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And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.
Hebrews 6:15 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
  • KJV And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
  • BSB And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.
  • NKJV And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
  • NLT Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

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

Having patiently endured, Abraham obtained the promise. His example shows that faith joined with patience receives what God has pledged.

Overview

Abraham waited long for the fulfillment of God's word, and through patient endurance he received the promise, at least in the birth of Isaac and a foretaste of greater fulfillment. He embodies the faith and perseverance commended in verse 12. His example assures believers that God's promises, though delayed, are sure.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • Gen 12:2–3I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.
  • Rom 4:17–25As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.
  • Gen 15:2–6Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
  • Heb 6:12that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises.
  • Exod 1:7The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.
  • Gen 21:2–7Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
  • Gen 17:16–17I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”
  • Hab 2:2–3Yahweh answered me, “Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who runs may read it.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Hebrews videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Hebrews 6:15YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on HebrewsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 6:15 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.