Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
Parallel translations
- WEB For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
- KJV For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
- NKJV For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
- NASB For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
- NLT Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
By calling themselves pilgrims, these believers showed they were longing for a homeland of their own. Their confession revealed a hope set beyond this present world.
Overview
The author draws out the meaning of the patriarchs' self-description: those who speak of being strangers reveal that they are seeking a true country. Their pilgrim language exposes a deeper longing for a permanent home with God. This homeland is not earthly Canaan but the heavenly country, the everlasting rest believers enter through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 2 Cor 4:18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- Heb 13:14For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
- Heb 11:16Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
- Rom 8:23–25Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
- Phil 1:23I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 11:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.