Hebrews 10:37 Commentary: The Promise of Christ's Speedy Coming

The original readers of Hebrews were Jewish Christians enduring sharp persecution. The writer recalls their earlier faithfulness: 'you joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions' (10:34). Now they are tempted to abandon their boldness (10:35). The promise of a coming deliverance would have been a lifeline.

The phrase 'a very little while' (μικρὸν ὅσον ὅσον) comes directly from the Greek Old Testament (LXX) of Isaiah 26:20, where the faithful are told to hide 'for a little moment' until divine anger passes. By echoing that text, the writer links the readers' present trial to that pattern: hide, endure a short time, then see God's salvation.

Habakkuk 2:3-4, the source of the quotation, originally assured the prophet that God's promised judgment on Babylon would arrive on time, even if it seemed late. The early Christian community had been waiting for Christ's return since the ascension. By the time of Hebrews, some in that generation were still alive. The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, about a decade after this letter, would indeed fulfill the promise for many of them, ending the temple system and vindicating the Christian message.

Culturally, the hope of an imminent divine intervention was central to Jewish apocalyptic thought. The writer takes that framework and applies it specifically to Christ: he is the one who comes, and his arrival will bring both judgment on oppressors and salvation for the faithful.

The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Hebrews 10:37. The Greek phrase μικρὸν ὅσον ὅσον is distinctive (found only here in the NT, from LXX Isaiah 26:20), but it is uniformly attested in the manuscript tradition. The inclusion of the article before ἐρχόμενος is a deliberate change from the LXX of Habakkuk, which the writer makes to apply the title to the Messiah. No variant manuscripts alter this reading.

Hebrews 10:37 has been read in at least two major streams across church history. Early and medieval interpreters largely saw it as a promise of Christ's final return, a source of hope for martyrs and persecuted believers. After the Reformation, some commentators (e.g., John Gill, Albert Barnes) gave it a historical fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem, arguing that the Jewish persecutors were judged in AD 70. Others (John Calvin, John Wesley) maintained the reference to the second coming. In liturgical use, the verse has been paired with Advent themes, emphasizing patient waiting. The phrase 'a very little while' has comforted countless Christians in their final illness or in seasons of intense trial, reminding them that the end is nearer than it appears.

Three-point outline

1. The certainty of the coming. The text doubles down: 'he who comes will come.' The Greek uses the same root for both phrases (erchomenos and hēxei), reinforcing the promise. This is no vague hope; it is as sure as God's Word.
2. The shortness of the wait. 'A very little while', the original readers needed endurance measured in months and years, not centuries. For them, the coming was imminent.
3. The call to patience. The surrounding passage (10:36-39) frames endurance as the condition for receiving the promise. The verse is sandwiched between 'you need endurance' and 'the righteous will live by faith.'

Five-point outline

1. Grounding in Scripture. The quotation from Habakkuk shows that God keeps his timetable.
2. A Messianic title. 'He who comes' was used of the Messiah; this verse reaffirms Christ's identity.
3. A specific promised event. Whether the destruction of Jerusalem or the final return, the promise addressed a real historical situation.
4. The certainty of judgment. God will not delay in dealing with evil; this encourages the oppressed.
5. The nearness of deliverance. The 'little while' gave strength for the final stretch of the race.

Illustration hooks

• The farmer waits for the crop (James 5:7), he cannot speed the rain, but he knows it will come. The Christian's waiting is active expectancy.
• A child counting days until a promised trip, the time feels long, but the parent knows it will come quickly. God's 'little while' is from his perspective.
• An athlete in the final lap of a long race, the end is in sight, and the crowd's cheers grow louder. Endurance is born from nearness.

Questions your congregation is asking

• Is Christ really coming back, or is this just ancient hopeful thinking?
• How could the early Christians believe the return was so near, when it didn't happen in their lifetime?
• Does the 'little while' apply to us today, or was it only for the first readers?

This verse gave first-century Christians a reason to hold on through intense hardship. As you study it together, ask what promises from God help you endure your own waiting seasons, whether for justice, healing, or Christ's return.

Discussion questions

1. Read Hebrews 10:32-39 as a group. What kind of suffering had the readers experienced? How did they respond to it?
2. The verse says Christ 'will come and will not delay.' What does it mean to say that God does not 'delay' when our experience often feels like waiting?
3. What are the two main interpretations of 'he who comes' in this context? Which interpretation speaks more directly to the situation of the original readers?
4. How does the quotation from Habakkuk 2:3-4 shape the meaning of Hebrews 10:37? What did the prophet's words mean for his audience?
5. Why would it matter whether the 'coming' is the destruction of Jerusalem or the final return of Christ? How does each interpretation change the application?
6. In what situations today do you find it hard to trust that God is acting swiftly? How does this verse encourage patience without passivity?
7. The promise ends with 'he will not delay.' How does that certainty affect the way you live tomorrow?