They welcomed it before it came

 Tonight one word in Hebrews 11:13 would not let me go.

“They saw the promises from afar and greeted them.”

The Greek word is aspasamenoi... to greet warmly, to welcome someone as they approach. It’s the kind of word used for embracing a friend, for receiving someone with affection.

They did not receive the promises.
They did not hold them.
They did not see them fulfilled.

But they greeted them.

Almost like someone scanning the horizon, recognizing a familiar figure in the distance, and lifting a hand before the person even arrives.

What surprised me is that my Statenvertaling adds the word “believed” — “they saw them from afar, and believed, and greeted them.” But “believed” is not actually in the Greek text. And somehow, adding that word makes it smaller. Because “believe” can sound like agreement.

But “greeted” is warmer than that.
It is relational. It is welcoming.

They didn’t just believe the promise was true.
They welcomed it before it came.

And that is more beautiful than I had ever noticed.