Hebrews 11:15
What does Hebrews 11:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 11:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 11:15 means
If the patriarchs had been fixated on the land they left, they could have gone back. Their perseverance was not forced by circumstances; it was a deliberate refusal to retreat. Faith chooses forward movement toward God’s promise rather than nostalgia for former securities. This verse guards against romanticizing the past and shows that genuine trust remains oriented to God’s call, despite the option to abandon the journey. Their steadfastness came from valuing what God had pledged more than what they once possessed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And truly if they had kept in mind the country from which they went out, they would have had chances of turning back.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and if, indeed, they had been mindful of that from which they came forth, they might have had an opportunity to return,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And truly, if they had been mindful of that from whence they came out, they had doubtless, time to return.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And if they had called to mind that from whence they went out, they had had opportunity to have returned;
Context
This statement sharpens the portrait of pilgrimage by noting that the ancestors had real opportunity to return. It underscores their intentionality and prepares the way for the positive assertion of verse 16: their desire for a better, heavenly country. The argument builds logically—confession (verse 13), intention (verse 14), opportunity refused (verse 15), and then God’s approval of their heavenly desire (verse 16).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 24:6
And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
- Genesis 12:10
And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.
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