EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Hebrews 12:9
9Also, we have all had human fathers who punished us. As a result, we respected them. So think about our Father that our spirits belong to. We must surely obey him, and then he will give us true life.
Hebrews 12:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
- New International Version (NIV)Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
- English Standard Version (ESV)Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
Context of Hebrews 12:9
7When you have troubles in your life, you must be patient and strong. Remember that God is teaching you what is right because you are his children. There has never been any son whose father did not punish him. 8God teaches all his children not to do wrong things. So if he does not punish you, it shows that you are not really his children. Instead, you are like children who do not really belong to him. Also, we have all had human fathers who punished us. As a result, we respected them. So think about our Father that our spirits belong to. We must surely obey him, and then he will give us true life. 10Our human fathers punished us for a few years. They did this in a way that they thought was good. But God punishes us in a way that will really help us. As a result, we can become completely good, like he is. 11Punishment never makes us happy at the time when we receive it. No, the pain makes us sad. But later we know that the punishment has taught us good things. It helps us to live in a right way that gives us peace in our minds.
Read all of Hebrews 12Hebrews 12:9 word by word
εἶτα τοὺς μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν πατέρας εἴχομεν παιδευτὰς καὶ ἐνετρεπόμεθα· οὐ πολὺ δὲ μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα τῷ πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ ζήσομεν;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Furthermoreεἶταeita · thenG1534
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- we have hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- ofσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- which correctedπαιδευτήςpaideutēs · instructorG3810
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- we gaveἐντρέπωentrepō · to cause shameG1788
- shall weὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
- notοὐou · noG3756
- muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
- of spiritsπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
Cross-references for Hebrews 12:9
- John 3:6People give birth to what is human. But God's Spirit gives birth to spirit.
- Acts 2:30He was a prophet. He knew what God had promised to do for him. He knew that one of his descendants would be king of God's people one day.
- Romans 1:3This good news is about God's Son, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord. Jesus was born as a human baby from King David's family. But after Jesus died on the cross, God's Holy Spirit raised him to make him alive again. In that way God showed clearly that Jesus was his powerful Son.
- Romans 9:3I belong to the same family as they do. They are my own people. I really want them to believe in Christ too. If it would help them, I would even ask God to curse me. I would ask him to make me separate from Christ.
- Hebrews 12:7When you have troubles in your life, you must be patient and strong. Remember that God is teaching you what is right because you are his children. There has never been any son whose father did not punish him.
- Exodus 20:12Always respect your father and your mother. Then you will live for many years in the land that the Lord your God will give to you.
- Leviticus 19:3Each person must respect his mother and his father. All the people must keep the Sabbath as a day of rest. I am the Lord your God.
- Deuteronomy 21:18Perhaps a man has a son who refuses to obey his parents. They punish him to teach him what is right, but he refuses to listen to them.
- Deuteronomy 27:16‘God will curse anyone who does not respect his parents.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Yes, we agree!’
- Proverbs 30:17Punishment will come to anyone who insults his father, or who refuses to listen to his mother. Wild birds will pick out his eyes and vultures will eat his body.
- Ezekiel 22:7The people in the city do not respect their parents. They have been cruel to the foreigners who live among you. They have cheated widows and children who have no family.
- Ephesians 6:1You who are children, obey your parents. Because you belong to the Lord, that is the right thing to do.
- Malachi 1:6The Lord Almighty says this to the priests: ‘A son respects his father. A servant respects his master. If I am really your father and your master, why do you not respect me? You are my priests, but you insult my name. But then you ask, “What have we done to insult your name?”
- James 4:7So obey God's authority. Be strong against the Devil and he will run away from you.
- 1 Peter 5:6Remember that God is strong and powerful. So be humble in front of him. Then he will lift you up to a good place at the right time.
- Numbers 16:22But Moses and Aaron threw themselves on the ground. Their faces were touching the ground. They said, ‘You, our God, are the God who gives life to all people. When one man does a bad thing, will you be angry with all the people? Is that right?’
Commentaries on Hebrews 12:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9We have had fathers of our flesh - The fathers of our flesh, i.e. our natural parents, were correctors; and we reverenced them, notwithstanding their corrections often arose from whim or caprice: but shall we not rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits; to him from whom we have received both body and soul; who is our Creator, Preserver, and Supporter; to whom both we and our parents owe our life and our blessings; and who corrects us only for our…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Furthermore - As an additional consideration to induce us to receive chastisement with submission. The argument in this verse is derived from the difference in the spirit and design with which we are corrected by God and by an earthly parent. In God everything is without any intermingling of passion or any improper feeling. In an earthly parent there is often much that is the result of hasty emotion, of an irascible temper, perhaps of the mere love of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9The author uses a comparison from lesser to greater (see study note on Hebrews 9:14). The lesser situation is the respect given to an earthly father during discipline. We should submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits in our relationship with God. We should be open to God like a good Father, trusting that he helps us grow, even through tough times.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. fathers ... which corrected us--rather as Greek, "We had the fathers of our flesh as correctors." subjection--See the punishment of insubordination, De 21:18. Father of spirits--contrasted with "the fathers of our flesh." "Generation by men is carnal, by God is spiritual" [Bengel]. As "Father of spirits," He is both the Originator, and the Providential and Gracious Sustainer, at once of animal and spiritual life. Compare "and LIVE," namely…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 12:9
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
EasyEnglish Bible 2018 — Copyright © MissionAssist 2018
Commentaries