Hebrews 11:13 (GNV)

Passage

All these died in faith, and receiued not the promises, but sawe them a farre off, and beleeued them, and receiued them thankefully, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Nearby Context

Hebrews 11:11 Through faith Sara also receiued strength to conceiue seede, and was deliuered of a childe when she was past age, because she iudged him faithfull which had promised.

Hebrews 11:12 And therefore sprang there of one, euen of one which was dead, so many as the starres of the skie in multitude, and as the land of the sea shore which is innumerable.

Hebrews 11:13 All these died in faith, and receiued not the promises, but sawe them a farre off, and beleeued them, and receiued them thankefully, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Hebrews 11:14 For they that say such things, declare plainely, that they seeke a countrey.

Hebrews 11:15 And if they had bene mindfull of that countrey, from whence they came out, they had leasure to haue returned.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "died", "receiued", "promises", "sawe", "farre", and "beleeued". 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 "And therefore sprang there of one euen..." into verse 14's "For they that say such things declare...", 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.