Hebrews 11:16

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.

a. NLT: But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

b. NIV: Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

c. YLT: But now they long for a better, that is, an heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for He did prepare for them a city.

d. Amplified Bible: But the truth is that they were yearning for and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is, a heavenly [one]. For that reason God is not ashamed to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], for He has prepared a city for them.

1. “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly…”

a. But [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. now [Strong: 3570 nuni noo-nee' a prolonged form of 3568 for emphasis; just now:--now.]

c. [they] desire [Strong: 3713  oregomai or-eg'-om-ahee middle voice of apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary (compare 3735); to stretch oneself, i.e. reach out after (long for):--covet after, desire.] [Zodhiates: Literally to stretch out especially with the hands to snatch, to stretch oneself, reach after something, and hence metaphorically meaning to covet, long after, desire, try to gain…”]

d. [[a] better [country] [Strong: 2909 kreitton krite'-tohn comparative of a derivative of 2904; stronger, i.e. (figuratively) better, i.e. nobler:--best, better.]

e. that is [Strong: 5123 toutesti toot-es'-tee contraction for 5124 and 2076; that is:--that is (to say).

d. [an] heavenly [Strong: 2032 epouranios ep-oo-ran'-ee-os from 1909 and 3772; above the sky:--celestial, (in) heaven(-ly), high.]

1). It is clearly stated that these saints were seeking a heavenly home.

2. “…wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God…”

a. wherefore [Strong: 1352 dio dee-o' from 1223 and 3739; through which thing, i.e. consequently:--for which cause, therefore, wherefore.]

b. God [Strong: 2316 theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

c. [is] not [Strong: 3756 ou oo, also (before a vowel) ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

d. ashamed [Strong: 1870 epaischunomai ep-ahee-skhoo'-nom-ahee from 1909 and 153; to feel shame for something:--be ashamed.]

e. [Strong: 846  autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

f. [to be] called [Strong: 1941 epikaleomai ep-ee-kal-eh'-om-ahee middle voice from 1909 and 2564; to entitle; by implication, to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.):--appeal (unto), call (on, upon), surname.

g. their [Strong: 846  autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

h. God [Strong: 2316 theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

1). The A.V. says “wherefore”, the Amplified says, “For that reason”. Because they were responding in faith to the promises of God concerning New Jerusalem.

3. “…for he hath prepared for them a city.”

a. for [Strong: 1063 gar gar a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. [he hath] prepared [Strong: 2090 hetoimazo het-oy-mad'-zo from 2092; to prepare:--prepare, provide, make ready.]

c. for them [Strong: 846  autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

d. [a] city [Strong: 4172 polis pol'-is probably from the same as 4171, or perhaps from 4183; a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size):--city.]

1). This is in contrast to what was prepared for the devil and his angels.

a). Matthew 25:41 “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

b). The doctrine of New Jerusalem is not exclusively a New Testament doctrine. It is actually pre-Old Covenant.