These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Characteristic excellences of the patriarch's faith.
These all - beginning with "Abraham" (Hebrews 11:8): to whom the promises were made (Galatians 3:16: cf. the end of Hebrews 11:13 and Hebrews 11:15) (Alford). But the "ALL" must include Abel, Enoch, and Noah. Now as these did not receive the promise of entering Canaan, some other promise made in the first ages, and repeated, must be meant-namely, the promise of a Redeemer to Adam (Genesis 3:15). Thus the promises cannot have been merely temporal; for Abel and Enoch received no temporal promise (Dr. Magee). This promise of eternal redemption is the essence of the promises to Abraham.
Died in faith - as believers, waiting for, not seeing as yet, their promised good things. They were true to faith even unto, and especially in, their dying hour (cf. Hebrews 11:20).
Not having received - this constituted their "faith." If they had "received" THE THING PROMISED ("the promises" plural: the promise often renewed), it would have been sight, not faith.
Seen them afar off (John 8:56). Christ, as the Word, was preached to the Old Testament believers, and so became the seed of life to their souls, as He is to ours.
And were persuaded of them. 'Aleph (') A Delta f, Vulgate omit.
Embraced them - as though not "afar off," but within reach, so as to clasp them in their embrace. Trench denies that the Old Testament believers embraced them, for they only saw them afar off: he translates 'saluted (greeted) them,' as the homeward bound mariner, recognizing from afar the well-known promontories of his native land. Jacob's, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord," Genesis 49:18, is such a greeting of salvation from afar (Delitzsch).
Confessed that they were strangers - so Abraham to the children of Heth, Genesis 23:4; and Jacob to Pharaoh, Genesis 47:9; Psalms 119:19. Believers sit loose to earthly things. Citizens of the world do not confess themselves "strangers on the earth."
Pilgrims, х parepideemoi (G3927)] - 'temporary (literally, by the way) sojourners.'
On the earth - contrast with "an heavenly" country (Hebrews 11:16; Hebrews 10:34; Psalms 119:54; Philippians 3:20). 'Whosoever professes he has a Father in heaven, confesses himself a stranger on earth; hence, there is in the heart an ardent longing, like that of a child among strangers, in want and grief, far from his fatherland' (Luther); "Like ships in seas, while in, above the world.'