Hebrews 1:11

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 1:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “They shall perish; but thou continuest: And they all shall wax old as doth a garment;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

They shall perish; but thou continuest: And they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
Hebrews 1:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11They shall perish; but thou continuest: And they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“They shall perish, etc..] That is, the heavens and the earth; not as to the substance of them, but as to the quality of them; the present form and fashion of them shall pass away; the curse will be removed from them, and they will be renewed and purified, but the substance of them will continue; otherwise there would be no place, either for the righteous or the wicked, But thou remainest; without any change or alteration, neither in his natures, divine or human, as God or man, nor in his office as Mediator; as a priest, he has an unchangeable priesthood, and ever lives to make intercession; as a King, his kingdom is an everlasting one, and of it there will be no end; and as a prophet, he…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They--The earth and the heavens in their present state and form "shall perish" (Heb 12:26-27; Pe2 3:13). "Perish" does not mean annihilation; just as it did not mean so in the case of "the world that being overflowed with water, perished" under Noah (Pe2 3:6). The covenant of the possession of the earth was renewed with Noah and his seed on the renovated earth. So it shall be after the perishing by fire (Pe2 3:12-13). remainest--through (so the Greek) all changes. as . . . a garment-- (Isa 51:6).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They shall perish - That is, the heavens and the earth. They shall pass away; or they shall be destroyed. Probably no more is meant by the phrase here, than that important changes will take place in them, or than that they will change their form. Still it is not possible to foresee what changes may yet take place in the heavenly bodies, or to say that the present universe may not at some period be destroyed, and be succeeded by another creation still more magnificent. He that created the universe by a word, can destroy it by a word and he that formed the present frame of nature can cause it to be succeeded by another not less wonderful and glorious. The Scriptures seem to hold out the idea…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shall perish: Heb 12:27; Isa 34:4, Isa 65:17; Mat 24:35; Mar 13:31; Luk 21:33; Pe2 3:7-10; Rev 20:11, Rev 21:1 thou: Psa 10:16, Psa 29:10, Psa 90:2; Isa 41:4, Isa 44:6; Rev 1:11, Rev 1:17, Rev 1:18, Rev 2:8 shall wax: Isa 50:9, Isa 51:6, Isa 51:8 Hebrews 1:12”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification