Hebrews 11:13

Faith The stranger and outcast Hope Death and loss

¹¹ By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

¹² And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

¹⁴ Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.

¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
KJV: 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.
WEB: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
ASV: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
DARBY: All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
BLB: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having welcomed [them], and having confessed that they are strangers and sojourners on the earth.

ÅB: I tro døde alle disse uten at de hadde oppnådd det som var lovt; men de så det langt borte og hilste det og bekjente at de var fremmede og utlendinger på jorden.
OTB: Alle disse døde i tro, uten å ha mottatt løftene, men de så dem og hilste dem fra det fjerne, og bekjente at de var fremmede og utlendinger på jorden.
B1930: I tro døde alle disse uten at de hadde opnådd det som var lovt; men de så det langt borte og hilste det og bekjente at de var fremmede og utlendinger på jorden.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Genesis 23:4
“I am a foreigner and an outsider among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead.”
Read in context
Psalms 39:12
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.
Read in context
Hebrews 11:27
By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
Read in context
Romans 8:24
For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?
Read in context
Hebrews 11:39
These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
Read in context
1 Chronicles 29:14–15
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
Read in context
1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
Read in context
John 8:56
Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”
Read in context