Hebrews 10 · Verse 38

Hebrews 10:38

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10:38, King James Version

Hebrews 10:38 in other translations

BSBBut My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
WEBBut the righteous one will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
ASVBut my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.
YLTand ‘the righteous by faith shall live,' and ‘if he may draw back, My soul hath no pleasure in him,'
DARBYBut the just shall live by faith; and, if he draw back, my soul does not take pleasure in him.
BBEBut the upright man will be living by his faith; and if he goes back, my soul will have no pleasure in him.
WebsterNow the just shall live by faith: but if any man shall draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

What does Hebrews 10:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Hebrews 10:35-38

35-37. Consequent exhortation to confidence and endurance, as Christ is soon coming. Cast not away--implying that they now have "confidence," and that it will not withdraw of itself, unless they "cast it away" wilfully (compare He 3:14). which--Greek, "the which": inasmuch as being such as. hath--present tense: it is as certain as if you had it in your hand (He 10:37). It hath in reversion. recompense of reward--of…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 10:35-38 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 38. Now the just shall live by faith. This is a part of the quotation from Habakkuk, Hab 2:3,4, which was probably commenced in the previous verse. See the passage fully explained Romm 1:7. The meaning in the connexion 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 trembling apprehension, but in the exercise of a calm trust in God. In this sense it accords with the scope of what the apostle is here saying, he is exhorting the Christians whom he addressed to perseverance in their religion, even in the midst of many persecutions. To encourage this he says, that it was a great principle that the just--that is, all the pious--ought to live in the constant exercise of faith in God. They should not confide in their own merits, works, or strength. They should exercise constant reliance on their Maker, and he would keep them even unto eternal life. The sense is, that a persevering confidence or belief in the Lord will preserve us amidst all the trials and calamities to which we are exposed.

But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. This also is a quotation from Hab 2:4, but from the Septuagint, not from the Hebrew. Why the authors of the Septuagint thus translated the passage it is impossible now to say. The Hebrew is rendered, in the common version, "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him;" or more literally, "Behold the scornful; his mind shall not be happy," (Stuart;) or, as Gesenius renders it, "See, he whose soul is unbelieving shall, on this account, be unhappy." The sentiment there is, that the scorner or unbeliever in that day would be unhappy, or would not prosper--, . The apostle has retained the general sense of the passage; and the idea which he expresses is, that the unbeliever, or he who renounces his religion, will incur the Divine displeasure. He will be a man exposed to the Divine wrath; a man on whom God cannot look but with disapprobation. By this solemn consideration, therefore, the apostle urges on them the importance of perseverance, and the guilt and danger of apostasy from the Christian faith. If such a case should occur, no matter what might have been the former condition, and no matter what love or zeal might have been evinced, yet such an apostasy would expose the individual to the certain wrath of God. His former love could not save him, any more than the former obedience of the angels saved them from the horrors of eternal chains and darkness, or than the holiness in which Adam was created saved him and his posterity from the calamities which his apostasy incurred.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 38 Now the just shall live by faith - Ὁ δε δικαιος εκ πιστεως ζησεται· 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, Rom 1:17. And it is evident, both from this text, and Gal 3:11, that it is in this sense that the apostle uses it. But if any man draw back - Και εαν ὑποστειληται· But if he draw back; he, the man who is justified by faith; for it is of him, and none other, that the text speaks. The insertion of the words any man, if done to serve the purpose of a particular creed, is a wicked perversion of the words of God. They were evidently intended to turn away the relative from the antecedent, in order to save the doctrine of final and unconditional perseverance; which doctrine this text destroys. My soul shall have no pleasure in him - My very heart shall be opposed to him who makes shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. The word ὑποστελλειν signifies, not only to draw back, but to slink away and hide through fear. In this sense it is used by the very best Greek writers, as well as by Josephus and Philo. As dastards and cowards are hated by all men, so those that slink away from Christ and his cause, for fear of persecution or secular loss, God must despise; in them he cannot delight; and his Spirit, grieved with their conduct, must desert their hearts, and lead them to darkness and hardness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 10:32-39

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…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 10:32-39 →

Hebrews 10:38 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὁhoThe oneG3588
δὲdehoweverG1161
δίκαιόςdikaiosrighteousG1342
μουmouof MineG3165
ἐκekbyG1537
πίστεωςpisteōsfaithG4102
ζήσεται·zēsetaiwill live;G2198
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐὰνeanifG1437
ὑποστείληται,huposteilētaihe shall shrink back,G5288
οὐκouknotG3756
εὐδοκεῖeudokeitakes pleasureG2106
ἡhētheG3588
ψυχήpsuchēsoulG5590
μουmouof MineG3165
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷ.autōhim.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hebrews 10:38

  • Galatians 3:11

    But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

  • Habakkuk 2:4

    Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

  • Romans 1:17

    For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

  • Psalms 85:8

    I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

  • Hebrews 6:4-6

    For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

  • Ezekiel 3:20

    Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

  • Matthew 13:21

    Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

  • Isaiah 42:1

    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

  • Psalms 147:11

    The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

  • Malachi 1:10

    Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

  • Zephaniah 1:6

    And them that are turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord, nor enquired for him.

  • Matthew 12:18

    Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the just.
Hab 2:4; Ro 1:17; Ga 3:11
but.
26,27; 6:4-6; Ps 85:8; Eze 3:20; 18:24; Zep 1:6; Mt 12:43-45; 13:21
2Pe 2:19-22; 1Jo 2:19
my.
Ps 5:4; 147:11; 149:4; Isa 42:1; Mal 1:10; Mt 12:18; 1Th 2:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hebrews 10:37

    For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

  • Hebrews 10:38

    Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

  • Hebrews 10:39

    But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Read all of Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ahora el justo vivirá por fe; mas si se retirare, no agradará á mi alma.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or le juste vivra de foi; et: Si quelqu’un se retire, mon âme ne prend pas plaisir en lui ».
German
Elberfelder 1871		"Der Gerechte aber wird aus Glauben leben"; und: "Wenn jemand sich zurückzieht, so wird meine Seele kein Wohlgefallen an ihm haben".
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Justus autem meus ex fide vivit: quod si subtraxerit se, non placebit animæ meæ.