Hebrews 10:39
ESV
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
NIV
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
NASB
But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.
CSB
But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.
NLT
But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
KJV
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
NKJV
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
What does Hebrews 10:39 mean?
Here, again, the writer of Hebrews speaks with encouragement and a positive tone. The overall theme of the book of Hebrews is that God has given us a superior "new" covenant, in Jesus Christ, to replace the inferior, "old" covenant of animal sacrifice. This has been made plain enough that believers should be confident and steadfast in their faith, even in the face of hardship. Those who succumb to fear and doubt, though they are still saved, are subject to God's punishment and wrath. A living example of this is the nation of Israel, which "shrank back" from the conquest of Canaan and was dealt with harshly as a result (Hebrews 3:12–19).The Greek of this passage is somewhat more clearly understood than English translations. The phrasing used here is different from what the writer uses to imply eternal salvation. So, the comment about those who "preserve their souls" is not a comment on eternal security. Rather, it seems to be a reference to the person's closeness with God, in terms of the overall spiritual health and well-being, in contrast to those who are faithless. Once again, context matters, and the example given earlier of Israel in the wilderness is key.
This verse speaks to the readers—persecuted Jewish Christians—with an optimistic tone. Those who "hold fast" to their faith don't have to worry about the fiery judgment God has in store for those who willingly rebel against His will (Hebrews 10:26–29).
Hebrews 10:26–39 contains the letter's most dire warning against apostasy. This passage should be understood in the same context as earlier references to Israel's punishment in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:12–19) and the dangers of a shallow faith (Hebrews 6:1–8). The concern here is not a loss of salvation, but of God's punishment on those who willingly rebel against His will. Since the new covenant is superior to the old covenant, we can expect those who ''profane'' the new covenant to suffer greater consequences for disobedience. This is followed by a word of encouragement and reassurance to those who have already survived hardship and persecution.
God's own words, found in the Old Testament Scriptures, declare His intention to replace the old covenant with a new covenant. Jesus fulfills all of these prophecies, and all of the symbolism found in the system of priests, the tabernacle, and animal sacrifices. Knowing that Jesus Christ is, undoubtedly, God's remedy for our sin, we should be encouraged in holding on to our faith in the face of persecution. However, that same confidence means dire spiritual consequences for those who know Christ's salvation, but choose to act in defiance of His will.
