Hebrews 12:23

Hebrews 12:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
• New International Version (NIV)to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
• English Standard Version (ESV)and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
• New King James Version (NKJV)to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Context of Hebrews 12:23

21The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. 22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel. 25See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.

Hebrews 12:23 word by word

καὶ ἐκκλησίᾳ πρωτοτόκων ἀπογεγραμμένων ἐν οὐρανοῖς καὶ κριτῇ θεῷ πάντων καὶ πνεύμασιν δικαίων τετελειωμένωνRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• To the general assemblyπανήγυριςpanēguris · assemblyG3831
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• of the firstbornπρωτότοκοςprōtotokos · firstbornG4416
• which are writtenἀπογράφωapographō · to registerG583
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• the Judgeκριτήςkritēs · judgeG2923
• of allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• to the spiritsπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• of just menδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
• made perfectτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048

Cross-references for Hebrews 12:23

• Psalms 89:7God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, more awe-inspiring than all who surround him.
• Psalms 111:1Hallelujah! I will praise the Lord with all my heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.
• Acts 20:28Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.
• Ephesians 1:22And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church,
• Ephesians 5:24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.
• Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church.
• 1 Timothy 3:5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)
• Exodus 4:22And you will say to Pharaoh: This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son.
• Exodus 13:2“Consecrate every firstborn male to me, the firstborn from every womb among the Israelites, both man and domestic animal; it is mine.”
• Deuteronomy 21:17He must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the neglected wife, by giving him two shares of his estate, for he is the firstfruits of his virility; he has the rights of the firstborn.
• Psalms 89:27I will also make him my firstborn, greatest of the kings of the earth.
• Jeremiah 31:9They will come weeping, but I will bring them back with consolation. I will lead them to wadis filled with water, by a smooth way where they will not stumble, for I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
• James 1:18By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• Revelation 14:4These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, since they remained virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were redeemed from humanity as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb.
• Exodus 32:32Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written.”
• Psalms 69:28Let them be erased from the book of life and not be recorded with the righteous.

Commentaries on Hebrews 12:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23To the general assembly - . This word is joined to the preceding by some of the best MSS., and is quoted in connection by several of the fathers: Ye are come - to the general assembly of innumerable angels; and this is probably the true connection. The word is compounded of , all, and , an assembly; and means, particularly, an assembly collected on festive occasions. It is applied to the assembly of the Grecian states at their national games, Olympic…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23To the general assembly - see the notes on Hebrews 12:22. And church of the first-born - That is, you are united with the church of the first-born. They who were first-born among the Hebrews enjoyed special privileges, and especially pre-eminence of rank; see the notes on Colossians 1:15. The reference here is, evidently, to those saints who had been distinguished for their piety, and who may be supposed to be exalted to special honors in heaven - such as…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-29Verses 18-29 Mount Sinai, on which the Jewish church state was formed, was a mount such as might be touched, though forbidden to be so, a place that could be felt; so the Mosaic dispensation was much in outward and earthly things. The gospel state is kind and condescending, suited to our weak frame. Under the gospel all may come with boldness to God's presence. But the most holy must despair, if judged by the holy law given from Sinai, without a Saviour…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23The word translated as assembly is usually translated "church." It refers to God's gathered people. God's firstborn children are those who are part of the new covenant (see Hebrews 1:6; 2:10–13). The idea that God's people have their names written in heaven shows God's special care for them (see also Exodus 32:32; Psalm 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5). For God's children, God as judge is the one who defends…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-29For We Are under, Not a Law of Terror, but the Gospel of Grace, to Despise Which Will Bring the Heavier Penalties, in Proportion to Our Greater Privileges. 1. we also--as well as those recounted in He 12:11. are compassed about--Greek, "have so great a cloud (a numberless multitude above us, like a cloud, 'holy and pellucid,' [Clement of Alexandria]) of witnesses surrounding us." The image is from a "race," an image common even in Palestine from the time…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 12:23

• Birthright
• Church
• Covenant
• Fear of God
• Firstborn
• God Continued...
• Gospel
• Heaven
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Acceptably
• Angel
• Aside
• Birthright
• Bitterness
• Carefully
• Chastening
• Church

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