Hebrews 11:40
What does Hebrews 11:40 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 11:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 11:40 means
God arranged something better for us, so that the earlier faithful would not be brought to perfection apart from us. The “better” refers to the realization of God’s saving plan in Christ and the new covenant, and ultimately to the final perfection at the resurrection. God’s design unites believers across the ages into one completed people. The stories of old lead to Christ, and in him their hopes and ours converge. We await together the consummation when God finishes what he promised, and until then we run our race, encouraged by their witness and God’s sure word.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
KJV
King James Version · 1611God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because God had kept some better thing for us, so that it was not possible for them to become complete without us.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862God for us something better having provided, that apart from us they might not be made perfect.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890God having foreseen some better thing for us, that they should not be made perfect without us.
Context
This closing explanation ties the entire chapter to the readers’ present. The perfection long awaited has begun in Christ and will be consummated with all God’s people together. It prepares directly for the exhortation that follows—to run with endurance, surrounded by this cloud of witnesses and fixing eyes on Jesus. The chapter thus culminates in a unified, forward-looking faith that spans covenants and generations.
v.39And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,
v.40This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 3:25
whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;
- Hebrews 12:23
to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
- Revelation 6:11
And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled their course.
- Hebrews 10:11
And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins:
- Hebrews 7:22
by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.
- Hebrews 7:19
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.
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