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Selected Verse: Hebrews 11:13 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Heb 11:13	Strong Concordance	These [3778] all [3956] died [599] in [2596] faith [4102], not [3361] having received [2983] the promises [1860], but [235] having seen [1492] them [846] afar off [4207], and [2532] were persuaded of [3982] them, and [2532] embraced [782] them, and [2532] confessed [3670] that [3754] they were [1526] strangers [3581] and [2532] pilgrims [3927] on [1909] the earth [1093].
	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
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 Heb 11:20). These all--beginning with "Abraham" (Heb 11:8), to whom the promises were made (Gal 3:16), and who is alluded to in the end of Heb 11:13 and in Heb 11:15 [BENGEL and ALFORD]. But the "ALL" can hardly but include Abel, Enoch, and Noah. Now as these did not receive the promise of entering literal Canaan, some other promise made in the first ages, and often repeated, must be that meant, namely, the promise of a coming Redeemer made to Adam, namely, "the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." Thus the promises cannot have been merely temporal, for Abel and Enoch mentioned here received no temporal promise [ARCHBISHOP MAGEE]. This promise of eternal redemption is the inner essence of the promises made to Abraham (Gal 3:16). not having received--It was this that constituted their "faith." If they had "received" THE THING PROMISED (so "the promises" here mean: the plural is used because of the frequent renewal of the promise to the patriarchs: Heb 11:17 says he did receive the promises, but not the thing promised), it would have been sight, not faith. seen them afar off-- (Joh 8:56). Christ, as the Word, was preached to the Old Testament believers, and so became the seed of life to their souls, as He is to ours. and were persuaded of them--The oldest manuscripts omit this clause. embraced them--as though they were not "afar off," but within reach, so as to draw them to themselves and clasp them in their embrace. TRENCH denies that the Old Testament believers embraced them, for they only saw them afar off: he translates, "saluted them," as the homeward-bound mariner, recognizing from afar the well-known promontories of his native land. ALFORD translates, "greeted them." Jacob's exclamation, "I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord" (Gen 49:18) is such a greeting of salvation from afar [DELITZSCH]. confessed . . . were strangers--so Abraham to the children of Heth (Gen 23:4); and Jacob to Pharaoh (Gen 47:9; Psa 119:19). Worldly men hold fast the world; believers sit loose to it. Citizens of the world do not confess themselves "strangers on the earth." pilgrims--Greek, "temporary (literally, 'by the way') sojourners." on the earth--contrasted with "an heavenly" (Heb 11:16): "our citizenship is in heaven" (Greek: Heb 10:34; Psa 119:54; Phi 3:20). "Whosoever professes that he has a Father in heaven, confesses himself a stranger on earth; hence there is in the heart an ardent longing, like that of a child living among strangers, in want and grief, far from his fatherland" [LUTHER]. "Like ships in seas while in, above the world."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

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 Heb 11:20).

These all--beginning with "Abraham" (Heb 11:8), to whom the promises were made (Gal 3:16), and who is alluded to in the end of Heb 11:13 and in Heb 11:15 [BENGEL and ALFORD]. But the "ALL" can hardly but include Abel, Enoch, and Noah. Now as these did not receive the promise of entering literal Canaan, some other promise made in the first ages, and often repeated, must be that meant, namely, the promise of a coming Redeemer made to Adam, namely, "the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." Thus the promises cannot have been merely temporal, for Abel and Enoch mentioned here received no temporal promise [ARCHBISHOP MAGEE]. This promise of eternal redemption is the inner essence of the promises made to Abraham (Gal 3:16).

not having received--It was this that constituted their "faith." If they had "received" THE THING PROMISED (so "the promises" here mean: the plural is used because of the frequent renewal of the promise to the patriarchs: Heb 11:17 says he did receive the promises, but not the thing promised), it would have been sight, not faith.

seen them afar off-- (Joh 8:56). Christ, as the Word, was preached to the Old Testament believers, and so became the seed of life to their souls, as He is to ours.

