And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
What does Hebrews 11:39 mean?
The world considers that the righteous are not worthy to live in the world, and God declares the world is not worthy of them.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Hebrews 11:35-39 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Hebrews 11:39
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: And these all, having obtained a good report through faith - They were all commended and approved on account of their confidence in God; see the notes on Hebrews 11:2 . Received not the promise - That is, did not receive the fulfillment of the promise; or did not receive all that was promised. They all still looked forward to some future blessings; notes, Hebrews 11:13 .
Key words
- received
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received not the promise; not that they did not receive the promise of the land of Canaan, for so did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, &c.
Context in Hebrews 11
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Hebrews 11 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as faith, endurance, and final exhortation. Hebrews presents Jesus as the final revelation of God, the great high priest, the once-for-all sacrifice, and the mediator of the better covenant. Read this chapter with the wider themes of Christology, priesthood, and sacrifice in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Passages on trusting God, receiving Christ, persevering without sight, and the relation between faith and lived obedience.
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Bible verses about justice and mercy
Key texts on public righteousness, neighbor-love, social ethics, compassion, and the prophetic refusal to separate worship from justice.
Passages on peace with God, peace in the heart, peace in community, and the biblical difference between true peace and false reassurance.