Hebrews 11 · Verse 39

Hebrews 11:39

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Hebrews 11:39, King James Version

Hebrews 11:39 in other translations

BSBThese were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
WEBThese all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise,
ASVAnd these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,
YLTand these all, having been testified to through the faith, did not receive the promise,
DARBYAnd these all, having obtained witness through faith, did not receive the promise,
BBEAnd not one of these got the good things of the agreement, though they all had a good record through faith,
WebsterAnd these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

What does Hebrews 11:39 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
39. having obtained a good report--Greek, "being borne witness of." Though they were so, yet "they received not the promise," that is, the final completion of "salvation" promised at Christ's coming again (He 9:28); "the eternal inheritance" (He 9:15). Abraham did obtain the very thing promised (He 6:15) in part, namely, blessedness in soul after death, by virtue of faith in Christ about to come. The full blessedness of body and soul shall not be till the full number of the elect shall be accomplished, and all together, no one preceding the other, shall enter on the full glory and bliss. Moreover, in another point of view, "It is probable that some accumulation of blessedness was added to holy souls, when Christ came and fulfilled all things even as at His burial many rose from the dead, who doubtless ascended to heaven with Him" [Flacius in Bengel]. (Compare Note, see on Ep 4:8). The perfecting of believers in title, and in respect to conscience, took place once for all, at the death of Christ, by virtue of His being made by death perfect as Saviour. Their perfecting in soul at, and ever after Christ's death, took place, and takes place at their death. But the universal and final perfecting will not take place till Christ's coming.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 39. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith. They were all commended and approved on account of their confidence in God. Heb 11:2.

Received not the promise. That is, did not receive the fulfilment of the promise; or did not receive all that was promised. They all still looked forward to some future blessings. Heb 11:13.

(*) "report" "an honourable testimony"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 39 Having obtained a good report (having been witnessed to; see Heb 11:2) through faith - It was faith in God which supported all those eminent men who, in different parts of the world, and in different ages, were persecuted for righteousness sake. Received not the promise - They all heard of the promises made to Abraham of a heavenly rest, and of the promise of the Messiah, for this was a constant tradition; but they died without having seen this Anointed of the Lord. Christ was not in any of their times manifested in the flesh; and of him who was the expectation of all nations, they heard only by the hearing of the ear. This must be the promise, without receiving of which the apostle says they died.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 11:39-40
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 expected as good things from them. As our advantages, with the better things God has provided for us, are so much beyond theirs, so should our obedience of faith, patience of hope, and labour of love, be greater. And unless we get true faith as these believers had, they will rise up to condemn us at the last day. Let us then pray continually for the increase of our faith, that we may follow these bright examples, and be, with them, at length made perfect in holiness and happiness, and shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father for evermore.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Hebrews 11:39 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.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
οὗτοιhoutoitheseG3778
πάντεςpantesallG3956
μαρτυρηθέντεςmarturēthenteshaving been commendedG3140
διὰdiathroughG1223
τῆςtēstheG3588
πίστεωςpisteōsfaithG4102
οὐκouknotG3756
ἐκομίσαντοekomisantodid receiveG2865
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἐπαγγελίανepangelianpromiseG1860

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

Cross references for Hebrews 11:39

  • Luke 10:23-24

    And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

  • 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 11:2

    For by it the elders obtained a good report.

  • 1 Peter 1:12

    Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2,13; Lu 10:23,24; 1Pe 1:12

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

Context

  • Hebrews 11:38

    (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

  • Hebrews 11:39

    And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

  • Hebrews 11:40

    God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Read all of Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11:39 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y todos éstos, aprobados por testimonio de la fe, no recibieron la promesa;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et tous ceux-ci, ayant reçu témoignage par la foi, n’ont pas reçu ce qui avait été promis,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und diese alle, die durch den Glauben ein Zeugnis erlangten, haben die Verheißung nicht empfangen,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et hi omnes testimonio fidei probati, non acceperunt repromissionem,