Hebrews 10:39 Meaning and Explanation
“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →We are not those who shrink back to ruin, but those who believe and are saved.
What Does Hebrews 10:39 Mean?
The chapter closes on a note of confident hope. The writer gathers himself with his readers and declares what they are: not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
The two ways of the previous verse are resolved. Drawing back leads to ruin; believing leads to the salvation of the soul. By placing himself and his readers among the faithful, the writer speaks encouragement and expectation together, calling them to be what he trusts they are. The whole chapter's labor comes to rest here: through faith in the One who offered Himself once for all, the soul is kept and saved.
Hebrews 10:39 in the Original Language
apoleia (ἀπώλεια), 'perdition' -- ruin and destruction, the loss of all that the soul was made for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 10:39
What does Hebrews 10:39 mean?
We are not those who shrink back to ruin, but those who believe and are saved.