Hebrews 10:34 Meaning and Explanation
“For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →They showed compassion to prisoners and joyfully accepted the loss of their property, knowing they had a better and lasting possession in heaven.
What Does Hebrews 10:34 Mean?
The writer recalls two more marks of their faith. They showed compassion to those in bonds, sharing the danger of the imprisoned, and they took joyfully the seizure of their goods when persecution stripped them of property.
What made such joy possible was knowledge: they knew themselves to possess in heaven a better and enduring substance. Earthly goods could be taken, but their true wealth was beyond the reach of any hand. This is the secret of joyful loss, an unshakable treasure that outlasts everything the world can seize. When the heart is anchored in what endures, even the spoiling of one's possessions cannot rob it of gladness.
Hebrews 10:34 in the Original Language
hyparxis (ὕπαρξις), 'substance' -- one's possessions and goods, here an enduring heavenly possession.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 10:34
What does Hebrews 10:34 mean?
They showed compassion to prisoners and joyfully accepted the loss of their property, knowing they had a better and lasting possession in heaven.