SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:14
Porque los que esto dicen, claramente dan a entender que buscan su patria natural.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hebrew 11:14
Verse 14. Declare plainly that they seek a country.] A man's country is that in which he has constitutional rights and privileges; no stranger or sojourner has any such rights in the country where he sojourns. These, by declaring that they felt themselves strangers and sojourners, professed their faith in a heavenly country and state, and looked beyond the grave for a place of happiness. No intelligent Jew could suppose that Canaan was all the rest which God had promised to his people.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. For they that say such things , etc..] That they are strangers and pilgrims on earth: declare plainly that they seek a country ; heaven, so called, for the largeness of it; it is a good land, a land of uprightness; a pleasant land, a land of rest, though a land afar off; here the Father of Christ, and Christ himself, and all his people dwell: the Syriac version renders it, their own city; the place of their nativity, of which they were citizens: the act of seeking it supposes some things, with respect to the place where they were, as that they were in a strange land, had no settlement there, nor satisfaction in it, and that they sat loose to the world, and the things of it; and some things respecting the country sought after, as that they were not in it; that it was at a distance from them; that they had some knowledge of it, and of the way to it; that their desires were after it, and that they had a strong affection and value for it: the right way to this country is not mere civility and morality, nor legal righteousness, nor birth privileges, nor submission to outward ordinances, nor a mere profession of religion, but the Lord Jesus Christ; he is the true way to eternal life; it is his righteousness which gives a title to it, and on account of which believers expect it, though not without holiness, nor without trouble. The right manner of seeking it is, in the first place, above all things else, with the whole heart, by faith, and by patient continuance in well doing. Many are the reasons which may induce believers to seek it; it is their own, and their Father's country; it is a better one than that in which they are; and because of the company they shall there enjoy, and the work they shall be employed in; and because of the happiness they will be possessed of; and because their inheritance, riches, and treasures, lie here.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-19 - We are often called to leave worldly connexions, interests, an comforts. If heirs of Abraham's faith, we shall obey and go forth though not knowing what may befall us; and we shall be found in the way of duty, looking for the performance of God's promises. The trial of Abraham's faith was, that he simply and fully obeyed the call of God Sarah received the promise as the promise of God; being convinced of that, she truly judged that he both could and would perform it. Many who have a part in the promises, do not soon receive the thing promised. Faith can lay hold of blessings at a great distance; can make them present; can love them and rejoice in them, though strangers; a saints, whose home is heaven; as pilgrims, travelling toward their home. By faith, they overcome the terrors of death, and bid a cheerfu farewell to this world, and to all the comforts and crosses of it. An those once truly and savingly called out of a sinful state, have n mind to return into it. All true believers desire the heavenl inheritance; and the stronger faith is, the more fervent those desire will be. Notwithstanding their meanness by nature, their vileness be sin, and the poverty of their outward condition, God is not ashamed to be called the God of all true believers; such is his mercy, such is his love to them. Let them never be ashamed of being called his people, no of any of those who are truly so, how much soever despised in the world. Above all, let them take care that they are not a shame an reproach to their God. The greatest trial and act of faith upon recor is, Abraham's offering up Isaac, Ge 22:2. There, every word shows trial. It is our duty to reason down our doubts and fears, by looking as Abraham did, to the Almighty power of God. The best way to enjoy ou comforts is, to give them up to God; he will then again give them a shall be the best for us. Let us look how far our faith has caused the like obedience, when we have been called to lesser acts of self-denial or to make smaller sacrifices to our duty. Have we given up what wa called for, fully believing that the Lord would make up all our losses and even bless us by the most afflicting dispensations?
Greek Textus Receptus
οι 3588 γαρ 1063 τοιαυτα 5108 λεγοντες 3004 5723 εμφανιζουσιν 1718 5719 οτι 3754 πατριδα 3968 επιζητουσιν 1934 5719
Vincent's NT Word Studies
14. Declare plainly (emfamizousin). o P. See on John xiv. 21. Occasionally in LXX. Rend. "make it manifest."
They seek a country (patrida ejpizhtousin). The verb is found in LXX, chiefly in the sense of seeking after God or another deity. See 2 Kings i. 3, 6; iii. 11; viii. 8; xxii. 18; 2 Chron. xviii. 6. Comp. ejpizhtoumenh poliv a city sought after (Zion), Isa. lxii. 12. Patriv is a native country; a fatherland. Only here and in Gospels and Acts. Quite often in LXX.
