Who are “the cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1)?

from the old testament

• The Old Testament does not describe the cloud of witnesses, although the believers described in Hebrews 11 came from it.

from the new testament

• Before Hebrews 12, and in culminating his argument, the author explained that Jesus was a once-for-all sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:1–18). This contrasted with the Old Testament law, which was a shadow of what was to come (Hebrews 10:1). Those sacrifices did not remove sin guilt, “Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins” (Hebrews 10:2). But “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3). Conversely, Jesus, “by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). This is why there is no need for sacrifices: “Where there is forgiveness of [sins], there is no longer any offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:18).
• However, the book of Hebrews makes clear that pressure to return to the old sacrificial system was growing (cf. Hebrews 13:9). By returning to the sacrifices, they were, as the author said, trampling on Jesus’ sacrifice (Hebrews 10:26–31). The author was encouraging them to remain strong, saying, “Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (Hebrews 13:35–36). Rallying his audience, he said, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls” (Hebrews 13:39).
• Following this, the author reminds them that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith itself is believing in God’s promises, and “For by it the people of old received their commendation” (Hebrews 11:2). He then lists many Old Testament believers, summarizing how they, by faith, believed God’s promises (Hebrews 11:4–38). Yet of these men and women, “all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39–40).
• They trusted God’s promises, but it wasn't until Jesus came that what they were promised came into focus. They never saw it, yet they believed. They are Hebrews’ “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1a). As those who ran the race of faith before, they figuratively rally those currently running. Thus, with them at the believers' backs, the author said, “let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 11:1b–2).

implications for today

As believers, we stand on the shoulders of many faithful men and women who have come before us. Though imperfect, they show us that living faithfully is possible when you consider the full trajectory of their lives.

Running a race alone can be difficult. As exhaustion sets in, we begin to doubt the reason we are even in the race, and stopping starts to sound very tempting. But if we’re racing with friends, even when we’re tired, the others running alongside us encourage us that it’s worth it and that we can do it.

This “cloud of witnesses” is like those friends. They aren’t actually running with us, as they have died and are in heaven, but as we remember that others ran (and are running) this race, we remember that we are not in this alone. God has not asked us to do anything that millions of believers haven’t already done. As imperfect as believers before us were, they reached the goal. And so can we.

We do it through their encouraging witness and by looking ahead to Jesus. He is the “founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Every promise that every believer has held to as they run is “yes and amen” in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). “Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).