Hebrews 11:15 (GNV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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.

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham offered vp Isaac, when he was tryed, and he that had receiued the promises, offered his onely begotten sonne.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "bene", "mindfull", "countrey", "whence", "came", "leasure", "haue", and "returned". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "bene" and "mindfull", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "For they that say such things declare..." into verse 16's "But nowe they desire a better that...", so "bene" and "mindfull" 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 "bene" and "mindfull" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.