Hebrews 13 · Verse 14

Hebrews 13:14

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Hebrews 13:14, King James Version

Hebrews 13:14 in other translations

BSBFor here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
WEBFor we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.
ASVFor we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come.
YLTfor we have not here an abiding city, but the coming one we seek;
DARBYfor we have not here an abiding city, but we seek the coming one.
BBEFor here we have no fixed resting-place, but our search is for the one which is to come.
WebsterFor here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

What does Hebrews 13:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. here--on earth. Those Hebrews who clung to the earthly sanctuary are representatives of all who cling to this earth. The earthly Jerusalem proved to be no "abiding city," having been destroyed shortly after this Epistle was written, and with it fell the Jewish civil and religious polity; a type of the whole of our present earthly order of things soon to perish. one to come--(He 2:5; 11:10, 14, 16; 12:22; Php 3:20).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. For here we have no continuing city, etc. We do not regard this as our final home, or our fixed abode, and we should be willing to bear reproaches during the little time that we are to remain here. Comp. Heb 11:10, seq. If, therefore, in consequence of our professed attachment to the Saviour, we should be driven away from our habitations, and compelled to wander, we should be willing to submit to it, for our permanent home is not here, but in heaven. The object of the writer seems to be to comfort the Hebrew Christians on the supposition that they would be driven by persecution from the city of Jerusalem, and doomed to wander as exiles. He tells them that their Lord was led from that city to be put to death, and they should be willing to go forth also; that their permanent home was not Jerusalem, but heaven; and they should be willing, in view of that blessed abode, to be exiled from the city where they dwelt, and made wanderers in the earth.

(d) "here" Mic 2:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 For here have we no continuing city - Here is an elegant and forcible allusion to the approaching destruction of Jerusalem. The Jerusalem that was below was about to be burnt with fire, and erased to the ground; the Jerusalem that was from above was that alone which could be considered to be μενουσαν, permanent. The words seem to say: "Arise, and depart; for this is not your rest: it is polluted:" About seven or eight years after this, Jerusalem was wholly destroyed.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 13:7-15

The instructions and examples of ministers, who honourably and comfortably closed their testimony, should be particularly remembered by survivors. And though their ministers were some dead, others dying, yet the great Head and High Priest of the church, the Bishop of their souls, ever lives, and is ever the same. Christ is the same in the Old Testament day. as in the gospel day, and will be so to his people for…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 13:7-15 →

Hebrews 13:14 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.

οὐouNotG3756
γὰρgarforG1063
ἔχομενechomenwe haveG2192
ὧδεhōdehereG5602
μένουσανmenousanan abidingG3306
πόλιν,polincity,G4172
ἀλλὰallabutG235
τὴνtēntheG3588
μέλλουσανmellousancoming [one]G3195
ἐπιζητοῦμεν.epizētoumenwe are seeking for.G1934

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

Cross references for Hebrews 13:14

  • Philippians 3:20

    For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

  • Colossians 3:1-3

    If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

  • Hebrews 12:22

    But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

  • Hebrews 11:12-16

    Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 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. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. …

  • 2 Peter 3:13-14

    Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

  • Ephesians 2:19

    Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

  • 2 Corinthians 4:17-5:8

    For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 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: …

  • Micah 2:10

    Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.

  • Hebrews 11:9-10

    By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

  • 1 Peter 4:7

    But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:29

    But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

  • Hebrews 4:9

    There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4:9; 11:9,10,12-16; 12:22; Mic 2:10; 1Co 7:29; 2Co 4:17,18; 5:1-8
Php 3:20; *Gr:
Col 3:1-3; 1Pe 4:7; 2Pe 3:13,14

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

Context

  • Hebrews 13:13

    Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

  • Hebrews 13:14

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

  • Hebrews 13:15

    By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Read all of Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Porque no tenemos aquí ciudad permanente, mas buscamos la por venir.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
car nous n’avons pas ici de cité permanente, mais nous recherchons celle qui est à venir.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Denn wir haben hier keine bleibende Stadt, sondern wir suchen die zukünftige.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Non enim habemus hic manentem civitatem, sed futuram inquirimus.