What Does Hebrews 10:38 Mean in the King James?

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10:38 · KJV
The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

The just one is aligned through trust: life comes by leaning full weight on what is trusted.

You live as one aligned through trust, leaning your full weight on what is trusted. The verse names drawing back as a withdrawal that brings no pleasure to the LORD.

πίστις

pistis

GROWS FROM

πειθ-

peith-

to persuade, win trust; to be persuaded and rely

“Faith” can sound like an idea held in the mind, but this word family connects trust with being persuaded into reliance and with steadiness. Here, life is lived through active trust.

ALSO GROWS

peithō: persuade; trust

πείθω

It shows trust as reliance that arises from being persuaded, not as a detached opinion.

pisteuō: trust; entrust oneself

πιστεύω

The related verb makes trust something lived through reliance.

pistos: firm, steady; trustworthy

πιστός

The family carries trust toward steadiness, echoing the life this verse describes.

δίκαιος

dikaios

GROWS FROM

δικ-

dik-

right, just, fitting order

The word rendered “just” carries the sense of being rightly aligned. Joined to trust, it describes a life whose alignment is sustained as the person leans into what is trusted.

ALSO GROWS

dikaiosynē: alignment; rightness

δικαιοσύνη

This related word names the quality of being aligned that the verse associates with life through trust.

dikaioō: set right; regard as right

δικαιόω

It connects the just person with the language of being brought into right alignment.

A life of alignment is sustained through trust.

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk 2:4 · KJVThe same line joins the just life to trust, while contrasting it with a soul that is not upright.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:17 · KJVThe verse repeats this pattern: the just live through trust, and alignment is revealed through it.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psalm 37:3 · KJVTrust is joined to dwelling and being fed, showing reliance as a ground for lived life.
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk 2:4 · KJV

The Hebrew beneath “faith” is ⁨אֱמוּנָה⁩ (emunah), meaning firmness or steadiness, from ⁨אָמַן⁩ (aman), meaning firm or steady. This root connection opens “live by faith” as life held steady through trust.

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Hebrews 10:38 KJV Meaning