Hebrews 11:16
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The patriarchs lived as nomads in Canaan, dwelling in tents while the Canaanites inhabited fortified cities. Abraham, though promised the land, never owned more than a burial plot (Genesis 23). Isaac and Jacob similarly lived as sojourners. From a worldly perspective, their lives appeared unsuccessful—childless for decades, frequently displaced, never possessing the promised inheritance.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, cities represented permanence, security, and civilization. The contrast between the patriarchs' tents and Canaanite cities would have been stark. Yet they refused to settle, maintaining their pilgrim identity. When famine struck, they could have returned to Ur or Haran, prosperous urban centers they had left. Their refusal to return demonstrated that their quest wasn't for earthly comfort but for God's promise.
The original Hebrews audience faced parallel circumstances. Jewish Christians were being excluded from synagogues, facing economic hardship, and enduring social ostracism. Some contemplated returning to Judaism for relief. The author holds up the patriarchs as examples: they too could have turned back but instead persevered because their hope transcended earthly circumstances. Their faith in a heavenly city sustained them through temporal difficulties.
Questions for Reflection
- How does longing for our heavenly home change the way we approach earthly disappointments and suffering?
- What would it look like in practical terms to live as a pilgrim seeking a better country today?
- Why is God not ashamed to be associated with faithful believers despite our imperfections?
- How does the reality that God has already prepared our eternal city affect our present anxieties?
- In what ways might earthly comfort and security tempt us to stop longing for our heavenly home?
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Analysis & Commentary
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. This verse reveals the true orientation of authentic faith—it looks beyond earthly circumstances to heavenly realities. The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob "desire" (oregontai, ὀρέγονται) a better country, using a verb denoting intense longing and reaching forth. The comparative "better" (kreittonos, κρείττονος) appears frequently in Hebrews, emphasizing the superiority of new covenant realities over old covenant shadows.
The designation "heavenly" (epouraniou, ἐπουρανίου) identifies their true homeland not as an improved earthly location but as a transcendent, eternal realm. This transforms the patriarchs from mere wandering nomads into pilgrims consciously seeking a supernatural destination. Their faith wasn't naive optimism but confident assurance in God's promises of something beyond this world.
The remarkable statement "God is not ashamed to be called their God" reveals divine pleasure in those who live by faith. God publicly identified Himself as "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (Exodus 3:6), permanently associating His name with these imperfect pilgrims. The reason: "He hath prepared for them a city"—God has already constructed the eternal dwelling place. The perfect tense verb indicates completed action with ongoing results. This city is the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21-22, the ultimate fulfillment of all covenant promises.