Hebrews 11:13

In faith (kata pistin). Here a break in the routine pistei (by faith), "according to faith," either for literary variety "or to suggest pisti as the sphere and standard of their characters" (Moffatt). These all (outoi pante). Those in verses Genesis 9-12 (Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob). Not having the promises (mh komisamenoi ta epaggelia). First aorist middle participle of komizw, to obtain, as in Genesis 10:36 ; Genesis 11:39 . And yet the author mentions Abraham ( Genesis 6:15 ) as having obtained the promise. He received the promise of the Messiah, but did not live to see the Messiah come as we have done. It is in this sense that we have "better promises." Greeted them (aspasamenoi). First aorist middle participle of aspazomai, to salute ( Matthew 5:47 ). Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day in the dim distance ( John 8:56 ). Strangers (zenoi). Foreigners. "To reside abroad carried with it a certain stigma" (Moffatt). But they "confessed" it ( Genesis 23:4 ; Genesis 47:9 ). Pilgrims (parepidhmoi). Late double compound (para, epi, dhmo), a sojourner from another land, in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 1:1 ; 1 Peter 2:11 .