Hebrews 11:38
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
American King James Version (AKJV)
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
American Standard Version (ASV)
(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Wandering in waste places and in mountains and in holes in the rocks; for whom the world was not good enough.
Webster's Revision
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
World English Bible
(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
English Revised Version (ERV)
(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.
Clarke's Hebrews 11:38 Bible Commentary
Of whom the world was not worthy - Yet they were obliged to wander by day in deserts and mountains, driven from the society of men, and often obliged to hide by night in dens and caves of the earth, to conceal themselves from the brutal rage of men. Perhaps he refers here principally to the case of Elijah, and the hundred prophets hidden in caves by Obadiah, and fed with bread and water. See 1 Kings 18:4. David was often obliged thus to hide himself from Saul; 1 Samuel 24:3, etc.
Barnes's Hebrews 11:38 Bible Commentary
Of whom the world was not worthy - The world was so wicked that it had no claim that such holy men should live in it. These poor, despised, and persecuted people, living as outcasts and wanderers, were of a character far elevated above the world. This is a most beautiful expression. It is at once a statement of their eminent holiness, and of the wickedness of the rest of mankind.
They wandered in deserts ... - On the Scripture meaning of the word "desert" or wilderness, see the notes on Matthew 3:1. This is a description of persons driven away from their homes, and wandering about from place to place to procure a scanty subsistence; compare 1 Macc. 1:53; 2 Macc. 5:27; 6:7. The instances mentioned in the Books of Maccabees are so much in point, that there is no impropriety in supposing that Paul referred to some such cases, if not these very cases. As there is no doubt about their historic truth, there was no impropriety in referring to them, though they are not mentioned in the canonical books of Scripture. One of those cases may be referred to as strikingly illustrating what is here said. "But Judas Maccabeus with nine others or thereabout, withdrew himself into the wilderness, and lived in the mountains after the manner of beasts, with his company, who fed on herbs continually lest they should be partakers of the pollution;" 2 Macc. 5:27.
Wesley's Hebrews 11:38 Bible Commentary
11:38 Of whom the world was not worthy - It did not deserve so great a blessing. They wandered - Being driven out from men.