Devine Scripture

Hebrews 6:19

What does Hebrews 6:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 6:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 6:19 means

Hope, grounded in God’s promise and oath, is “an anchor of the soul”—stabilizing amid storms. It is “both sure and stedfast” because it fastens not to circumstances but to “that which is within the veil,” the very presence of God. The imagery suggests that our hope is moored in the inner sanctuary, beyond our sight yet utterly secure. We are held from above, not by our own constancy but by God’s. This hope does more than comfort; it connects us to the holy place where atonement and intercession are real, assuring us that our future with God is as secure as his own unchanging presence.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And this hope is like a strong band for our souls, fixed and certain, and going in to that which is inside the veil;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

which we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and entering into that within the vail,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and which entereth in even within the veil:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

which we have as anchor of the soul, both secure and firm, and entering into that within the veil,

Context

After describing God’s oath-grounded encouragement (verse 18), the author pictures hope as an anchor fixed within the veil. This leads seamlessly to verse 20, which names Jesus as the forerunner who has already gone there for us and as our high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. The anchor holds because it is lodged where Christ ministers. This brings the chapter to a close and prepares for the fuller exposition of Melchizedek and Christ’s priesthood in the next section.

v.18that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:

v.19This passage

v.20whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Cross references

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

  • Ephesians 2:6

    and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus:

  • Acts 27:29

    And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.

  • Hebrews 9:3

    And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies;

  • Isaiah 12:2

    Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation.

  • Acts 27:40

    And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

  • Leviticus 16:15

    Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat:

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