Romans 8:24

Amplified Bible

For in this hope we were saved [by faith]. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he already sees?

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
We were saved to have this hope. If we can see what we are waiting for, that is not really hope. People don't hope for something they already have.

Revised Standard Version
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For we are savyd by hope. But hope that is sene is no hope. For how can a ma hope for that which he seyth?

Hebrew Names Version
For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?

International Standard Version
For we were saved with this hope in mind.in mind">[fn] Now hope that is seen is not really hope, for who hopes for what can be seen?2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

New Century Version
We were saved, and we have this hope. If we see what we are waiting for, that is not really hope. People do not hope for something they already have.

Update Bible Version
For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopes for that which he sees?

Webster's Bible Translation
For we are saved by hope: But hope that is seen, is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

English Standard Version
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

World English Bible
For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, how doth he yet hope for?

Weymouth's New Testament
It is *in hope* that we have been saved. But an object of hope is such no longer when it is present to view; for when a man has a thing before his eyes, how can he be said to hope for it?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But bi hope we ben maad saaf. For hope that is seyn, is not hope; for who hopith that thing, that he seeth?

English Revised Version
For by hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth?

Berean Standard Bible
For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?

Contemporary English Version
And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping.

American Standard Version
For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth?

Bible in Basic English
For our salvation is by hope: but hope which is seen is not hope: for who is hoping for what he sees?

Complete Jewish Bible
It was in this hope that we were saved. But if we see what we hope for, it isn't hope — after all, who hopes for what he already sees?

Darby Translation
For we have been saved in hope; but hope seen is not hope; for what any one sees, why does he also hope?

Etheridge Translation
For in hope we live: but hope that is seen is not hope; for if we see it, why hope we for it ?

Murdock Translation
Because we live in hope. But hope that is seen, is not hope: for if we saw it, how should we hope for it?

King James Version (1611)
For wee are saued by hope: but hope that is seene, is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

New Living Translation
We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it.

New Life Bible
We were saved with this hope ahead of us. Now hope means we are waiting for something we do not have. How can a man hope for something he already has?

New Revised Standard
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?

Geneva Bible (1587)
For we are saued by hope: but hope that is seene, is not hope: for how can a man hope for that which he seeth?

George Lamsa Translation
For we live in hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for if we see it, why should we yet hope?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, by our hope, have we been saved, - but, hope beheld, is not hope, for, what one beholdeth, why doth he hope for?

Douay-Rheims Bible
For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he hope for?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For we are saued by hope: But hope that is seene, is no hope. For howe can a man hope for that which he seeth?

Good News Translation
For it was by hope that we were saved; but if we see what we hope for, then it is not really hope. For who of us hopes for something we see?

Christian Standard Bible®
Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?

King James Version
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Lexham English Bible
For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he sees?

Literal Translation
for we were saved by hope, but hope being seen is not hope; for what anyone sees, why does he also hope?

Young's Literal Translation
for in hope we were saved, and hope beheld is not hope; for what any one doth behold, why also doth he hope for [it]?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For we are saued i dede, howbeit i hope: but ye hope that is sene, is no hope: for how can a man hope for that which he seyeth?

Mace New Testament (1729)
for we are saved but by hope: but hope supposes things not yet present; for how can a man hope for what he has now in possession?

New English Translation
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?

New King James Version
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

Simplified Cowboy Version
We long to be given our inheritance as children of God. We will have new bodies and a new life free of pain and suffering. Those who ride for him hold onto this hope since it was given to us when we saddled up for him. We need this hope because we don't have what God promised us yet.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

Legacy Standard Bible
For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he already sees?

Contextual Overview

¹⁷And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory. ¹⁸For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us! ¹⁹For [even the whole] creation [all nature] waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to frustration and futility, not willingly [because of some intentional fault on its part], but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will also be freed from its bondage to decay [and gain entrance] into the glorious freedom of the children of God. ²²For we know that the whole creation has been moaning together as in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons—the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection]. ²⁴For in this hope we were saved [by faith]. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he already sees?²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

saved: Romans 5:2, Romans 12:12, Romans 15:4, Romans 15:13, Psalms 33:18, Psalms 33:22, Psalms 146:5, Proverbs 14:32, Jeremiah 17:7, Zechariah 9:12, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Galatians 5:5, Colossians 1:5, Colossians 1:23, Colossians 1:27, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11-13, Hebrews 6:18, Hebrews 6:19, 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 1:21, 1 John 3:3

but hope: 2 Corinthians 4:18, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 11:1, 1 Peter 1:10, 1 Peter 1:11

Reciprocal: Psalms 130:7 - for with Jeremiah 2:25 - after John 3:36 - see Romans 2:7 - patient Romans 4:18 - against 1 Corinthians 13:7 - hopeth Ephesians 1:18 - is 1 Thessalonians 1:3 - and patience Titus 2:13 - blessed Titus 3:7 - made Hebrews 6:11 - of hope Hebrews 11:13 - and were Hebrews 12:1 - with patience James 5:7 - Be patient

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For we are saved by hope,.... We who have received the firstfruits, who were in a lost perishing condition, and by nature no better than others, than the Gentiles, are saved by sin and wrath to come by Christ, with a spiritual and everlasting salvation. They were already saved in the preparations and purposes of God; in the covenant of grace; in the arms and hands of Christ, through his purchase; and as considered in him; and with respect to the inchoation and application of salvation, in effectual calling, and their right unto it by the righteousness of Christ; and with regard to the certainty of it, in faith and hope: the manner in which they are said to be saved, is "by", or "in hope"; not that hope is the cause of salvation, but the means by which souls are brought to the enjoyment of it; salvation, or glory, is the object of it:

but hope that is seen, is not hope; for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for? in the former clause, "hope" signifies the grace itself, but here the object of it; which is represented as unseen, not yet fully enjoyed, something future, and to be hoped for; as the resurrection of the dead, which is the object of hope, and is unseen, and even incredible to carnal reason, and is to come, and good foundation there is in divine revelation, to hope for it; and the hope of it is of great use to the saints, whilst in this world of trouble: eternal glory and happiness is also the object of the hope of believers; it is said to be the hope of their calling, which they are called by grace to; the hope of righteousness, which the righteousness of Christ is the ground and foundation of; and that blessed hope, the sum of their happiness; and hope laid up for them in heaven, where it is safe and secure; all which is unseen, and yet to come; but good reason there is to hope for it, since the Scriptures of truth so clearly express it; and the person, blood, and righteousness of Christ, lay such a solid foundation for hope of it: the Alexandrian copy reads, "why doth he yet wait for?" and so the Ethiopic version, with which agrees the Syriac version, reading the whole, "for [if] we see it, why should we wait for it?"

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For we are saved by hope - It cannot be said that hope is the instrument or condition of salvation. Most commentators have understood this as meaning that we have as yet attained salvation only in hope; that we have arrived only to a condition in which we hope for future glory; and that we are in an attitude of waiting for the future state of adoption. But perhaps the word “saved” may mean here simply, we are kept, preserved, sustained in our trials, by hope. Our trials are so great that nothing but the prospect of future deliverance would uphold us; and the prospect is sufficient to enable us to bear them with patience. This is the proper meaning of the word “save”; and it is often thus used in the New Testament; see Matthew 8:25; Matthew 16:25; Mark 3:4; Mark 8:35. The Syriac renders this, “For by hope we live.” The Arabic, “We are preserved by hope.” Hope thus sustains the soul in the midst of trims, and enables it to bear them without a complaint.

But hope that is seen - Hope is a complex emotion, made up of an earnest desire, and an expectation of obtaining an object. It has reference, therefore, to what is at present unseen. But when the object is seen, and is in our possession, it cannot be said to be an object of hope. The Word hope here means the object of hope, the thing hoped for.

What a man seeth - The word “seeth” is used here in the sense of possessing, or enjoying. What a man already possesses, he cannot be said to hope for.

Why - How. What a man actually possesses, how can he look forward to it with anticipation?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 24. For we are saved by hope — We are supported and are comfortable in the expectation we have of receiving from the hand of our God all the good we need in the troubles and adversities of this life, and of having our bodies raised from corruption and death at the general resurrection.

Hope that is seen is not hope — As hope signifies the expectation of future good, so it necessarily supposes that the object of it is not seen, i.e. not enjoyed; for to see, in Scripture language, sometimes signifies to enjoy, as in Job 7:7: Mine eye shall no more SEE (margin, ENJOY) good. Job 9:25: My days flee away, and SEE no good; i.e. enjoy no prosperity. Psalms 50:23: I will SHOW the salvation of God: I will give that man to enjoy my salvation who walks uprightly. Matthew 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall SEE God; that is, they shall enjoy his favour and blessing. See also John 3:36; Hebrews 12:14, and 1 John 3:2. The hope that is seen, that is, enjoyed, is no longer hope, it is fruition: and a man cannot hope for that which he has in his possession.