New King James Version
Hebrews 11:40
40God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
- 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. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Read all of Hebrews 11Hebrews 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 7:19for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
- Hebrews 8:6But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
- Hebrews 9:23Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
- Hebrews 12:24to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
- Hebrews 9:8the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.
- Hebrews 10:11And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
- Romans 3:25whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
- Hebrews 5:9And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
- Hebrews 12:23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
- Revelation 6:11Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
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
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries