that weathered challenges and the passing of time. This deep trust was anchored in God's immutable character and the solemnity of His oath (mentioned in the preceding verses), making the promise utterly dependable. Because Abraham waited with this unwavering confidence, he definitively "obtained" (ἐπέτυχεν) the promise – specifically the birth of Isaac, the son through whom the lineage of the Messiah would come, embodying the greater spiritual promises. The verse assures believers that just as God was faithful to Abraham after a long season of waiting, He will likewise be faithful to those who persevere in faith, providing a robust ground for hope in the Christian journey, regardless of the challenges or apparent delays in the fulfillment of God's plans.