God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 11:39
39All these people were known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised.
Hebrews 11:39 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
- New International Version (NIV)These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,
- English Standard Version (ESV)And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
- New King James Version (NKJV)And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
Context of Hebrews 11:39
37Some were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. Some were poor, abused, and mistreated. 38The world didn’t deserve these good people. Some wandered around in deserts and mountains and lived in caves and holes in the ground. All these people were known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. 40God planned to give us something very special so that we would gain eternal life with them.
Read all of Hebrews 11Hebrews 11:39 word by word
Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίανRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- having obtained a good reportμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
- throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- faithὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- receivedκομίζωkolumbaō · to bring/be repaidG2865
- notοὐou · noG3756
- the promiseἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
Cross-references for Hebrews 11:39
- Hebrews 11:2God accepted our ancestors because of their faith.
- Luke 10:23He turned to his disciples in private and said to them, “How blessed you are to see what you’ve seen.
- 1 Peter 1:12God revealed to the prophets that the things they had spoken were not for their own benefit but for yours. What the prophets had spoken, the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven, has now made known to you by those who spread the Good News among you. These are things that even the angels want to look into.
Commentaries on Hebrews 11:39
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 39Having obtained a good report (having been witnessed to; see Hebrews 11:2;) through faith - It was faith in God which supported all those eminent men who, in different parts of the world, and in different ages, were persecuted for righteousness sake. Received not the promise - They all heard of the promises made to Abraham of a heavenly rest, and of the promise of the Messiah, for this was a constant tradition; but they died without having seen this…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith - They were all commended and approved on account of their confidence in God; see the notes on Hebrews 11:2. Received not the promise - That is, did not receive the fulfillment of the promise; or did not receive all that was promised. They all still looked forward to some future blessings; notes, Hebrews 11:13.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. 3939. having obtained a good report--Greek, "being borne witness of." Though they were so, yet "they received not the promise," that is, the final completion of "salvation" promised at Christ's coming again (He 9:28); "the eternal inheritance" (He 9:15). Abraham did obtain the very thing promised (He 6:15) in part, namely, blessedness in soul after death, by virtue of faith in Christ about to come. The full blessedness of body and soul shall not be till the…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 11:39
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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