Hebrews 11:13 (DBY)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

Hebrews 11:11 By faith also Sarah herself received strength for [the] conception of seed, and [that] beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who promised.

Hebrews 11:12 Wherefore also there have been born of one, and that of one become dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand which [is] by the sea shore.

Hebrews 11:13 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.

Hebrews 11:14 For they who say such things shew clearly that they seek [their] country.

Hebrews 11:15 And if they had called to mind that from whence they went out, they had had opportunity to have returned;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "died", "having", "received", "promises", "seen", and "afar". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "died", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "Wherefore also there have been born of..." into verse 14's "For they who say such things shew...", so "faith" and "died" belong inside that flow. In Hebrews context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "faith" and "died" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.