Hebrews 10:31

Hebrews 10:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
• New International Version (NIV)It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Context of Hebrews 10:31

29How much greater punishment do you think he will deserve who has rejected and trampled under foot the Son of God, and has considered unclean and common the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and has insulted the Spirit of grace [who imparts the unmerited favor and blessing of God]? 30For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine [retribution and the deliverance of justice rest with Me], I will repay [the wrongdoer].” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath]. 32But remember the earlier days, when, after being [spiritually] enlightened, you [patiently] endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33sometimes by being made a spectacle, publicly exposed to insults and distress, and sometimes by becoming companions with those who were so treated.

Hebrews 10:31 word by word

φοβερὸν τὸ ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς χεῖρας θεοῦ ζῶντος.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• a fearful thingφοβερόςphoberos · fearfulG5398
• to fallἐμπίπτωempiptō · to fall intoG1706
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the handsχείρcheir · handG5495
• of theθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• livingζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Hebrews 10:31

• Hebrews 10:27but a kind of awful and terrifying expectation of [divine] judgment and the fury of a fire and burning wrath which will consume the adversaries [those who put themselves in opposition to God].
• Isaiah 33:14The sinners in Zion are terrified; Trembling has seized the godless. [They cry] “Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with everlasting burning?”
• Luke 21:11There will be violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and [deadly and devastating] pestilences (plagues, epidemics); and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.
• Hebrews 12:29for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire.
• Psalms 50:22“Now consider this, you who forget God, Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be no one to rescue [you].
• Psalms 76:7You, even You, are to be feared [with the submissive wonder of reverence]; Who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry?
• Psalms 90:11Who understands the power of Your anger? [Who connects this brevity of life among us with Your judgment of sin?] And Your wrath, [who connects it] with the [reverent] fear that is due You?
• Matthew 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
• Luke 12:5But I will point out to you whom you should fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority and power to hurl [you] into hell; yes, I say to you, [stand in great awe of God and] fear Him!

Commentaries on Hebrews 10:31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God - To fall into the hands of God is to fall under his displeasure; and he who lives for ever can punish for ever. How dreadful to have the displeasure of an eternal, almighty Being to rest on the soul for ever! Apostates, and all the persecutors and enemies of God's cause and people, may expect the heaviest judgments of an incensed Deity: and these, not for a time, but through eternity.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God - There may be an allusion here to the request of David to “fall into the hands of the Lord and not into the hands of men,” when it was submitted to him for the sin of numbering the people, whether he would choose seven years of famine, or flee three months before his enemies, or have three days of pestilence; 2 Samuel 24. He preferred “to fall into the hands of the Lord,” and God smote…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-31Verses 26-31 The exhortations against apostacy and to perseverance, are urged by many strong reasons. The sin here mentioned is a total and final falling away, when men, with a full and fixed will and resolution, despise and reject Christ, the only Saviour; despise and resist the Spirit, the only Sanctifier; and despise and renounce the gospel, the only way of salvation, and the words of eternal life. Of this destruction God gives some notorious sinners…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 30-31“The Lord will judge His people”: Deuteronomy 32:36; compare 1 Peter 4:17–18. That God will repay them and will judge His people shows how serious the situation is for those who have rejected Christ. Once God decides to judge someone, no one can save that person from God's hand (Deuteronomy 32:39).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. fearful ... to fall into the hands--It is good like David to fall into the hands of God, rather than man, when one does so with filial faith in his father's love, though God chastises him. "It is fearful" to fall into His hands as a reprobate and presumptuous sinner doomed to His just vengeance as Judge (He 10:27). living God--therefore able to punish for ever (Mt 10:28).Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 10:31

• Apostasy
• God Continued...
• Punishment
• Reprobacy
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Approach
• Assembling
• Assurance
• Consider
• Draw
• Fearful
• High priest
• Judge

Commentaries on Hebrews 10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings