Hebrews 11:14 (GNV)

Passage

For they that say such things, declare plainely, that they seeke a countrey.

Nearby Context

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.

Hebrews 11:16 But nowe they desire a better, that is an heauenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a citie.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "such", "things", "declare", "plainely", "seeke", and "countrey". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "such" and "things", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "All these died in faith and receiued..." into verse 15's "And if they had bene mindfull of...", so "such" and "things" 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 "such" and "things" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.