Hebrews 13:17

Hebrews 13:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
• New International Version (NIV)Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Context of Hebrews 13:17

15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. 16And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you soon.

Hebrews 13:17 word by word

Πείθεσθε τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ὑμῶν καὶ ὑπείκετε· αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀγρυπνοῦσιν ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ὡς λόγον ἀποδώσοντες, ἵνα μετὰ χαρᾶς τοῦτο ποιῶσιν καὶ μὴ στενάζοντες· ἀλυσιτελὲς γὰρ ὑμῖν τοῦτο.¶Read the interlinear

• Obeyπείθωpeithō · to persuadeG3982
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• leadersἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• submitὑπείκωhupeikō · to submitG5226
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• watchἀγρυπνέωagrupneō · be watchfulG69
• overὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• soulsψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• those who must giveἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
• an accountλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• To this endἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• allow themποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• joyχαράchara · joyG5479
• notμήmē · notG3361
• griefστενάζωstenazō · to groanG4727
• of no advantageἀλυσιτελήςalusitelēs · unprofitableG255

Cross-references for Hebrews 13:17

• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
• 1 Samuel 8:19Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
• 1 Samuel 15:19So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”
• Proverbs 5:13I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors.
• Philippians 2:12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:14Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
• 1 Timothy 5:17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
• Genesis 16:9So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:16to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
• Ephesians 5:21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
• James 4:7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• 1 Peter 5:5Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
• Ezekiel 3:17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
• Ezekiel 33:2“Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land choose a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman,
• Acts 20:24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Commentaries on Hebrews 13:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Obey them that have the rule over you - Obey your leaders, ̔ . He is not fit to rule who is not capable of guiding. See on Hebrews 13:7, (note). In the former verse the apostle exhorts them to remember those who had been their leaders, and to imitate their faith; in this he exhorts them to obey the leaders they now had, and to submit to their authority in all matters of doctrine and discipline, on the ground that they watched for their souls, and should…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Obey them that have the rule over you - Margin, guide; see notes on Hebrews 13:7. The reference here is to their religious teachers, and not to civil rulers. They were to show them proper respect, and to submit to their authority in the church, so far as it was administered in accordance with the precepts of the Saviour. The obligation to obedience does not, of course, extend to anything which is wrong in itself, or which would be a violation of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 We must, according to our power, give to the necessities of the souls and bodies of men: God will accept these offerings with pleasure, and will accept and bless the offerers through Christ. The apostle then states what is their duty to living ministers; to obey and submit to them, so far as is agreeable to the mind and will of God, made known in his word. Christians must not think themselves too wise, too good, or too great, to learn. The…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17The relationship between the church's spiritual leaders and its members might have been tense. The author encourages members to listen to and trust their leaders. The Greek word for obey can also mean follow, place confidence in, or be persuaded by. Christian leaders care for people's souls (Acts 20:28–31; 1 Peter 5:1–4), which is a serious responsibility. It makes them accountable to God (James 3:1). The word grief could also mean groaning. It refers to…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Obey them that have the rule over you--(Compare He 13:7, 24). This threefold mention of the rulers is peculiar to this Epistle. In other Epistles Paul includes the rulers in his exhortations. But here the address is limited to the general body of the Church, in contrast to the rulers to whom they are charged to yield reverent submission. Now this is just what might be expected when the apostle of the Gentiles was writing to the Palestine Christians…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 13:17

• Church
• Commandments
• Minister, Christian
• Reverence

In the dictionaries

• Altar
• Bed
• Continuing
• Entertain
• Forgetful
• Marriage
• Meat
• Restore
• Trust
• Watches

Commentaries on Hebrews 13

• 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