Charles Ellicott Commentary Hebrews 11:10

"for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God." — Hebrews 11:10 (ASV)

A city which has foundations.—Rather, the city which has the foundations. The general thought is that which we find expressed in Hebrews 11:14-16. There, the strangers and pilgrims are seeking for a country of their own; here, the dweller in tents is waiting for the city that has the foundations. All these verses clearly teach that the promise as understood by the patriarchs was not bounded by the gift of Canaan. Of what nature their expectations of the future life may have been we cannot tell; but this they knew, that their fellowship with God and their interest in His promises would not cease with this transient life.

What they saw of earthly blessing was but the earnest of some greater gift still future, and yet present through the power of their faith. The shifting tent might be Abraham’s home now, but he waited for that city which should never know change—of which alone it could be said that it has “the foundations,” and whose Architect and Maker is God. (Revelation 21:0)