Devine Scripture

Hebrews 11:38

What does Hebrews 11:38 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 11:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 11:38 means

The world was not worthy of such people. They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground because fidelity to God pushed them to the margins. Heaven’s verdict overturns the world’s scorn: those the world despised were of greater value than the world that rejected them. Pilgrim existence and exile do not mark failure but faithfulness. God’s people may be homeless on earth, yet they are heirs of a better country. Their lives expose the upside-down values of this age and point to God’s coming vindication.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Wandering in waste places and in mountains and in holes in the rocks; for whom the world was not good enough.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

of whom the world was not worthy; in deserts wandering, and <FI>in<Fi> mountains, and <FI>in<Fi> caves, and <FI>in<Fi> the holes of the earth;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Of whom the world was not worthy: wandering in deserts, in mountains and in dens and in caves of the earth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

(of whom the world was not worthy,) wandering in deserts and mountains, and [in] dens and caverns of the earth.

Context

This parenthetical evaluation crowns the catalogue of sufferings with God’s perspective. It reframes deprivation as honor in God’s sight. With that assessment given, the author will now conclude the chapter by returning to the theme of divine commendation and the not-yet aspect of the promise, preparing for the exhortation to run with endurance alongside this great cloud of witnesses in the next chapter.

v.37they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

v.38This passage

v.39And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Kings 19:9

    And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of Jehovah came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

  • 1 Samuel 24:1

    And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.

  • Psalms 142:1

    I cry with my voice unto Jehovah; With my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.

  • Isaiah 57:1

    The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

  • 1 Kings 17:3

    Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.

  • 1 Samuel 23:23

    See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me of a certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.

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