Hebrews 10:37-38
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The author emphasizes the extreme shortness of the remaining time with the unique phrase "a very little while." This isn't just a minor delay; it's a deliberate, emphatic expression, drawn from Isaiah, to underscore how soon the promised one's arrival truly is.
For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author is encouraging the readers to persevere through their suffering, assuring them that the end of their trial is near and that God's promises will be fulfilled. This passage directly quotes and applies Habakkuk 2:3-4, which speaks of a vision that will surely come, even if it seems to delay. By applying this to "He who is coming," the writer emphasizes the certainty of Christ's return and the eventual vindication of the faithful.
Feeling like your trials are endless? This verse offers a profound perspective on time and God's promises.
The phrase 'a little while' here isn't just a casual remark; it's a deeply emphasized expression. The original Greek uses a rare, intensified phrasing to convey 'a very, very little while.' Think of it as the spiritual equivalent of saying 'hang on just a second!' when you know something significant is about to happen.
This language echoes the Old Testament, specifically Isaiah 26:20, a passage about enduring a brief period of divine judgment before salvation. The writer of Hebrews is reminding his readers that their present suffering, however intense, is temporary. God's promised deliverance and the ultimate return of Christ are not distant, vague possibilities, but are imminent.
Who is this 'coming one,' and why is His arrival so certain?
The identity of 'he that shall come' is crucial. While the original prophecy in Habakkuk refers to a 'vision' of judgment, the writer of Hebrews, by adding a definite article ('the coming one'), applies it directly to the Messiah. This was a well-recognized title for Christ, even during His earthly ministry.
This isn't just about Jesus' first coming, but His promised return. The text emphasizes the certainty of His arrival. 'He will come and will not delay.' This isn't a maybe; it's a definite, unwavering promise. Despite any perceived slowness from our human perspective, God's timing is perfect, and His promise will be fulfilled without fail.
Understand the original words
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dikaios · Greek Adjective
The state of being justified, righteous, or acquitted before God; one who has been made right with God through faith.
pistis · Greek Noun
Trust, reliance, or confident commitment to God and His promises; the primary means by which believers are justified and live their daily lives.
hypostellō · Greek Verb
To draw back, recoil, or withdraw in cowardice or fear, particularly from a commitment to Christ; apostasy.
This verse reassures believers facing hardship that Christ's return, the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises, is imminent, even if it doesn't feel like it. It echoes Habakkuk's plea for justice and applies it to the Christian hope in Christ's second coming.
c. 625-605 BC
Habakkuk prophesies during turmoil
The prophet Habakkuk delivers his message amidst the violence and iniquity of Israel and the looming threat of Babylonian conquest, crying out to God about the delay of justice.
c. 587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Jerusalem is destroyed, and many Judeans are deported to Babylon, a period of profound national crisis and questioning of God's promises.
c. 516 BC
Return from Exile and Temple Rebuilding
Judeans return from exile and rebuild the Temple, but face challenges and the longing for a promised deliverer.
c. 5-4 BC
Birth of Jesus Christ
Jesus, the promised Messiah, is born, marking the beginning of God's intervention in human history in a new way.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is crucified and rises from the dead, fulfilling prophecies and inaugurating a new covenant, though his full redemptive work is yet to be consummated.
c. AD 60s— this verse
Writing of the Book of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to Jewish Christians, encouraging them to persevere in their faith amidst persecution and the temptation to revert to Judaism.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Roman armies destroy Jerusalem and the Second Temple, marking a catastrophic end to the Old Covenant era and a fulfillment of Jesus' prophecies.
This is the primary Old Testament passage from which Hebrews 10:37 is directly quoted, emphasizing God's promise that His plans will certainly come to pass, even if they seem delayed.
Isaiah 26:20The unique phrase 'a little while' is drawn from this passage, connecting the idea of a short waiting period before divine intervention with a time of hiding and protection until judgment passes.
Matthew 11:3This verse shows that 'He who is coming' was a recognized Messianic title, helping to solidify the author's application of Habakkuk's prophecy to Jesus Christ.
James 5:7James echoes the same sentiment of patient waiting for the Lord's coming, drawing a direct parallel to the encouragement found in Hebrews 10:37 for enduring hardship.
Revelation 22:20This final affirmation from Jesus himself, 'Yes, I am coming soon,' powerfully reinforces the message of Hebrews 10:37, highlighting the imminent and certain return of Christ that believers anticipate.
ellicottHebrews 10:37: "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry."
(37) The connection is this: “Ye have need of endurance” for “the end is not yet” ( Matthew 24:6 ); ye shall “receive the promise,” for the Lord shall surely come, and that soon. A little while.—Rather, a very little while. The expression is remarkable and unusual; it is evidently taken from Isaiah 26:20—“Come my people . . . hide thyself for a little moment until the indignation be overpast.” The sub…
cambridgeHebrews 10:37: "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry."
37 . yet a little while ] The original has a very emphatic phrase ( μικρὸν ὅσον ὅσον ) to imply the nearness of Christ’s return, “yet but a very very little while.” The phrase occurs in the LXX. in Isaiah 26:20 . The quotations in this and the next verse are adapted from Habakkuk 2:3-4 . In the original it is “the vision” which will not tarry, but the writer quotes from the LXX., only inserting the de…
The author emphasizes the extreme shortness of the remaining time with the unique phrase "a very little while." This isn't just a minor delay; it's a deliberate, emphatic expression, drawn from Isaiah, to underscore how soon the promised one's arrival truly is.
The author is encouraging the readers to persevere through their suffering, assuring them that the end of their trial is near and that God's promises will be fulfilled. This passage directly quotes and applies Habakkuk 2:3-4, which speaks of a vision that will surely come, even if it seems to delay. By applying this to "He who is coming," the writer emphasizes the certainty of Christ's return and the eventual vindication of the faithful.
The author is encouraging the readers to persevere through their suffering, assuring them that the end of their trial is near and that God's promises will be fulfilled. This passage directly quotes and applies Habakkuk 2:3-4, which speaks of a vision that will surely come, even if it seems to delay. By applying this to "He who is coming," the writer emphasizes the certainty of Christ's return and the eventual vindication of the faithful.
"For,
“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”" — The author emphasizes the *extreme* shortness of the remaining time with the unique phrase "a very little while." This isn't just a minor delay; it's a deliberate, emphatic expression, drawn from Isa…
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Last reviewed October 2026