Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 11:39

"And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise," — Hebrews 11:39 (ASV)

“These” refers to the preceding heroes of the faith; “all” omits none of them. God never forgets any of his faithful servants. All of them “were commended” (lit., “had witness borne to them”; GK 3455) on account of their faith. The importance of faith, which has been stressed throughout the chapter, continues to the end. But for all the blessing God gave them, these heroes of the faith did not receive “the promise.” Verse 33 tells us that they “gained what was promised.” Indeed, Abraham was cited as an example of that as far back as 6:15. But here it is not a question of “the promises” but of “the promise.” God made many promises to his people and kept them. But the ultimate blessing (which the author characteristically sees in terms of “promise”) was not given under the old dispensation. God kept that until Jesus came.