American Standard Version
Hebrews 12:17
17For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears.
Hebrews 12:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
- New International Version (NIV)Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
Context of Hebrews 12:17
15looking carefully lestthere beany man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled; 16lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright. For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears. 18For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them;
Read all of Hebrews 12Hebrews 12:17 word by word
ἴστε γὰρ ὅτι καὶ μετέπειτα θέλων κληρονομῆσαι τὴν εὐλογίαν ἀπεδοκιμάσθη· μετανοίας γὰρ τόπον οὐχ εὗρεν καίπερ μετὰ δακρύων ἐκζητήσας αὐτήν.¶Read the interlinear
- evenκαίkai · andG2532
- desiredθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- inheritκληρονομέωklēronomeō · to inheritG2816
- blessingεὐλογίαeulogia · praiseG2129
- rejectedἀποδοκιμάζωapodokimazō · to rejectG593
- foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
- placeτόποςtopos · placeG5117
- tearsδάκρυ, δάκρυονdakru dakruon · teardropG1144
Cross-references for Hebrews 12:17
- Genesis 27:31And he also made savory food, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.
- Hebrews 6:8but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.
- Proverbs 1:24Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;
- Jeremiah 6:30Refuse silver shall men call them, because Jehovah hath rejected them.
- Matthew 7:23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
- Matthew 25:11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
- Luke 13:24Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
- Hebrews 6:4For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
- Hebrews 10:26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,
Commentaries on Hebrews 12:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17When he would have inherited the blessing - When he wished to have the lordship over the whole family conveyed to him, and sought it earnestly with tears, he found no place for a change in his father's mind and counsel, who now perceived that it was the will of God that Jacob should be made lord of all. Repentance - Here is not to be taken in a theological sense, as implying contrition for sin, but merely change of mind or purpose; nor does the word refer…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For ye know how that afterward - When he came to his father, and earnestly besought him to reverse the sentence which he had pronounced; see Genesis 27:34-40. The “blessing” here referred to was not that of the birth-right, which he knew he could not regain, but that pronounced by the father Isaac on him whom he regarded as his first-born son. This Jacob obtained by fraud, when Isaac really “meant” to bestow it on Esau. Isaac appears to have been…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 A burden of affliction is apt to make the Christian's hands hang down, and his knees grow feeble, to dispirit him and discourage him; but against this he must strive, that he may better run his spiritual race and course. Faith and patience enable believers to follow peace and holiness, as a man follows his calling constantly, diligently, and with pleasure. Peace with men, of all sects and parties, will be favourable to our pursuit of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17The author of Hebrews views Esau's lack of respect for his inheritance (Hebrews 12:16) and his loss of the blessing (Genesis 27:30–40) as closely connected. This led to his bitter tears. By extension, those who reject an inheritance through Christ's new covenant will face a future filled with bitterness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. afterwards--Greek, "even afterward." He despised his birthright, accordingly also he was despised and rejected when he wished to have the blessing. As in the believer's case, so in the unbeliever's, there is an "afterwards" coming, when the believer shall look on his past griefs, and the unbeliever on his past joys, in a very different light from that in which they were respectively viewed at the time. Compare "Nevertheless afterward," &c. He 12:11…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 12:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hebrews 12
- 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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries