New English Translation
Hebrews 11:16
16But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
- New International Version (NIV)Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Context of Hebrews 11:16
14For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son. 18God had told him, “Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,”
Read all of Hebrews 11Hebrews 11:16 word by word
νῦν δὲ κρείττονος ὀρέγονται, τοῦτ᾽ ἔστιν ἐπουρανίου· διὸ οὐκ ἐπαισχύνεται αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς θεὸς ἐπικαλεῖσθαι αὐτῶν· ἡτοίμασεν γὰρ αὐτοῖς πόλιν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- nowνυνίnuni · nowG3570
- they desireὀρέγωoregomai · to aspireG3713
- a betterκρείττωνkreittōn · strongerG2909
- thatοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- an heavenlyἐπουράνιοςepouranios · heavenlyG2032
- whereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- isἐπαισχύνομαιepaischunomai · be ashamed ofG1870
- notοὐou · noG3756
- ·αὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- to be calledἐπικαλέωepikaleomai · to call (on)/nameG1941
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- he hath preparedἑτοιμάζωhetoimazō · to make readyG2090
- a cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
Cross-references for Hebrews 11:16
- Hebrews 11:14For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
- Hebrews 12:22But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly
- Hebrews 2:11For indeed he who makes holy and those being made holy all have the same origin, and so he is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
- Genesis 17:7I will confirm my covenant as a perpetual covenant between me and you. It will extend to your descendants after you throughout their generations. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
- Exodus 3:6He added, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
- Isaiah 41:8“You, my servant Israel, Jacob whom I have chosen, offspring of Abraham my friend,
- Jeremiah 31:1At that time I will be the God of all the clans of Israel and they will be my people. I, the Lord, affirm it!”
- Matthew 22:31Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God,
- Mark 12:26Now as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
- Luke 20:37But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.
- Acts 7:32‘I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look more closely.
- Hebrews 11:10For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
- Hebrews 13:14For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
- Matthew 25:34Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
- Luke 12:32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.
- Philippians 3:20But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Commentaries on Hebrews 11:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16But now they desire a better - They all expected spiritual blessings, and a heavenly inheritance; they sought God as their portion, and in such a way and on such principles that he is not ashamed to be called their God; and he shows his affection for them by preparing for them a city, to wit, heaven, as themselves would seek no city on earth; which is certainly what the apostle has here in view. And from this it is evident that the patriarchs had a proper…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly - That is, at the time referred to when they confessed that they were strangers and sojourners, they showed that they sought a better country than the one which they had left. They lived as if they had no expectation of a permanent residence on earth, and were looking to another world. The argument of the apostle here appears to be based upon what is apparent from the whole history, that they had…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-19Verses 8-19 We are often called to leave worldly connexions, interests, and comforts. If heirs of Abraham's faith, we shall obey and go forth, though not knowing what may befall us; and we shall be found in the way of duty, looking for the performance of God's promises. The trial of Abraham's faith was, that he simply and fully obeyed the call of God. Sarah received the promise as the promise of God; being convinced of that, she truly judged that he both…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-16Abraham's family clearly did not want to return to their homeland. If they did, they could have gone back. Their faith showed they longed for a better place. They hoped in God, who rewarded their faith by preparing a heavenly city for them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1613-16. Summary of the characteristic excellencies of the patriarchs' faith died in faith--died as believers, waiting for, not actually seeing as yet their good things promised to them. They were true to this principle of faith even unto, and especially in, their dying hour (compare He 11:20). These all--beginning with "Abraham" (He 11:8), to whom the promises were made (Ga 3:16), and who is alluded to in the end of He 11:13 and in He 11:15 [Bengel and…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 11:16
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
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