New English Translation
Hebrews 10:38
38But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
- New International Version (NIV)And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
Context of Hebrews 10:38
36For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised. 37For just a little longer and he who is coming will arrive and not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him. 39But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Read all of Hebrews 10Hebrews 10:38 word by word
ὁ δὲ δίκαιός μου ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται· καὶ ἐὰν ὑποστείληται, οὐκ εὐδοκεῖ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν αὐτῷ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Nowδέde · thenG1161
- the justδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
- shall liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
- byἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- butκαίkai · andG2532
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- draw backὑποστέλλωhupostellō · to withdrawG5288
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- soulὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- soulψυχήpsuchē · soul: myselfG5590
- shall haveεὐδοκέωeudokeō · to delightG2106
- noοὐou · noG3756
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
Cross-references for Hebrews 10:38
- Habakkuk 2:4Look, the one whose desires are not upright will faint from exhaustion, but the person of integrity will live because of his faithfulness.
- Romans 1:17For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.”
- Galatians 3:11Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.
- Hebrews 10:26For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us,
- Hebrews 6:4For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
- Psalms 85:8I will listen to what God the Lord says. For he will make peace with his people, his faithful followers. Yet they must not return to their foolish ways.
- Ezekiel 3:20“When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I set an obstacle before him, he will die. If you have not warned him, he will die for his sin. The righteous deeds he performed will not be considered, but I will hold you accountable for his death.
- Ezekiel 18:24“But if a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and practices wrongdoing according to all the abominable practices the wicked carry out, will he live? All his righteous acts will not be remembered; because of the unfaithful acts he has done and the sin he has committed, he will die.
- Zephaniah 1:6and those who turn their backs on the Lord and do not want the Lord’s help or guidance.”
- Matthew 12:43“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but does not find it.
- Matthew 13:21But he has no root in himself and does not endure; when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.
- 2 Peter 2:19Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.
- 1 John 2:19They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.
- Psalms 5:4Certainly you are not a God who approves of evil; evil people cannot dwell with you.
- Psalms 147:11The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers, and in those who wait for his loyal love.
- Psalms 149:4For the Lord takes delight in his people; he exalts the oppressed by delivering them.
Commentaries on Hebrews 10:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38Now the just shall live by faith - ̔ · But the just by faith, i.e. he who is justified by faith, shall live - shall be preserved when this overflowing scourge shall come. See this meaning of the phrase vindicated, Romans 1:17. And it is evident, both from this text, and Galatians 3:11, that it is in this sense that the apostle uses it. But if any man draw back - ̔· But if he draw back; he, the man who is justified by faith; for it is of him, and none…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38Now the just shall live by faith - This is a part of the quotation from Habakkuk Habakkuk 2:3-4, which was probably commenced in the previous verse; see the passage fully explained in the notes on Romans 1:17. The meaning in the connection in which it stands here, in accordance with the sense in which it was used by Habakkuk, is, that the righteous should live by “continued confidence” in God. They should pass their lives not in doubt, and fear, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 32-39Verses 32-39 Many and various afflictions united against the early Christians, and they had a great conflict. The Christian spirit is not a selfish spirit; it puts us upon pitying others, visiting them, helping them, and pleading for them. All things here are but shadows. The happiness of the saints in heaven will last for ever; enemies can never take it away as earthly goods. This will make rich amends for all we may lose and suffer here. The greatest…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37-38These verses quote Habakkuk 2:3–4 to show the difference between the righteous and the wicked when they face God's judgment (see also Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-39Instead of the daily ministry of the Levitical priests, Christ's service is perfected by the one sacrifice, whence He now sits on the right hand of God as a Priest-King, until all His foes shall be subdued unto Him. Thus the new covenant (He 8:8-12) is inaugurated, whereby the law is written on the heart, so that an offering for sin is needed no more. Wherefore we ought to draw near the Holiest in firm faith and love; fearful of the awful results of…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 10:38
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hebrews 10
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries