Hebrews 11:13 Meaning and Explanation
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →These believers died still trusting God, having only glimpsed the promises from afar and welcomed them, confessing themselves strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
What Does Hebrews 11:13 Mean?
Here the writer pauses to reflect on Abraham, Sarah, and their family together. They died without seeing the promises fully kept, holding them only as a distant and certain hope.
Yet they saw those promises from afar, were persuaded of them, and embraced them as their own, and so they called themselves strangers and pilgrims in this world. Faith of this kind does not require possession to remain sure; it holds the promise even at the hour of death. To confess oneself a pilgrim is to live for a homeland still ahead, trusting that the God who promised will not fail those who die believing.
Hebrews 11:13 in the Original Language
parepidemos (παρεπίδημος), 'pilgrims' -- a temporary resident or sojourner passing through a land not his own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 11:13
What does Hebrews 11:13 mean?
These believers died still trusting God, having only glimpsed the promises from afar and welcomed them, confessing themselves strangers and pilgrims on the earth.