Hebrews 6:19

Good News Translation

We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. It is safe and sure, and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the inner sanctuary.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.

King James Version (1611)
Which hope we haue as an anker of the soule both sure and stedfast, and which entreth into that within the vaile,

King James Version
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

English Standard Version
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,

New American Standard Bible
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil,

New Century Version
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong. It enters behind the curtain in the Most Holy Place in heaven,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,

Legacy Standard Bible
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and confirmed and one which enters within the veil,

Berean Standard Bible
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Contemporary English Version
This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place.

Complete Jewish Bible
We have this hope as a sure and safe anchor for ourselves, a hope that goes right on through to what is inside the parokhet,

Darby Translation
which we have as anchor of the soul, both secure and firm, and entering into that within the veil,

Easy-to-Read Version
This hope is like an anchor for us. It is strong and sure and keeps us safe. It goes behind the curtain.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Which hope we haue, as an ancre of the soule, both sure and stedfast, and it entreth into that which is within the vaile,

George Lamsa Translation
That promise is like an anchor to us; it upholds the soul so that it may not be shaken, and it penetrates beyond the veil of the temple;

Lexham English Bible
which we have like an anchor of the soul, both firm and steadfast, and entering into the inside of the curtain,

Literal Translation
which we have as an anchor of the soul, both certain and sure, and entering into the inner side of the veil, Lev. 16:12

Amplified Bible
This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells],

American Standard Version
which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

Bible in Basic English
And this hope is like a strong band for our souls, fixed and certain, and going in to that which is inside the veil;

Hebrew Names Version
which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

International Standard Version
We have this hopehope">[fn] as an anchor for our souls, firm and secure, which reaches behind the curtain,Leviticus 16:15; Hebrews 9:7;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
[and] which we have as an anchor that holdeth our soul, that it may not be moved, and entereth within the veil [fn] {and}

Murdock Translation
which is to us as an anchor, that retaineth our soul, so that it swerveth not; and it entereth into that within the veil,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Which [hope] we holde as an ancker of the soule both sure and stedfast, and entryng in, into that thing which is within the vayle:

English Revised Version
which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

World English Bible
which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil,

Weymouth's New Testament
That hope we have as an anchor of the soul--an anchor that can neither break nor drag. It passes in behind the veil,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Which hope as an ankir we han sikir to the soule, and sad, and goynge in to the ynnere thingis of hiding;

Update Bible Version
which we have as an anchor of the soul, [a hope] both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is inside the veil;

Webster's Bible Translation
Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail;

New English Translation
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,

New King James Version
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

New Living Translation
This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.

New Life Bible
This hope is a safe anchor for our souls. It will never move. This hope goes into the Holiest Place of All behind the curtain of heaven.

New Revised Standard
We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Which we have, as an anchor of the soul, both secure and firm, and entering into the interior of the veil:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and which entereth in even within the veil:

Revised Standard Version
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
which hope we have as an ancre of the soule both sure and stedfast. Which hope also entreth in into tho thynges which are with in the vayle

Young's Literal Translation
which we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and entering into that within the vail,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
which (hope) we haue as a sure and stedfast anker of oure soule. Which (hope) also entreth in, in to those thinges that are within ye vayle,

Mace New Testament (1729)
might have strong consolation to serve as a sure and stedfast anchor to the soul: till it arrives within the veil,

THE MESSAGE
So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on "salvation by self-help" and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we'll stay true to all that. But there's so much more. Let's get on with it! Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, once they've personally experienced the sheer goodness of God's Word and the powers breaking in on us—if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can't start over as if nothing happened. That's impossible. Why, they've re-crucified Jesus! They've repudiated him in public! Parched ground that soaks up the rain and then produces an abundance of carrots and corn for its gardener gets God's "Well done!" But if it produces weeds and thistles, it's more likely to get cussed out. Fields like that are burned, not harvested. I'm sure that won't happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you—salvation things! God doesn't miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you've shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them. When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, "I promise that I'll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!" Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they'll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Our hope is strong and we now have an anchor in the storm. We have a back cinch to keep our saddle flat when the world yanks us around. This promise leads us through the pain and straight to him.