and were persuaded of them--The oldest manuscripts omit this clause.

embraced them--as though they were not "afar off," but within reach, so as to draw them to themselves and clasp them in their embrace. TRENCH denies that the Old Testament believers embraced them, for they only saw them afar off: he translates, "saluted them," as the homeward-bound mariner, recognizing from afar the well-known promontories of his native land. ALFORD translates, "greeted them." Jacob's exclamation, "I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord" (Gen 49:18) is such a greeting of salvation from afar [DELITZSCH].

confessed . . . were strangers--so Abraham to the children of Heth (Gen 23:4); and Jacob to Pharaoh (Gen 47:9; Psa 119:19). Worldly men hold fast the world; believers sit loose to it. Citizens of the world do not confess themselves "strangers on the earth."

pilgrims--Greek, "temporary (literally, 'by the way') sojourners."

on the earth--contrasted with "an heavenly" (Heb 11:16): "our citizenship is in heaven" (Greek: Heb 10:34; Psa 119:54; Phi 3:20). "Whosoever professes that he has a Father in heaven, confesses himself a stranger on earth; hence there is in the heart an ardent longing, like that of a child living among strangers, in want and grief, far from his fatherland" [LUTHER]. "Like ships in seas while in, above the world."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
These all died in faith - That is, those who had been just mentioned - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Sarah. It was true of Abel and Noah also that they died in faith, but they are not included in "this" declaration, for the "promises" were not particularly entrusted to them, and if the word "these" be made to include them it must include Enoch also, who did not die at all. The phrase used here, "these all died in faith," does not mean that they died in the exercise or possession of religion, but more strictly that they died not having possessed what was the object of their faith. They had been looking for something future, which they did not obtain during their lifetime, and died believing that it would yet be theirs. Not having received the promises - That is, not having received the "fulfillment" of the promises; or "the promised blessings." The promises themselves they "had" received; compare Luk 24:49; Act 1:4; Act 2:39; Gal 3:14, and Heb 11:33, Heb 11:39. In all these places the word "promise" is used by metonymy "for the thing promised." But having seen them afar off - Having seen that they would be fulfilled in future times; compare Joh 8:56. It is probable that the apostle here means that they saw "the entire fulfillment" of all that the promises embraced in the future - that is, the bestowment of the land of Canaan, the certainty of a numerous posterity, and of the entrance into the heavenly Canaan - the world of fixed and permanent rest. According to the reasoning of the apostle here the "promises" to which they trusted included all these things.And were persuaded of them - Had no doubt of their reality. And embraced them - This word implies more than our word "embrace" frequently does; that is, "to receive as true." It means properly "to draw to oneself;" and then to embrace as one does a friend from whom he has been separated. It then means to greet, salute, welcome, and here means a joyful greeting of those promises; or a pressing them to the heart as we do a friend. It was not a cold and formal reception of them, but a warm and hearty welcome. Such is the nature of true faith when it embraces the promises of salvation. No act of pressing a friend to the bosom is ever more warm and cordial. And confessed that they were strangers - Thus, Abraham said Gen 23:4, "I am a stranger and a sojourner with you." That is, he regarded himself as a foreigner; as having no home and no possessions there. It was on this ground that he proposed to buy a burial-place of the sons of Heth. And pilgrims - This is the word - παρεπίδημος parepidēmos - which is used by Abraham, as rendered by the Septuagint in Gen 23:4, and which is translated "sojourner" there in the common English version. The word "pilgrim" means properly "a wanderer, a traveler," and particularly one who leaves his own country to visit a holy place. This sense does not quite suit the meaning here, or in Gen 23:4. The Hebrew word - תּושׁב towshaab - means properly one who "dwells in a place," and particularly one who is a "mere" resident without the rights of a citizen. The Greek word means a "by-resident;" one who lives by another; or among a people not his own. This is the idea here. It is not that they confessed themselves to be wanderers; or that they had left their home to visit a holy place, but that they "resided" as mere sojourners in a, country that was not theirs. What might be their ultimate destination, or their purpose, is not implied in the meaning of the word. They were such as reside awhile among another people, but have no permanent home there. On the earth - The phrase used here - ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς epi tēs gēs - might mean merely on the land of Canaan, but the apostle evidently uses it in a larger sense as denoting the earth in general. There can be no doubt that this accords with the views which the patriarchs had - regarding themselves not only as strangers in the land of Canaan, but feeling that the same thing was true in reference to their whole residence upon the earth - that it was not their permanent home.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
confessed That is, acted upon them.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
In faith (κατὰ πίστιν) See on Heb 11:7. Not having received (μὴ κομισάμενοι) See on Heb 10:36. They died according to faith, inasmuch as they did not receive. They died under the regimen of faith, and not of sight. For the phrase κομίζειν τὰς ἐπαγγελίας to receive the promises, comp. Heb 10:36; Heb 11:39. Having seen them afar off (πόρρωθεν αύτὰς ἰδόντες) By faith; from afar. Were persuaded of them and embraced them (ἀσπασάμενοι) The A.V. completely destroys the beauty of this verse. It reads were persuaded, following T.R. πεισθέντες, and translates ἀσπασάμενοι embraced, which is a sort of inferential rendering of the original sense to salute or greet. Rend. "having seen them from afar and greeted them": as seamen wave their greeting to a country seen far off on the horizon, on which they cannot land. Lnemann appropriately quotes Virgil, Aen. iii. 522: "Cum proculi obscuros collis humilemque videmus Italiam. Italiam primus conclamat Achates, Italiam laeto socii clamore salutant." Confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims (ὁμολογήσαντες ὅτι ξένοι καὶ παρεπίδημοι) They admitted and accepted the fact with the resignation of faith, and with the assurance of future rest. Comp. Gen 23:4; Gen 24:37; Gen 28:4; Gen 47:9; Psa 39:12; Psa 119:19, Psa 119:54. For παρεπίδημοι sojourners, see on Pe1 1:1. In the anonymous Epistle to Diognetus, an apologetic letter, probably of the second century, and one of the gems of early Christian literature, occur the following words concerning Christians: "They inhabit their own country, but as sojourners: they take part in all things as citizens, and endure all things as aliens: every foreign country is theirs, and every country is foreign."

