Hebrews 11:39

Hebrews 11:39 Meaning and Explanation

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

King James Version (KJV)

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All these were commended for their faith, yet none of them received the fullness of what was promised.

What Does Hebrews 11:39 Mean?

The writer now gathers the whole great company into a single statement. Every name and deed shares one thing: each was approved by God through faith.

Yet for all their commendation, these believers did not receive the promise in its fullness during their lives. They trusted God to the end without seeing the final fulfillment. Faith does not require that everything be granted now; it holds fast to God's word even when the promise remains ahead. The faithful of every age live and die looking forward, certain that what God has promised will surely come, fulfilled in Christ.

Hebrews 11:39 in the Original Language

epaggelia (ἐπαγγελία), 'promise' -- a pledge or assurance of what God has committed Himself to give.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 11:39

What does Hebrews 11:39 mean?

All these were commended for their faith, yet none of them received the fullness of what was promised.

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