Hebrews 6:12

Hebrews 6:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
• New International Version (NIV)We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
• English Standard Version (ESV)so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
• New King James Version (NKJV)that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Context of Hebrews 6:12

10For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for His name in ministering to [the needs of] the saints (God’s people), as you do. 11And we desire for each one of you to show the same diligence [all the way through] so as to realize and enjoy the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be [spiritually] sluggish, but [will instead be] imitators of those who through faith [lean on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in His power] and by patient endurance [even when suffering] are [now] inheriting the promises. 13For when God made the promise to Abraham, He swore [an oath] by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, 14saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.”

Hebrews 6:12 word by word

ἵνα μὴ νωθροὶ γένησθε, μιμηταὶ δὲ τῶν διὰ πίστεως καὶ μακροθυμίας κληρονομούντων τὰς ἐπαγγελίας.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• notμήmē · notG3361
• slothfulνωθρόςnōthros · dullG3576
• butδέde · thenG1161
• followersμιμητήςmimētēs · imitatorG3402
• of them whoκληρονομέωklēronomeō · to inheritG2816
• throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• patienceμακροθυμίαmakrothumia · patienceG3115
• the promisesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the promisesἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860

Cross-references for Hebrews 6:12

• Hebrews 5:11Concerning this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull and sluggish in [your spiritual] hearing and disinclined to listen.
• Proverbs 12:24The hand of the diligent will rule, But the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.
• Proverbs 13:4The soul (appetite) of the lazy person craves and gets nothing [for lethargy overcomes ambition], But the soul (appetite) of the diligent [who works willingly] is rich and abundantly supplied.
• Proverbs 15:19The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him], But the way [of life] of the upright is smooth and open like a highway.
• Proverbs 18:9He who is careless in his work Is a brother to him who destroys.
• Proverbs 24:30I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man lacking understanding and common sense;
• Matthew 25:26“But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant, you knew that I reap [the harvest] where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed.
• Romans 12:11never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord;
• 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin];
• Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us,
• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders [for it was they] who brought you the word of God; and consider the result of their conduct [the outcome of their godly lives], and imitate their faith [their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider of eternal salvation through Christ, and imitate their reliance on God with absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].
• Jeremiah 6:16Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the roads and look; ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is; then walk in it, And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’
• Romans 4:12and [that he would be] the [spiritual] father of those circumcised who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had before he was circumcised.
• James 5:10As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives].
• 1 Peter 3:5For in this way in former times the holy women, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands and adapting themselves to them;
• Hebrews 6:15And so, having patiently waited, he realized the promise [in the miraculous birth of Isaac, as a pledge of what was to come from God].

Commentaries on Hebrews 6:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12That ye be not slothful - This shows how the full assurance of hope is to be regulated and maintained. They must be diligent; slothfulness will deprive them both of hope and faith. That faith which worketh by love will maintain hope in its full and due exercise. Followers of them - - · That ye be mimics or imitators of them who are inheriting the promises. And they inherited these promises by faith in him who is invisible, and who, they knew, could not…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12That ye be not slothful - Indolent; inactive. This was what he was especially desirous of guarding them against. By diligent and strenuous effort only could they secure themselves from the danger of apostasy. But followers - Imitators - that you may live as they lived. Of them who through faith and patience - By faith, or confidence in God, and by patience in suffering - referring to those who in times of trial had remained faithful to God, and had been…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-20Verses 11-20 The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things promised, through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing of them. Hope has its degrees, as faith also. The promise of blessedness God has made to believers, is from God's eternal purpose, settled between the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit. These promises of God may safely be depended upon; for here we have two things which cannot change, the counsel and the oath of God, in which…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12A strong commitment (Hebrews 6:10–11) helps prevent spiritual dullness (5:11–12). By loving God and others, we follow the example of great faith leaders. The author stresses that faith and endurance are essential for God's people (see 11:4–38).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. be not--Greek, "become not." In He 5:11, he said, "Ye have become dull (Greek, 'slothful') of hearing"; here he warns them not to become "slothful absolutely," namely, also in mind and deed. He will not become slothful who keeps always the end in view; hope is the means of ensuring this. followers--Greek, "imitators"; so in Ep 5:1, Greek; 1Co 11:1. patience--Greek, "long-suffering endurance." There is the long-suffering patience, or endurance of love…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 6:12

• Blessing
• Commandments
• Diligence
• Faith
• Patience
• Perseverance
• Slothfulness

In the dictionaries

• Afresh
• Anchor
• Counsel
• Crucify
• Enlighten
• Immutable
• Nigh
• Persuade
• Refuge
• Taste

Commentaries on Hebrews 6

• 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