Hebrews 10:38
What does Hebrews 10:38 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 10:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 10:38 means
The principle is stated: God’s righteous one lives by faith, and if he shrinks back, God has no pleasure in him. Life under the new covenant is defined by trusting reliance on God’s promise, not retreat in fear. Faith is the means by which righteousness expresses itself; shrinking back is the posture that forfeits God’s approval. The verse both assures and warns: the path to life is faith, and turning away displeases God. It calls readers to align with the faithful—those whose stance is forward-looking trust amid trial—rather than with those who pull back under pressure.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But the upright man will be living by his faith; and if he goes back, my soul will have no pleasure in him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and `the righteous by faith shall live,' and `if he may draw back, My soul hath no pleasure in him,'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But my just man liveth by faith: but if he withdraw himself, he shall not please my soul.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But the just shall live by faith; and, if he draw back, my soul does not take pleasure in him.
Context
Following the promise of Christ’s coming in verse 37, verse 38 articulates the stance required in the waiting time: live by faith, not by shrinking back. This dictum captures the essence of perseverance and sets up the contrast of verse 39 between those who shrink back to perdition and those who believe to soul-salvation. The flow prepares readers for chapter 11, which will illustrate living by faith through numerous examples, encouraging persistence on the path of trust.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 1:17
For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.
- 1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us.
- Psalms 5:4
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Evil shall not sojourn with thee.
- 2 Peter 2:19
promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.
- Zephaniah 1:6
and them that are turned back from following Jehovah; and those that have not sought Jehovah, nor inquired after him.
- Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith.
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