Hebrews 11 · Verse 14

Hebrews 11:14

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Hebrews 11:14, King James Version

Hebrews 11:14 in other translations

BSBNow those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
WEBFor those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
ASVFor they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.
YLTfor those saying such things make manifest that they seek a country;
DARBYFor they who say such things shew clearly that they seek their country.
BBEFor those who say such things make it clear that they are searching for a country for themselves.
WebsterFor they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

What does Hebrews 11:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Hebrews 11:13-16

13-16. 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…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 11:13-16 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. For they that say such things, etc. That speak of themselves as having come into' a land of strangers; and that negotiate for a small piece of land, not to cultivate, but to bury their dead. So we should think of any strange people coming among us now--who lived in tents; who frequently changed their residence; who became the purchasers of no land except to bury their dead, and who never spake of becoming permanent residents. We should think that they were in search of some place as their home, and that they had not yet found it. Such people were the Hebrew patriarchs. They lived and acted just as if they had not yet found a permanent habitation, but were travelling in search of one.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 Declare plainly that they seek a country - A man's country is that in which he has constitutional rights and privileges; no stranger or sojourner has any such rights in the country where he sojourns. These, by declaring that they felt themselves strangers and sojourners, professed their faith in a heavenly country and state, and looked beyond the grave for a place of happiness. No intelligent Jew could suppose that Canaan was all the rest which God had promised to his people.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 11:8-19

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…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 11:8-19 →

Hebrews 11:14 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.

οἱhoiThoseG3588
γὰρgarforG1063
τοιαῦταtoiautasuch thingsG5108
λέγοντεςlegontessayingG3004
ἐμφανίζουσινemphanizousinmake manifestG1718
ὅτιhotithatG3754
πατρίδαpatridatheir countryG3968
ἐπιζητοῦσιν.epizētousinthey are seeking.G1934

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

Cross references for Hebrews 11:14

  • 2 Corinthians 4:18-5:7

    While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. …

  • Romans 8:23-25

    And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

  • Hebrews 13:14

    For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

  • Hebrews 11:16

    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.

  • Philippians 1:23

    For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they seek.
16; 13:14; Ro 8:23-25; 2Co 4:18; 5:1-7; Php 1:23

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

Context

  • Hebrews 11:13

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

  • Hebrews 11:14

    For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

  • Hebrews 11:15

    And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

Read all of Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque los que esto dicen, claramente dan á entender que buscan una patria.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car ceux qui disent de telles choses montrent clairement qu’ils recherchent une patrie;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn die solches sagen, zeigen deutlich, daß sie ein Vaterland suchen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui enim hæc dicunt, significant se patriam inquirere.