God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Parallel translations
- WEB God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
- BSB God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
- NKJV God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
- NASB because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
- NLT For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
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
God had planned something better for us, so that the saints of old would be made complete only together with us. Old and new covenant believers share one salvation, perfected in Christ.
Overview
The Old Testament faithful are not made perfect apart from new covenant believers, because God's better provision—the finished work of Christ—belongs to both. Their perfection awaited the redemption Christ would accomplish. Thus all of God's people across the ages form one body, brought to completion together through the one Mediator, Jesus, uniting the testaments in a single plan of grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rev 6:11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
- Heb 10:11–14And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
- Heb 8:6But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
- Heb 7:19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
- Heb 5:9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
- Heb 9:23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
- Heb 9:8–15The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
- Rom 3:25–26Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
- Heb 12:23–24To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
- Heb 7:22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Resources, by level
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 11:40 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
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