Hebrews 11:39-40 ESV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:39

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith - They were all commended and approved on account of their confidence in God; see the notes on Hebrews 11:2.Received not the promise - That is, did not receive the fulfillment of the promise; or did not receive all that was promised. They all still looked forward to some future blessings; notes, Hebrews 11:13. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:40

God having provided some better thing for us - Margin, “foreseen.” That is, “God having provided, or determined on giving some better thing than any of them realized, and which we are now permitted to enjoy.” That is, God gave them promises; but they were not allowed to see their fulfillment. We are permitted now to see what they referred to, and in part, at least, to witness their completion; and though the promise was made to them, the fulfillment more particularly pertains to us.That they... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 11:39

Hebrews 11:39. These all, having obtained a good report Μαρτυρηθεντες , being witnessed unto, as persons who did or suffered great things by faith. The expression does not imply that all the Israelitish judges, captains, and other worthies mentioned in this chapter, as well as the ancients, were truly righteous persons, justified by their faith, and made heirs of eternal salvation; for the apostle’s design in this part of his epistle being to show, by examples from the Jewish Scriptures,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 11:40

Hebrews 11:40. God having provided some better thing for us Believers under the gospel, than any bestowed upon them, which better thing is Christ himself manifest in the flesh, with the various privileges and blessings of the gospel dispensation, far exceeding those of the two dispensations that preceded it. For, as the divine last quoted further observes, “It ought to be put out of question with all Christians, that it is the actual exhibition of the Son of God in the flesh, the coming... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:23-40

More examples of true faith (11:23-40)Moses’ parents had faith to believe that God had chosen their child for a great purpose. Acting on this faith, they risked their own lives to preserve the life of the child (23; cf. Exodus 1:22; Exodus 2:1-2). As Moses grew to adulthood, he too exercised faith, in spite of the sacrifice, hardship and danger that it brought. He endured because he was confident of the future reward and he trusted in the unseen God (24-27; cf. Exodus 2:10-15).Through faith the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 11:39

received . Same Greek. word as in 19. See Note there. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 11:40

provided . Greek. problepo. Only here. for = concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 . made perfect = perfected. Greek. teleioo. App-125 . Compare Hebrews 2:10 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:39

And these all having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.Received not the promise should be studied in connection with other references in this chapter to the "promise," or the "promises." "Promise," in the singular, is a reference to the Great Promise of true and total redemption in the true and only seed of Abraham, which is Christ. Faithful as the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 11:39-40

Hebrews 11:39-40. And these all, having obtained, &c.— "All these pious heroes, in different ages, were supported under their respective trials, severe and extreme as they were, by the exercise of a firm and lively faith in the fidelity of God, and the invisible rewards and glories of a future state: and it was by this, under divine grace, that, having obtained a good report, they persevered to the end: but they did not receive the full accomplishment of the promise made to their fathers;... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:39

39. having obtained a good report—Greek, "being borne witness of." Though they were so, yet "they received not the promise," that is, the final completion of "salvation" promised at Christ's coming again ( :-); "the eternal inheritance" ( :-). Abraham did obtain the very thing promised (Hebrews 6:15) in part, namely, blessedness in soul after death, by virtue of faith in Christ about to come. The full blessedness of body and soul shall not be till the full number of the elect shall be... read more