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
All these - - Mentioned Heb 11:7-11. Died in faith - In death faith acts most vigorously. Not having received the promises - The promised blessings. Embraced - As one does a dear friend when he meets him.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
These all died in faith - That is, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob, continued to believe, to the end of their lives, that God would fulfill this promise; but they neither saw the numerous seed, nor did they get the promised rest in Canaan. Strangers and pilgrims - Strangers, ξενοι, persons who are out of their own country, who are in a foreign land: pilgrims, παρεπιδημοι, sojourners only for a time; not intending to take up their abode in that place, nor to get naturalized in that country. How many use these expressions, professing to be strangers and pilgrims here below, and yet the whole of their conduct, spirit, and attachments, show that they are perfectly at home! How little consideration and weight are in many of our professions, whether they relate to earth or heaven!

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²⁰ For [1063] our [2257] conversation [4175] is [5225] in [1722] heaven [3772]; from [1537] whence [3739] also [2532] we look for [553] the Saviour [4990], the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]:

⁵⁴ Thy statutes [02706] have been my songs [02158] in the house [01004] of my pilgrimage [04033].

³⁴ For [2532] [1063] ye had compassion [4834] of me in my [3450] bonds [1199], and [2532] took [4327] joyfully [3326] [5479] the spoiling [724] of your [5216] goods [5224], knowing [1097] in [1722] yourselves [1438] that ye have [2192] in [1722] heaven [3772] a better [2909] and [2532] an enduring [3306] substance [5223].

¹⁶ But [1161] now [3570] they desire [3713] a better [2909] country, that is [5123], an heavenly [2032]: wherefore [1352] God [2316] is [1870] not [3756] ashamed [1870] [846] to be called [1941] their [846] God [2316]: for [1063] he hath prepared [2090] for them [846] a city [4172].

