Hebrews 11:39

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

And {G2532} these {G3778} all {G3956}, having obtained a good report {G3140} through {G1223} faith {G4102}, received {G2865} not {G3756} the promise {G1860}:

All of these had their merit attested because of their trusting. Nevertheless, they did not receive what had been promised,

These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

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

Commentary

Hebrews 11:39 serves as a poignant summary at the conclusion of the "Hall of Faith" chapter, highlighting the remarkable perseverance of Old Testament saints. It underscores that while these heroes of faith lived exemplary lives and were commended by God, they did not receive the ultimate fulfillment of God's grand promise during their earthly lifetime.

Context

This verse directly follows the extensive list of faithful individuals from Hebrews 11:1 to 11:38, including figures like Abraham, Moses, Rahab, and numerous prophets and martyrs. Each of them demonstrated extraordinary trust in God despite facing immense challenges, often without seeing the immediate manifestation of God's blessings. The author of Hebrews emphasizes that their faith, as defined in Hebrews 11:1, was a conviction of things unseen and a hope for things not yet realized. They lived and died with this future-oriented expectation, similar to the sentiment expressed in Hebrews 11:13.

Key Themes

  • Faith's Enduring Nature: The verse powerfully illustrates that true faith is not contingent on immediate gratification or visible fulfillment. These individuals maintained their trust in God's word even when the promise seemed distant or delayed.
  • God's Commendation: "Obtained a good report through faith" signifies divine approval and testimony. Their lives were a testament to God's faithfulness and their unwavering belief, earning them a place in the divine record of honor.
  • The Unfulfilled Promise: The "promise" they did not receive refers to the full realization of God's redemptive plan, specifically the coming of the Messiah, the establishment of the new covenant, and the ultimate heavenly inheritance. Their faith pointed forward to Christ.
  • The Superiority of the New Covenant: This verse subtly sets the stage for the next, crucial verse (Hebrews 11:40), which explains that God had a better plan for us, in which their perfection would be found in conjunction with ours through Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "obtained a good report" translates the Greek word martyrēthentes (μαρτυρηθέντες), a passive participle meaning "having been testified of" or "having been commended." This highlights that their faith was not merely a private conviction but was publicly validated and approved by God. The "promise" (epangelian - ἐπαγγελίαν) is a recurring theme in Hebrews, often referring to the future blessings and covenant realities that God has pledged to His people.

Practical Application

Hebrews 11:39 offers profound encouragement for believers today. Just as the Old Testament saints lived by faith in promises yet to come, we too are called to persevere, even when we don't see the full manifestation of God's plan in our lifetime. Our faith looks forward to Christ's second coming, the resurrection, and the new heaven and new earth. This verse reminds us that we are part of a continuous lineage of faith, standing on the shoulders of those who believed before us, and anticipating the same glorious future with them. It calls us to live by faith, not by sight, trusting in God's perfect timing and His ultimate faithfulness to His word.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
7 Major Themes in the Book of Hebrews The "Hall of Faith" Heroes in Hebrews 11 An Introduction to Hebrews: Christ is Better The "Faith Hall of Fame": An Exposition of Hebrews 11 The Cloud of Witnesses in Hebrews 12

Cross-References

  • Hebrews 11:13

    These 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.

  • Luke 10:23

    And he turned him unto [his] disciples, and said privately, Blessed [are] the eyes which see the things that ye see:

  • Luke 10:24

    For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard [them].

  • Hebrews 11:2

    For by it the elders obtained a good report.

  • 1 Peter 1:12

    Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
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