Hebrews 11:40

Hebrews 11:40 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
• New International Version (NIV)since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
• New King James Version (NKJV)God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
• New Living Translation (NLT)For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

Context of Hebrews 11:40

38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:40 word by word

τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• having providedπροβλέπωproblepō · to foresee/planG4265
• someτιςtis · oneG5100
• betterκρείττωνkreittōn · strongerG2909
• forπερίperi · aboutG4012
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• withoutχωρίςchōris · withoutG5565
• shouldτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
• notμήmē · notG3361

Cross-references for Hebrews 11:40

• Hebrews 7:19(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
• Hebrews 8:6But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
• Hebrews 9:23Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
• Hebrews 12:24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
• Hebrews 9:8By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing
• Hebrews 10:11And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
• Romans 3:25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
• Hebrews 5:9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
• Hebrews 12:23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
• Revelation 6:11Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Commentaries on Hebrews 11:40

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 40God having provided some better thing for us - This is the dispensation of the Gospel, with all the privileges and advantages it confers. That they without us should not be made perfect - Believers before the flood, after the flood, under the law, and since the law, make but one Church. The Gospel dispensation is the last, and the Church cannot be considered as complete till the believers under all dispensations are gathered together. As the Gospel is the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 40God having provided some better thing for us - Margin, “foreseen.” That is, “God having provided, or determined on giving some better thing than any of them realized, and which we are now permitted to enjoy.” That is, God gave them promises; but they were not allowed to see their fulfillment. We are permitted now to see what they referred to, and in part, at least, to witness their completion; and though the promise was made to them, the fulfillment more…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 39-40Verses 39-40 The world considers that the righteous are not worthy to live in the world, and God declares the world is not worthy of them. Though the righteous and the worldlings widely differ in their judgment, they agree in this, it is not fit that good men should have their rest in this world. Therefore God receives them out of it. The apostle tells the Hebrews, that God had provided some better things for them, therefore they might be sure that he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 39-40The way to live as God’s people under the new covenant is the same way people lived under the old covenant: by trusting God’s promises and enduring difficulties in this world. commended for their faith: God recognized their faithfulness (see also Hebrews 11:2). yet they did not receive what was promised: They died before Christ's promised coming. The better promise began with Christ's sacrifice (8:3–10:18) and looks forward to the future completion of…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4040. provided--with divine forethought from eternity (compare Ge 22:8, 14). some better thing for us--(He 7:19); than they had here. They had not in this world, "apart from us" (so the Greek is for "without us," that is, they had to wait for us for), the clear revelation of the promised salvation actually accomplished, as we now have it in Christ; in their state, beyond the grave their souls also seem to have attained an increase of heavenly bliss on the…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 11:40

• Law

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Builder
• Conceive
• Confess
• Cruel
• Faith
• Impossible
• Proper
• Rewarder

Commentaries on Hebrews 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings