Hebrews 10:38 teaches that a person made right with God keeps living by trusting him, and that turning back from that trust grieves God. The author is writing to Christians who have endured hardship and are tempted to give up, so the verse calls them to keep holding on. It is written by the unknown author of Hebrews, traditionally linked to Paul, and addressed to a community of believers facing pressure.
But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
Hebrews 10:38 (WEB)
What Hebrews 10:38 Means
The phrase “the righteous” refers to people who have been declared right with God. The verse says such a person will “live by faith,” meaning their whole life is shaped by trust in God rather than by fear, pressure, or their own strength. Living is not only about surviving; it describes a life that is anchored and directed by what God has promised.
The second sentence describes the opposite path. To “shrink back” means to pull away from God out of fear or discouragement, like someone stepping back from a difficult task. The author says God takes no pleasure in such a retreat. This is a warning about the direction of the heart, not a claim that a single moment of weakness settles a person’s fate.
The verse does not promise that faith will make life easy or free from suffering. It describes how God regards faithfulness and how he regards withdrawal, and it invites the reader to remain steady within the trials they face.
The Context of Hebrews 10:38
Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who had already suffered for their faith, and some were considering abandoning the community to avoid further loss. Verses 32 to 34 remind them of how they had stood firm before, and verse 35 urges them not to throw away their confidence. The author ties perseverance to the promise of a great reward.
Verse 37 quotes a short prophetic word about the coming one who will not delay, and verse 38 answers with the call to live by faith. Verse 39 then places the readers among those who keep faith rather than drawing back. Read in this setting, the verse is not a harsh threat but an encouragement to keep trusting while waiting for God to act.
Key Phrases in Hebrews 10:38
Hebrews 10:39
But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.
(WEB)
This verse follows directly and identifies the author’s readers as people who keep faith rather than drawing back. It completes the thought by showing the hope the author holds for his audience.
Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith.
(WEB)
The Old Testament prophet uses the same phrase about living by faith, and the New Testament writers draw on it to explain how God’s people are justified. Reading it alongside Hebrews 10:38 shows the long thread of trust running through Scripture.
A Short Prayer From Hebrews 10:38
Lord, you see the places in my life where I am tempted to pull back from you. Some days the weight feels heavy, and I want to protect myself by keeping my distance. Help me to keep trusting you with my fears and my questions. Let my daily choices show that I am living by faith in your faithfulness, and let me find in you the steady ground I need. Amen.