¹⁹ I am a stranger [01616] in the earth [0776]: hide [05641] not thy commandments [04687] from me.

⁹ And Jacob [03290] said [0559] unto Pharaoh [06547], The days [03117] of the years [08141] of my pilgrimage [04033] are an hundred [03967] and thirty [07970] years [08141]: few [04592] and evil [07451] have the days [03117] of the years [08141] of my life [02416] been, and have not attained [05381] unto the days [03117] of the years [08141] of the life [02416] of my fathers [01] in the days [03117] of their pilgrimage [04033].

⁴ I am a stranger [01616] and a sojourner [08453] with you: give [05414] me a possession [0272] of a buryingplace [06913] with you, that I may bury [06912] my dead [04191] out of my sight [06440].

¹⁸ I have waited for [06960] thy salvation [03444], O LORD [03068].

⁵⁶ Your [5216] father [3962] Abraham [11] rejoiced [21] to [2443] see [1492] my [1699] day [2250]: and [2532] he saw [1492] it, and [2532] was glad [5463].

¹⁷ By faith [4102] Abraham [11], when he was tried [3985], offered up [4374] Isaac [2464]: and [2532] he that had received [324] the promises [1860] offered up [4374] his only begotten [3439] son,

¹⁶ Now [1161] to Abraham [11] and [2532] his [846] seed [4690] were [4483] the promises [1860] made [4483]. He saith [3004] not [3756], And [2532] to seeds [4690], as [5613] of [1909] many [4183]; but [235] as [5613] of [1909] one [1520], And [2532] to thy [4675] seed [4690], which [3739] is [2076] Christ [5547].

¹⁵ And [2532] truly [3303], if [1487] they had been mindful [3421] of that [1565] country from [575] whence [3739] they came out [1831], they might [302] have had [2192] opportunity [2540] to have returned [344].

¹³ These [3778] all [3956] died [599] in [2596] faith [4102], not [3361] having received [2983] the promises [1860], but [235] having seen [1492] them [846] afar off [4207], and [2532] were persuaded of [3982] them, and [2532] embraced [782] them, and [2532] confessed [3670] that [3754] they were [1526] strangers [3581] and [2532] pilgrims [3927] on [1909] the earth [1093].

⁸ By faith [4102] Abraham [11], when he was called [2564] to go out [1831] into [1519] a place [5117] which [3739] he should after [3195] receive [2983] for [1519] an inheritance [2817], obeyed [5219]; and [2532] he went out [1831], not [3361] knowing [1987] whither [4226] he went [2064].

²⁰ By faith [4102] Isaac [2464] blessed [2127] Jacob [2384] and [2532] Esau [2269] concerning [4012] things to come [3195].

⁴ I am a stranger [01616] and a sojourner [08453] with you: give [05414] me a possession [0272] of a buryingplace [06913] with you, that I may bury [06912] my dead [04191] out of my sight [06440].

⁵⁶ Your [5216] father [3962] Abraham [11] rejoiced [21] to [2443] see [1492] my [1699] day [2250]: and [2532] he saw [1492] it, and [2532] was glad [5463].

³⁹ And [2532] these [3778] all [3956], having obtained a good report [3140] through [1223] faith [4102], received [2865] not [3756] the promise [1860]:

³³ Who [3739] through [1223] faith [4102] subdued [2610] kingdoms [932], wrought [2038] righteousness [1343], obtained [2013] promises [1860], stopped [5420] the mouths [4750] of lions [3023],

¹⁴ That [2443] the blessing [2129] of Abraham [11] might come [1096] on [1519] the Gentiles [1484] through [1722] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]; that [2443] we might receive [2983] the promise [1860] of the Spirit [4151] through [1223] faith [4102].

³⁹ For [1063] the promise [1860] is [2076] unto you [5213], and [2532] to your [5216] children [5043], and [2532] to all [3956] that are afar off [1519] [3112], even as many as [3745] the Lord [2962] our [2257] God [2316] shall call [302] [4341].

⁴ And [2532], being assembled together [4871] with [846] them, commanded [3853] them [846] that they should [5563] not [3361] depart [5563] from [575] Jerusalem [2414], but [235] wait [4037] for the promise [1860] of the Father [3962], which [3739], saith he, ye have heard [191] of me [3450].

⁴⁹ And [2532], behold [2400], I [1473] send [649] the promise [1860] of my [3450] Father [3962] upon [1909] you [5209]: but [1161] tarry [2523] ye [5210] in [1722] the city [4172] of Jerusalem [2419], until [2193] ye [3739] be endued [1746] with power [1411] from [1537] on high [5311].

¹ Peter [4074], an apostle [652] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], to the strangers [3927] scattered [1290] throughout Pontus [4195], Galatia [1053], Cappadocia [2587], Asia [773], and [2532] Bithynia [978],

⁵⁴ Thy statutes [02706] have been my songs [02158] in the house [01004] of my pilgrimage [04033].

¹⁹ I am a stranger [01616] in the earth [0776]: hide [05641] not thy commandments [04687] from me.

¹² Hear [08085] my prayer [08605], O LORD [03068], and give ear [0238] unto my cry [07775]; hold not thy peace [02790] at my tears [01832]: for I am a stranger [01616] with thee, and a sojourner [08453], as all my fathers [01] were.

⁴ And give [05414] thee the blessing [01293] of Abraham [085], to thee, and to thy seed [02233] with thee; that thou mayest inherit [03423] the land [0776] wherein thou art a stranger [04033], which God [0430] gave [05414] unto Abraham [085].

³⁷ And my master [0113] made me swear [07650], saying [0559], Thou shalt not take [03947] a wife [0802] to my son [01121] of the daughters [01323] of the Canaanites [03669], in whose land [0776] I dwell [03427]:

⁴ I am a stranger [01616] and a sojourner [08453] with you: give [05414] me a possession [0272] of a buryingplace [06913] with you, that I may bury [06912] my dead [04191] out of my sight [06440].

³⁹ And [2532] these [3778] all [3956], having obtained a good report [3140] through [1223] faith [4102], received [2865] not [3756] the promise [1860]:

³⁶ For [1063] ye have [2192] need [5532] of patience [5281], that [2443], after ye have done [4160] the will [2307] of God [2316], ye might receive [2865] the promise [1860].

⁷ By faith [4102] Noah [3575], being warned of God [5537] of [4012] things not [3369] seen [991] as yet [3369], moved with fear [2125], prepared [2680] an ark [2787] to [1519] the saving [4991] of his [846] house [3624]; by [1223] the which [3739] he condemned [2632] the world [2889], and [2532] became [1096] heir [2818] of the righteousness [1343] which is by [2596] faith [4102].
⁸ By faith [4102] Abraham [11], when he was called [2564] to go out [1831] into [1519] a place [5117] which [3739] he should after [3195] receive [2983] for [1519] an inheritance [2817], obeyed [5219]; and [2532] he went out [1831], not [3361] knowing [1987] whither [4226] he went [2064].
⁹ By faith [4102] he sojourned [3939] in [1519] the land [1093] of promise [1860], as [5613] in a strange country [245], dwelling [2730] in [1722] tabernacles [4633] with [3326] Isaac [2464] and [2532] Jacob [2384], the heirs with him [4789] of the same [846] promise [1860]:
¹⁰ For [1063] he looked for [1551] a city [4172] which hath [2192] foundations [2310], whose [3739] builder [5079] and [2532] maker [1217] is God [2316].
¹¹ Through faith [4102] also [2532] Sara [4564] herself [846] received [2983] strength [1411] to [1519] conceive [2602] seed [4690], and [2532] was delivered of a child [5088] when she was past [3844] age [2540] [2244], because [1893] she judged [2233] him faithful [4103] who had promised [1861].