Albert Barnes Commentary Hebrews 10:37

"For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry." — Hebrews 10:37 (ASV)

For yet a little while. There seems to be an allusion here to what the Savior himself said, A little while, and you shall not see me: and again, a little while, and you shall see me, (John 16:16). Or more probably, it may be to Habakkuk 2:3: For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. The idea which the apostle means to convey evidently is, that the time of their deliverance from their trials was not far off.

And he that shall come will come. The reference here is, doubtless, to the Messiah. But what "coming" of his is referred to is more uncertain. Most probably the idea is, that the Messiah, who was coming to destroy Jerusalem and to overthrow the Jewish power (Matthew 25), would soon do this. In this way he would put an end to their persecutions and trials, as the power of the Jewish people to afflict them would be at an end. A similar idea occurs in Luke 21:28: And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (See Barnes' notes on Luke 21:8).

The Christians in Palestine were oppressed, reviled, and persecuted by the Jews. The destruction of the city and the temple would put an end to that power, and would be, in fact, the time of deliverance for those who had been persecuted. In the passage before us, Paul intimates that that period was not far off.

Perhaps there were already "signs" of his coming, or indications that he was about to appear; and he therefore urges them patiently to persevere in their fidelity to him during the little time of trial that remained. The same encouragement and consolation may still be used. To all the afflicted it may be said, that he that shall come will come soon.

The time of affliction is not long. Soon the Redeemer will appear to deliver his afflicted people from all their sorrows; to remove them from a world of pain and tears; and to raise their bodies from the dust, and to receive them to mansions where trials are forever unknown. (See Barnes' notes on John 14:3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).