The Meaning of Hebrews 11:13 Explained

Hebrews 11:13

KJV: 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.

YLT: In faith died all these, not having received the promises, but from afar having seen them, and having been persuaded, and having saluted them, and having confessed that strangers and sojourners they are upon the earth,

Darby: All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.

ASV: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Hebrews 11:13 Mean?

Study Notes

confessed
i.e. acted upon them.

Context Summary

Hebrews 11:11-22 - Seeking The Better Country
Faith has the twofold power, first, of making the unseen real; and second, of receiving the grace and strength of God into the heart. Sarah, through faith, received strength to bear Isaac. By faith may come physical as well as spiritual strength.
The pilgrim life is possible only for those who have seen the city of God beckoning them from afar. Then they strike their tents and follow the gleam. By faith they so comport themselves that God is not ashamed to own them. They will discover, even in this life, that they have not trusted Him in vain, and that the half has not been told. On the mere rumor that a new gold field is found, men sell off everything in their mad rush. How many are disappointed! But none of those that trust God shall be left desolate.
Abraham was absolutely sure that Isaac would return with him, even though the lad might die beneath the knife. When leaving the young men at Moriah's foot, he said: "We will worship and come again." Had not God's voice definitely designated Isaac as his heir? [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 11

1  What faith is
6  Without faith we cannot please God
7  The examples of faithfulness in the fathers of old time

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 11:13

In faith [κατα πιστιν]
Here a break in the routine πιστει — pistei (by faith), “according to faith,” either for literary variety “or to suggest πιστις — pistis as the sphere and standard of their characters” (Moffatt). These all Those in Hebrews 11:9-12 (Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob). Not having the promises First aorist middle participle of κομιζω — komizō to obtain, as in Hebrews 10:36; Hebrews 11:39. And yet the author mentions Abraham (Hebrews 6:15) as having obtained the promise. He received the promise of the Messiah, but did not live to see the Messiah come as we have done. It is in this sense that we have “better promises.” Greeted them First aorist middle participle of ασπαζομαι — aspazomai to salute (Matthew 5:47). Abraham rejoiced to see Christ‘s day in the dim distance (John 8:56). Strangers Foreigners. “To reside abroad carried with it a certain stigma” (Moffatt). But they “confessed” it (Genesis 23:4; Genesis 47:9). Pilgrims Late double compound (παρα επι δημος — para class="translit"> epi class="translit"> dēmos), a sojourner from another land, in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 1:1; 1 Peter 2:11. [source]
In faith [κατὰ πίστιν]
See on Hebrews 11:7. [source]
Not having received [μὴ κομισάμενοι]
See on Hebrews 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 toreceive the promises, comp. Hebrews 10:36; Hebrews 11:39. [source]
Having seen them afar off [πόρρωθεν αύτὰς ἰδόντες]
By faith; from afar. [source]
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 embracedwhich 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. Lünemann appropriately quotes Virgil, Aen. iii. 522:“Cum proculi obscuros collis humilemque videmusItaliam. Italiam primus conclamat Achates,Italiam laeto socii clamore salutant.” [source]
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. Genesis 23:4; Genesis 24:37; Genesis 28:4; Genesis 47:9; Psalm 39:12; Psalm 119:19, Psalm 119:54. For παρεπίδημοι sojournerssee on 1 Peter 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.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 11:13

John 12:41 Because he saw his glory [οτι ειδεν την δοχαν αυτου]
Correct reading here οτι — hoti (because), not οτε — hote (when). Isaiah with spiritual vision saw the glory of the Messiah and spoke Cf. Hebrews 11:13. [source]
John 8:56 Rejoiced [ηγαλλιασατο]
First aorist middle indicative of αγαλλιαομαι — agalliaomai a word of Hellenistic coinage from αγαλλομαι — agallomai to rejoice. To see Sub-final use of ινα — hina and second aorist active subjunctive of οραω — horaō This joy of Abraham is referred to in Hebrews 11:13 (saluting, ασπασαμενοι — aspasamenoi the promises from afar). There was a Jewish tradition that Abraham saw the whole history of his descendants in the vision of Genesis 15:6., but that is not necessary here. He did look for and welcome the Messianic time, “my day” “He saw it, and was glad” Second aorist active indicative of οραω — horaō and second aorist passive indicative of χαιρω — chairō Ye see it and are angry! [source]
2 Corinthians 5:6 We are absent [ἐκδημοῦμεν]
Lit., we live abroad. Only in this chapter. Compare Philemon 1:23; Philemon 3:20; Hebrews 11:13; Hebrews 13:14. There is a play upon the words which might be expressed by at home, from home. [source]
Titus 1:16 They profess [ὁμολογοῦσιν]
Better, confess. See on 2 Corinthians 9:13, and comp. 1 Timothy 6:12. Not loudly and publicly profess (as Huther), but confess as opposed to deny (John 1:20); comp. Hebrews 11:13; Romans 10:9, Romans 10:10. [source]
Hebrews 13:14 One to come [τὴν μέλλουσαν]
Rend. “that which is to come.” The heavenly Jerusalem. Comp. Hebrews 11:10, Hebrews 11:13-16. -DIVIDER-
The course of thought in Hebrews 13:9-14is as follows: Be not carried away with divers and strange teachings, for example, those concerning meats and drinks and sacrificial feasts. It is good that the heart be established, rather than that the body should be ceremonially pure; and that the heart be established by the grace of God in Christ, which alone can give inward peace, a pure conscience, an established rest and security - rather than by the consciousness of having partaken of meats ceremonially clean: for those whose religious life was under the regimen of this ceremonial system derived no permanent profit from it. Not only so, the two systems exclude each other. You cannot hold by the Levitical system and enjoy the blessings of Christian salvation. It is the sacrifice of Christ through which you become partakers of grace. It is impossible to obtain grace through meats; for meats represent the economy which denies Christ; and, by seeking establishment through meats, you exclude yourselves from the economy which is the only vehicle of grace. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Accordingly, we have an altar and a sacrifice from which the votary of Leviticalism is excluded. By the Levitical law it was forbidden to eat the flesh of the victim offered on the Great Day of Atonement; so that, if the Levitical law still holds for you, you cannot partake of the Christian's atoning victim. The law under which you are prohibits you. According to that law, there is nothing to eat of in an atoning sacrifice, since the body of the victim is burned. Neither priest nor people have anything more to do with it, and, therefore, it is carried outside of the camp or city, outside of the region of O.T. covenant-fellowship. Similarly, so long as you hold by Judaism, participation in Christ's atoning sacrifice is impossible for you. It is outside your religious sphere, like the body of the victim outside the gate. You cannot eat of our altar. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The blood of the Levitical victim was carried into the holy of holies and remained there. If you seek the benefit of that blood, it must be within the camp, at the Levitical tabernacle or temple. And you cannot have the benefit of Christ's blood, for that compels you to go outside the gate, where he suffered. According to the O.T. law, you could partake of the benefit of the blood, but you could not eat of the body. Christ's sacrifice gives you both body and blood as spiritual food; but these you must seek outside of Judaism. Thus, by means of the O.T. ritual itself, it is shown that the Jewish and the Christian systems exclude each other. Christ must be sought outside of the Jewish pale. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

