Hebrews 10:38 Meaning and Explanation
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The righteous shall live by faith, but God takes no pleasure in the one who draws back.
What Does Hebrews 10:38 Mean?
The writer quotes Habakkuk's great word: the just shall live by faith. The life of the righteous, from first to last, is sustained by trust in God, not by sight or by ease. This is the very principle that has carried God's people through every trial.
Against this stands a warning: if any man draw back, God will have no pleasure in him. Faith presses forward; to shrink away is to grieve the One we are called to trust. The two paths are set side by side, life by faith or retreat into displeasure. The verse summons the reader to choose the way of steadfast trust, the only way in which the righteous truly live.
Hebrews 10:38 in the Original Language
dikaios (δίκαιος), 'just' -- righteous, the one accounted right with God and living by faith in Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 10:38
What does Hebrews 10:38 mean?
The righteous shall live by faith, but God takes no pleasure in the one who draws back.