Hebrews 11:38
New International Version
the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

New Living Translation
They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

English Standard Version
of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Berean Standard Bible
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

Berean Literal Bible
of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, and mountains, and caves, and holes of the earth.

King James Bible
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

New King James Version
of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

New American Standard Bible
(people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes in the ground.

NASB 1995
(men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

NASB 1977
(men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

Legacy Standard Bible
(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in desolate places and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

Amplified Bible
(people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and [living in] caves and holes in the ground.

Christian Standard Bible
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

American Standard Version
(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.

Contemporary English Version
The world did not deserve these good people, who had to wander in deserts and on mountains and had to live in caves and holes in the ground.

English Revised Version
(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The world didn't deserve these good people. Some wandered around in deserts and mountains and lived in caves and holes in the ground.

Good News Translation
The world was not good enough for them! They wandered like refugees in the deserts and hills, living in caves and holes in the ground.

International Standard Version
The world wasn't worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and from caves to holes in the ground.

Majority Standard Bible
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

NET Bible
(the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth.

New Heart English Bible
(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

Webster's Bible Translation
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Weymouth New Testament
They wandered across deserts and mountains, or hid themselves in caves and in holes in the ground.

World English Bible
of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, and mountains, and caves, and the holes of the earth;

Berean Literal Bible
of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, and mountains, and caves, and holes of the earth.

Young's Literal Translation
of whom the world was not worthy; in deserts wandering, and in mountains, and in caves, and in the holes of the earth;

Smith's Literal Translation
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) wandering about in solitary places, and mountains, and caves, and holes of the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens, and in caved of the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Of them, the world was not worthy, wandering in solitude on mountains, in the caves and caverns of the earth.

New American Bible
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and on mountains, in caves and in crevices in the earth.

New Revised Standard Version
of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered as though lost in the desert, and in mountains, and in dens and in caves of the earth.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Persons of whom the world was not worthy; and they were as wanderers in desert places and in mountains and in caves and caverns of The Earth.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
(of whom the world was not worthy,) wandering in deserts, and in mountains, and in caverns, and in dens of the earth.

Godbey New Testament
of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, and in mountains, and caves and dens of the earth.

Haweis New Testament
of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered up and down in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens, and caverns of the earth.

Mace New Testament
(of whom the world was not worthy) they wandred in desarts, and in mountains, having no retreat but the dens and caves of the earth.

Weymouth New Testament
They wandered across deserts and mountains, or hid themselves in caves and in holes in the ground.

Worrell New Testament
(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.

Worsley New Testament
distressed, (of whom the world was not worthy) wandering in deserts, and mountains, and dens, and caves of the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Faith of Many
37They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground. 39These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

1 Peter 4:14-16
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. / Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler. / But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; / in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger; / in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ...

1 Corinthians 4:11-13
To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. / We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; / when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

James 5:10-11
Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. / See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Romans 8:35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? / As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” / No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

John 15:18-20
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

1 Kings 19:10
“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”

Jeremiah 20:2
he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

1 Samuel 22:1-2
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. / And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

1 Kings 18:4
for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)

2 Chronicles 36:16
But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.


Treasury of Scripture

(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

whom.

1 Kings 14:12,13
Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die…

2 Kings 23:25-29
And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him…

Isaiah 57:1
The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

wandered.

1 Samuel 22:1
David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.

1 Samuel 23:15,19,23
And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood…

1 Samuel 24:1-3
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi…

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Caverns Caves Dens Deserts Earth Enough Good Ground Hid Holes Mountains Places Rocks Themselves Wandered Wandering Waste World Worthy
Hebrews 11
1. What faith is.
6. Without faith we cannot please God.
7. The examples of faithfulness in the fathers of old time.














The world was not worthy of them
This phrase speaks to the profound spiritual stature of the individuals mentioned in Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "heroes of faith." The Greek word for "world" here is "kosmos," which can refer to the physical world or the system of human society. The phrase suggests that the moral and spiritual excellence of these individuals was so great that the world, in its fallen state, did not deserve their presence. This echoes the biblical theme that God's people are often misunderstood and undervalued by the world, as seen in John 15:19, where Jesus tells His disciples that they are not of the world. The phrase serves as a reminder of the eternal value of faith and righteousness over worldly recognition.

They wandered in deserts and mountains
The imagery of wandering in "deserts and mountains" evokes the experiences of the faithful who lived as pilgrims and sojourners, often without a permanent home. The Greek word for "wandered" is "planaō," which can mean to roam or to be led astray. However, in this context, it signifies a purposeful journey of faith, akin to the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. Deserts and mountains are often places of testing and revelation in Scripture, as seen in the lives of Moses and Elijah. This phrase highlights the trials and perseverance of the faithful, who, despite their hardships, remained steadfast in their commitment to God.

and hid in caves and holes in the ground
This part of the verse paints a vivid picture of the extreme conditions faced by the faithful. The act of hiding in "caves and holes in the ground" suggests a life of persecution and danger. Historically, this could refer to the experiences of prophets like Elijah, who hid in a cave to escape persecution (1 Kings 19:9), or the Maccabees, who sought refuge in caves during times of oppression. The Greek word for "hid" is "katakryptō," meaning to conceal or cover. This phrase underscores the reality that living a life of faith often requires sacrifice and suffering, yet it also points to the protection and provision of God, who is a refuge for His people. It serves as an encouragement to believers to remain faithful, knowing that their ultimate reward is not of this world.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world
κόσμος (kosmos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

was
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

not
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

worthy
ἄξιος (axios)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 514: Worthy, worthy of, deserving, comparable, suitable. Probably from ago; deserving, comparable or suitable.

of [them].
ὧν (hōn)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

They wandered
πλανώμενοι (planōmenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4105: To lead astray, deceive, cause to wander. From plane; to roam.

in
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

deserts
ἐρημίαις (erēmiais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2047: A desert place, desert, uninhabited region. From eremos; solitude.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

mountains,
ὄρεσιν (oresin)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3735: A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain).

and [ hid in ]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

caves
σπηλαίοις (spēlaiois)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4693: A cave, den, hideout. Neuter of a presumed derivative of speos; a cavern; by implication, a hiding-place or resort.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

holes
ὀπαῖς (opais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3692: A crevice (in a rock), a cave, an opening, hole. Probably from optanomai; a hole, i.e. Cavern; by analogy, a spring.

in the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ground.
γῆς (gēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 11:38 Of whom the world was not worthy (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 11:37
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