Hebrews 10:36 Ye might receive the promise [κομίσησθε τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν]
Comp. Hebrews 11:13, Hebrews 11:39, and see on 1 Peter 1:8. The verb implies, not mere obtaining, but receiving and carrying away for use and enjoyment. [source]
Hebrews 11:39 These all [ουτοι παντες]
The whole list in verses 5-38. Cf. Hebrews 11:13. Through their faith Here rather than πιστει — pistei as so often. Received not the promise First aorist middle of κομιζω — komizō The Messianic promise they did not live to see (Hebrews 11:13), though they had individual special promises fulfilled as already shown (Hebrews 11:33). [source]
Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried away [μη παραπερεστε]
Prohibition with μη — mē and present passive imperative of παραπερω — parapherō old verb to lead along (Judges 1:12), to carry past (Mark 14:36), to lead astray as here. By divers and strange teachings For ποικιλος — poikilos (many coloured) see Hebrews 2:4. Χενος — Xenos for guest we have had in Hebrews 11:13, but here as adjective meaning unheard of (1 Peter 4:12) as in older Greek also. The new is not always wrong any more than the old is always right (Matthew 13:52). But the air was already full of new and strange teachings that fascinated many by their very novelty. The warning here is always needed. Cf. Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Timothy 3:16. That the heart be established by grace Present passive infinitive of βεβαιοω — bebaioō (from βαινω — bainō) to make stable with the instrumental case χαριτι — chariti (by grace) and the accusative of general reference How true it is that in the atmosphere of so many windy theories only the heart is stable that has an experience of God‘s grace in Christ. That occupied themselves “That walked” in the ritualistic Jewish rules about meats. Were not profited First aorist passive indicative of ωπελεω — ōpheleō to help. Mere Jewish ceremonialism and ritualism failed to build up the spiritual life. It was sheer folly to give up Christ for Pharisaism or for Moses. [source]
1 Peter 1:1 Sojourners [παρεπιδήμοις]
Persons sojourning for a brief season in a foreign country. Though applied primarily to Hebrews scattered throughout the world (Genesis 23:4; Psalm 39:12), it has here a wider, spiritual sense, contemplating Christians as having their citizenship in heaven. Compare Hebrews 11:13. The preposition παρά , in composition, implies a sense of transitoriness, as of one who passes by to something beyond. [source]
1 Peter 1:1 An apostle of Jesus Christ [αποστολος Ιησου Χριστου]
This is his official title, but in 2 Peter 1:1 δουλος — doulos is added, which occurs alone in James 1:1. In 2 John and 3 John we have only ο πρεσβυτερος — ho presbuteros (the elder), as Peter terms himself συνπρεσβυτερος — sunpresbuteros in 1 Peter 5:1. Paul‘s usage varies greatly: only the names in 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians, the title αποστολος — apostolos added and defended in Galatians and Romans as also in 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians and Colossians and Ephesians and 2 Timothy with “by the will of God” added, and in 1 Timothy with the addition of “according to the command of God.” In Philippians Paul has only “δουλος — doulos (slave) Χριστου Ιησου — Christou Iēsou like James and Jude. In Romans and Titus Paul has both δουλος — doulos and αποστολος — apostolos like 2 Peter, while in Philemon he uses only δεσμιος — desmios (prisoner) Ιησου Χριστου — Iēsou Christou the elect Without article (with the article in Matthew 24:22, Matthew 24:24, Matthew 24:31) and dative case, “to elect persons” (viewed as a group). Bigg takes εκλεκτοις — eklektois (old, but rare verbal adjective from εκλεγω — eklegō to pick out, to select) as an adjective describing the next word, “to elect sojourners.” That is possible and is like γενος εκλεκτον — genos eklekton in 1 Peter 2:9. See the distinction between κλητοι — klētoi (called) and εκλεκτοι — eklektoi (chosen) in Matthew 22:14.Who are sojourners (παρεπιδημοις — parepidēmois). Late double compound adjective (παρα επιδημουντες — paraδιασπορας — epidēmountes Acts 2:10, to sojourn by the side of natives), strangers sojourning for a while in a particular place. So in Polybius, papyri, in lxx only twice (Genesis 23:4 or Psalm 38:13), in N.T. only here, 1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13. The picture in the metaphor here is that heaven is our native country and we are only temporary sojourners here on earth.Of the Dispersion See John 7:35 for literal sense of the word for scattered (from diaspeirō to scatter abroad, Acts 8:1) Jews outside of Palestine, and James 1:1 for the sense here to Jewish Christians, including Gentile Christians (only N T. examples). Note absence of the article, though a definite conception (of the Dispersion). The Christian is a pilgrim on his way to the homeland. These five Roman provinces include what we call Asia Minor north and west of the Taurus mountain range (Hort). Hort suggests that the order here suggests that Silvanus (bearer of the Epistle) was to land in Pontus from the Euxine Sea, proceed through Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, to Bithynia, where he would re-embark for Rome. This, he holds, explains the separation of Pontus and Bithynia, though the same province. Only Galatia and Asia are mentioned elsewhere in the N.T. as having Christian converts, but the N.T. by no means gives a full account of the spread of the Gospel, as can be judged from Colossians 1:6, Colossians 1:23. [source]
1 Peter 1:1 Who are sojourners [παρεπιδημοις]
Late double compound adjective (παρα επιδημουντες — paraδιασπορας — epidēmountes Acts 2:10, to sojourn by the side of natives), strangers sojourning for a while in a particular place. So in Polybius, papyri, in lxx only twice (Genesis 23:4 or Psalm 38:13), in N.T. only here, 1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13. The picture in the metaphor here is that heaven is our native country and we are only temporary sojourners here on earth. [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 11:13 mean?

In faith died these all not having received the promises but from afar them having seen and having embraced [them] having confessed that strangers sojourners they are on the earth
Κατὰ πίστιν ἀπέθανον οὗτοι πάντες μὴ κομισάμενοι τὰς ἐπαγγελίας ἀλλὰ πόρρωθεν αὐτὰς ἰδόντες καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι ὁμολογήσαντες ὅτι ξένοι παρεπίδημοί εἰσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

πίστιν  faith 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
ἀπέθανον  died 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.
οὗτοι  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
κομισάμενοι  having  received 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
ἐπαγγελίας  promises 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἐπαγγελία  
Sense: announcement.
πόρρωθεν  from  afar 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πόρρωθεν  
Sense: from afar, afar off.
ἰδόντες  having  seen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
ἀσπασάμενοι  having  embraced  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπασπάζομαι 
Sense: to draw to one’s self.
ὁμολογήσαντες  having  confessed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὁμολογέω  
Sense: to say the same thing as another, i.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ξένοι  strangers 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ξένος  
Sense: a foreigner, a stranger.
παρεπίδημοί  sojourners 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: παρεπίδημος  
Sense: one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives.
εἰσιν  they  are 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
γῆς  earth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.