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

10God is always right and fair. He will not forget all the good things that you have done. You have shown that you love him very much, because you have helped the other believers. And you continue to help them as God's servants. 11But we very much want each of you to continue to trust God to the end. Show that you really want to serve him. Be sure that, in the end, you will receive all the good things that you hope for. Then you will not be slow to learn. Instead, you will copy the example of those people who continue to trust God. They continue to be patient when trouble happens to them. People like that receive what God has promised to his people. 13God made a promise to Abraham many years ago. God used the authority of his own name to show that his promise was true. He did that because there was nobody greater than God himself. His name showed that the promise was very serious. 14God said to Abraham, ‘I will certainly bless you. I will give you many children and many, many grandchildren.’

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 5:11We have a lot more to say to you about these things. But you are slow to understand things. As a result, it is difficult to explain any more to you now.
• Proverbs 12:24If you work hard, you will become a leader. But if you are lazy, you will become a slave.
• Proverbs 13:4A lazy person always wants to have more, but he will not get it. If a person works hard, he will have more than he needs.
• Proverbs 15:19A lazy person always has problems, as if he is walking through thorn bushes. But an honest person walks on a straight road through life.
• Proverbs 18:9A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.
• Proverbs 24:30I walked past the field of a lazy person. And I walked past the vineyard of a stupid person.
• Matthew 25:26The master said to him, “You are a bad and lazy servant. You know what I am like, do you? I get food from fields where I did not put any seeds. I get fruit from trees that I did not plant. You knew all that.
• Romans 12:11Do not be lazy, but always work hard. Serve the Lord well because you enjoy it.
• 2 Peter 1:10So, my friends, try very much to live in a way that pleases God. God has chosen you to be his own people. Show that you really do belong to him! If you do these things, you will never turn away from God.
• Hebrews 12:1So we have learned about many people who trusted God long ago. They are like a very big crowd all round us and we should copy their example. We must be like people who run in a race. We must throw away everything that stops us from running well. The sins that we do make us fall down very easily. We must not let those sins rule us. God has prepared the way that is in front of us. We must continue to be strong while we run along that way. We must choose to run that race well.
• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders, who taught God's message to you. Think about the way in which they have lived and the good things that they have done. They have trusted God, so you should have faith like they have.
• Jeremiah 6:16The Lord said to his people, ‘Stand at the place where the roads cross, and look carefully. Ask where the ways of your ancestors are. Find the good way, and go along that way. Then you will live in peace.’ But the people said, ‘No, we will not go that way. ’
• Romans 4:12But Abraham is also like the father of all Jews who believe in God. Someone has circumcised those Jews, but they have copied Abraham's example. They have believed in God, as Abraham believed before anyone had circumcised him.
• James 5:10Think about how God's prophets were also patient. They spoke messages on behalf of the Lord. Many troubles happened to them but they were patient. So, my Christian friends, you should copy their example.
• 1 Peter 3:5That was how holy women made themselves beautiful many years ago. They trusted God that he would help them. They respected the authority of their husbands.
• Hebrews 6:15Abraham waited patiently for a long time. In the end, he received what God had promised to give him.

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