Bible Strands
Hebrews 11:9
By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author of Hebrews addresses believers facing discouragement, using Abraham’s life as a case study. This verse describes his continued residence in Canaan after initially obeying God’s call to leave his homeland.
The words — παρῴκησεν (parōkēsen) literally means he sojourned or dwelt as a foreigner, and Πίστει (Pistei) means by faith. These terms frame his temporary habitation in the land of promise as a deliberate, faith-driven posture rather than a permanent settlement.
The thread — This pattern of tent-dwelling appears in Genesis 12:8, Genesis 13:3, and Genesis 13:18, where Abram repeatedly pitches his tent and builds altars. The narrative continues in Hebrews 11:10, contrasting his earthly tents with the eternal city whose architect is God.
Why it lands — The text states that inheriting the promise does not grant immediate permanent possession or comfort. Readers must accept that faithful obedience often requires living as a temporary resident while awaiting the fulfillment of what God has sworn.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Cross-references
- Genesis 12:8 From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.
- Genesis 13:18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
- Genesis 13:3 From the Negev he journeyed from place to place toward Bethel, until he came to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been pitched,
- Acts 7:5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.
- Hebrews 6:17 So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.
- Genesis 18:9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.
- Genesis 26:3 Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.
- Genesis 35:27 Jacob returned to his father Isaac at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.
- Genesis 48:3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there He blessed me
- Genesis 28:4 And may He give the blessing of Abraham to you and your descendants, so that you may possess the land where you dwell as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.”