Contextual Overview

⁹ But even if we speak like this, dear friends, we feel sure about you. We know that you have the better blessings that belong to your salvation. ¹⁰ God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians. ¹¹ Our great desire is that each of you keep up your eagerness to the end, so that the things you hope for will come true. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to be like those who believe and are patient, and so receive what God has promised. ¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, he made a vow to do what he had promised. Since there was no one greater than himself, he used his own name when he made his vow. ¹⁴ He said, "I promise you that I will bless you and give you many descendants." ¹⁵ Abraham was patient, and so he received what God had promised. ¹⁶ When we make a vow, we use the name of someone greater than ourselves, and the vow settles all arguments. ¹⁷ To those who were to receive what he promised, God wanted to make it very clear that he would never change his purpose; so he added his vow to the promise. ¹⁸ There are these two things, then, that cannot change and about which God cannot lie. So we who have found safety with him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

as an: Acts 27:29, Acts 27:40

both: Psalms 42:5, Psalms 42:11, Psalms 43:5, Psalms 62:5, Psalms 62:6, Psalms 146:5, Psalms 146:6, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 25:3, Isaiah 25:4, Isaiah 28:16, Jeremiah 17:7, Jeremiah 17:8, Romans 4:16, Romans 5:5-10, Romans 8:28-39, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 2 Timothy 2:19

entereth: Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 9:3, Hebrews 9:7, Hebrews 10:20, Hebrews 10:21, Leviticus 16:2, Leviticus 16:15, Matthew 27:51, Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 3:1

Reciprocal: Joshua 20:2 - Appoint 2 Samuel 23:5 - and sure Psalms 19:7 - sure Mark 15:38 - General Luke 23:45 - and the veil Acts 1:2 - the day Romans 8:24 - saved 1 Corinthians 13:13 - hope Ephesians 4:4 - as Colossians 1:23 - the hope Colossians 2:5 - and the 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - in much 1 Thessalonians 5:8 - the hope 2 Thessalonians 2:16 - good Titus 2:13 - blessed Hebrews 11:1 - hoped 1 Peter 1:3 - unto 1 Peter 1:13 - hope 1 Peter 3:15 - the hope 2 Peter 1:10 - to make

Cross-References

Genesis 6:2
some of the heavenly beings saw that these young women were beautiful, so they took the ones they liked.

Genesis 6:3
Then the Lord said, "I will not allow people to live forever; they are mortal. From now on they will live no longer than 120 years."

Genesis 6:8
But the Lord was pleased with Noah.

Genesis 6:9
This is the story of Noah. He had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Noah had no faults and was the only good man of his time. He lived in fellowship with God,

Genesis 6:15
Make it 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.

Genesis 6:16
Make a roof for the boat and leave a space of 18 inches between the roof and the sides. Build it with three decks and put a door in the side.

Genesis 8:17
Take all the birds and animals out with you, so that they may reproduce and spread over all the earth."

Psalms 36:6
Your righteousness is towering like the mountains; your justice is like the depths of the sea. People and animals are in your care.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul,.... This world is as a sea; the church in it, and so every believer, is as a ship; the port that is bound unto is heaven; Christ is the pilot, and hope is the anchor: an anchor is cast on a bottom, out of sight; and when the ship is in a calm, or in danger of a rock, or near the shore; but is of no service without a cable: and when cast aright, keeps the ship steady: so hope is cast on Christ; whence he is often called hope itself, because he is the ground and foundation of it, and who is at present unseen to bodily eyes; and the anchor of hope without the cable of faith is of little service; but being cast aright on Christ, keeps the soul steady and immovable: in some things there is a difference between hope and an anchor; an anchor is not of so much use in tempests as in a calm, but hope is; the cable may be cut or broke, and so the anchor be useless, but so it cannot be with faith and hope; when the ship is at anchor, it does not move forward, but it is not so with the soul, when hope is in exercise; the anchor of hope is not cast on anything below, but above; and here it is called the anchor of the soul, to distinguish it from any other, and to show the peculiar benefit of it to the soul. Pythagoras makes use of the same metaphor x;

"riches (he says) are a weak anchor, glory: is yet weaker; the body likewise; principalities, honours, all these are weak and without strength; what then are strong anchors? prudence, magnanimity, fortitude; these no tempest shakes.''

But these philosophical moral virtues are not to be compared with the Christian's grace of hope, which is

both sure and steadfast; it is in itself a grace firm and stable; it is permanent and can never be lost: and it is still more sure and steadfast, by virtue of what it is fixed upon, the person, blood, and righteousness of Christ; and by the immutability, faithfulness, and power of God it is concerned with; and through the aboundings and discoveries of divine love, grace, and mercy; and from the instances of grace to the vilest of sinners:

and which entereth into that within the vail; the holy of holies, heaven itself; in allusion to the vail which divided between the holy and the holy of holies: the things within the vail, or in heaven, which hope entering into fixes upon, are the person of Christ, who is entered there, and appears in the presence of God for his people; his blood which he has carried along with him, and by which he is entered there; his justifying righteousness, by which the law is fulfilled, the two tables of stone in the ark of the testimony; the sweet incense of his mediation, which is continually offered up by him; the mercy seat, or throne of grace, on which Jehovah sits as the God of grace; and all the glories of heaven; all which hope is concerned with, and receives strength and rigour from: and their being within the vail, is expressive of their hiddenness and invisibility at present, and of their safety and security, as well as of their sacredness; and this shows a difference between the hope of believers and others, whose hope fixes upon things short of these; and likewise the great privilege of a believer, who being made a priest unto God, has liberty and boldness to enter into the holiest of all. The Jews y speak of a vail in the world to come, which some are worthy to enter into.

x Apud Stobaeum, Serm. I. y Zohar in Gen. fol. 73. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul - Hope accomplishes for the soul the same thing which an anchor does for a ship. It makes it fast and secure. An anchor preserves a ship when the waves beat and the wind blows, and as long as the anchor holds, so long the ship is safe, and the mariner apprehends no danger. So with the soul of the Christian. In the tempests and trials of life, his mind is calm as long as his hope of heaven is firm. If that gives way, he feels that all is lost. Among the pagan writers, “hope” is often compared with an anchor. So Socrates said, “To ground hope on a false supposition, is like trusting to a weak anchor.” Again - “A ship ought not to trust to one anchor, nor life to one hope.” Both sure and steadfast. Firm and secure. This refers to the anchor. That is fixed in the sand, and the vessel is secure.

And which entereth into that within the veil - The allusion to the “anchor” here is dropped, and the apostle speaks simply of hope. The “veil” here refers to what in the temple divided the holy from the most holy place; see the notes on Matthew 21:12. The place “within the veil” - the most holy place - was regarded as God’s special abode - where he dwelt by the visible symbol of his presence. That holy place was emblematic of heaven; and the idea here is, that the hope of the Christian enters into heaven itself; it takes hold on the throne of God; it is made firm by being fastened there. It is not the hope of future riches, honors, or pleasures in this life - for such a hope would not keep the soul steady; it is the hope of immortal blessedness and purity in the world beyond.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Which hope we have as an anchor — The apostle here changes the allusion; he represents the state of the followers of God in this lower world as resembling that of a vessel striving to perform her voyage through a troublesome, tempestuous, dangerous sea. At last she gets near the port; but the tempest continues, the water is shallow, broken, and dangerous, and she cannot get in: in order to prevent her being driven to sea again she heaves out her sheet anchor, which she has been able to get within the pier head by means of her boat, though she could not herself get in; then, swinging at the length of her cable, she rides out the storm in confidence, knowing that her anchor is sound, the ground good in which it is fastened, and the cable strong. Though agitated, she is safe; though buffeted by wind and tide, she does not drive; by and by the storm ceases, the tide flows in, her sailors take to the capstan, wear the ship against the anchor, which still keeps its bite or hold, and she gets safely into port. See on "Hebrews 6:20".

The comparison of hope to an anchor is frequent among the ancient heathen writers, who supposed it to be as necessary to the support of a man in adversity, as the anchor is to the safety of the ship when about to be driven on a lee shore by a storm. "To ground hope on a false supposition," says Socrates, "is like trusting to a weak anchor." He said farther, ουτε ναυν εξ ἑνος αγκυριου, ουτε βιον εκ μιας ελπιδος ὁρμιστεον· a ship ought not to trust to one anchor, nor life to one hope. Stob., Serm. 109.

The hope of eternal life is here represented as the soul's anchor; the world is the boisterous, dangerous sea; the Christian course, the voyage; the port, everlasting felicity; and the veil or inner road, the royal dock in which that anchor was cast. The storms of life continue but a short time; the anchor, hope, if fixed by faith in the eternal world, will infallibly prevent all shipwreck; the soul may be strongly tossed by various temptations, but will not drive, because the anchor is in sure ground, and itself is steadfast; it does not drag, and it does not break; faith, like the cable, is the connecting medium between the ship and the anchor, or the soul and its hope of heaven; faith sees the haven, hope desires and anticipates the rest; faith works, and hope holds fast; and, shortly, the soul enters into the haven of eternal repose.