Hebrews 11:15

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 11:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if indeed they had been mindful of that [country] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if indeed they had been mindful of that [country] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
Hebrews 11:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15And if indeed they had been mindful of that [country] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And truly if they had been mindful of that country, etc..] Chaldea, which was Abraham's country: from whence they came out; as Abraham and Sarah did, in person, and their posterity in them: they might have had opportunity to have returned: for the way from Canaan or Egypt, where they sojourned, was short and easy: and though Abraham sent his servant thither to take a wife for his son Isaac, yet he would not go thither himself, nor suffer his son; nay, made his servant swear that he would not bring him thither, if even the woman should refuse to come; so unmindful was he of that country; so little did he regard it; yea, so much did he despise it: so when men are called by grace, and…”
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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
“As Abraham, had he desired to leave his pilgrim life in Canaan, and resume his former fixed habitation in Ur, among the carnal and worldly, had in his long life ample opportunities to have done so; and so spiritually, as to all believers who came out from the world to become God's people, they might, if they had been so minded, have easily gone back.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And truly if they had been mindful of that country ... - If they had remembered it with sufficient interest and affection to have made them desirous to return. They might have had opportunity to have returned - The journey was not so long or perilous that they could not have retraced their steps. It would have been no more difficult or dangerous for them to do that than it was to make the journey at first. This shows that their remaining as strangers and sojourners in the land of Canaan was voluntary. They preferred it, with all its inconveniences and hardships, to a return to their native land. The same thing is true of all the people of God now. If they choose to return to the world, and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“If they had been mindful of - Their earthly country, Ur of the Chaldeans, they might have easily returned. Hebrews 11:16”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“mindful: Gen 11:31, Gen 12:10, Gen 24:6-8, Gen 31:18, Gen 32:9-11 Hebrews 11:16”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification