The Meaning of Hebrews 10:37 Explained

Hebrews 10:37

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

YLT: for yet a very very little, He who is coming will come, and will not tarry;

Darby: For yet a very little while he that comes will come, and will not delay.

ASV: For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Hebrews 10:37 Mean?

Context Summary

Hebrews 10:26-39 - Beware Of Backsliding
The willful sin here referred to does not consist in isolated acts, but in a determined course of action, persisted in until the very desire for a better life wanes and dies out of the soul.
These strong remonstrances were needed in those days of sore persecution. Three considerations are adduced, urging steadfastness: (1.) The certain punishment which must follow on the rejection of the greatest gifts that God can make, so much richer than anything presented under the Mosaic covenant. (2.) The sufferings already endured, the reward for which would-be forfeited, if these harried souls were now to draw back. (3.) The near advent of the Christ, who would not fail to compensate His faithful servants.
Then we are reminded that the just-those who have been accepted in the Beloved-live; that is, may derive all the reinforcements of soul strength and patience that they require, from the unseen and eternal world where Jesus waits to succor and uphold. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 10

1  The weakness of the law sacrifices
10  The sacrifice of Christ's body once offered,
14  for ever has taken away sins
19  An exhortation to hold fast the faith with patience and thanksgiving

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 10:37

A very little while [μικρον οσον οσον]
From Isaiah 26:20 as an introduction to the quotation from Habakkuk 2:3. He that cometh The article ο — ho is added to ερχομενος — erchomenos in Habakkuk 2:3 and is given here a Messianic application. [source]
A little while [μικρὸν ὅσον ὅσον]
Strictly, a very little while. The phrase N.T.oIt is not part of the quotation, but is taken from Isaiah 26:20, the only instance. See Aristoph. Wasps, 213. [source]
He that shall come will come [ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἥξει]
Rend. “he that cometh will come.” In the Hebrew (Habakkuk 2:3) the subject of the sentence is the vision of the extermination of the Chaldees. “The vision - will surely come.” As rendered in the lxx, either Jehovah or Messiah must be the subject. The passage was referred to Messiah by the later Jewish theologians, and is so taken by our writer, as is shown by the article before ἐρχόμενος . Comp. Matthew 11:3; Matthew 21:9; John 11:27. Similarly he refers ἥξει shallcome to the final coming of Messiah to judge the world. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 10:37

Matthew 11:3 He that cometh [ο ερχομενος]
This phrase refers to the Messiah (Mark 11:9; Luke 13:35; Luke 19:38; Hebrews 10:37; Psalm 118:26; Daniel 7:13). Some rabbis applied the phrase to some forerunner of the kingdom (McNeile). Was there to be “another” It was once clear enough to him, but his environment was depressing and Jesus had done nothing to get him out of Machaerus (see chapter IX in my John the Loyal). John longed for reassurance. [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 10:37 mean?

Yet for A little very while the [One] coming will come and not will delay
ἔτι γὰρ Μικρὸν ὅσον ὅσον ἐρχόμενος ἥξει καὶ οὐ χρονίσει

ἔτι  Yet 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
Μικρὸν  A  little 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: μικρός  
Sense: small, little.
ὅσον  very 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅσος  
Sense: as great as, as far as, how much, how many, whoever.
ὅσον  while 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅσος  
Sense: as great as, as far as, how much, how many, whoever.
  the  [One] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐρχόμενος  coming 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
ἥξει  will  come 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἥκω  
Sense: to have come, have arrived, be present.
χρονίσει  will  delay 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: χρονίζω  
Sense: to linger, delay, tarry.