Hebrews 11:13
What does Hebrews 11:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 11:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 11:13 means
The patriarchs died trusting God without seeing the full arrival of what was promised. Yet they saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them, admitting they were strangers and pilgrims on earth. Faith enabled them to live with open hands, content to be temporary residents while God’s future remained ahead. Their confession reveals humility and hope: they did not demand everything now, because they anticipated God’s better fulfillment. Dying in faith is not failure but the seal of a life oriented toward God’s kingdom, valuing the unseen and eternal over the immediate and visible.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000These 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
King James Version · 1611These 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901These 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949All these came to their end in faith, not having had the heritage; but having seen it with delight far away, they gave witness that they were wanderers and not of the earth.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862In faith died all these, not having received the promises, but from afar having seen them, and having been persuaded, and having saluted <FI>them<Fi> , and having confessed that strangers and sojourners they are upon the earth,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752All these died according to faith, not having received the promises but beholding them afar off and saluting them and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers on the earth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890All 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.
Context
After recounting God’s power to produce a multitude from barrenness, the writer widens the lens to describe the enduring outlook of the faithful. This verse introduces a mini-section (verses 13–16) on the pilgrim mindset—seeking a homeland and desiring a better, heavenly country. It frames the subsequent examples, showing that the common thread is not earthly attainment but sustained hope in God’s future.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Numbers 24:17
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.
- Psalms 119:19
I am a sojourner in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me.
- John 8:56
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.
- Genesis 49:33
And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
- 1 Peter 1:10
Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
- Genesis 27:2
And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death.
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