English Standard Version
Hebrews 12:15
15See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Hebrews 12:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
- New International Version (NIV)See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
- New King James Version (NKJV)looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
Context of Hebrews 12:15
13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17For 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.
Read all of Hebrews 12Hebrews 12:15 word by word
ἐπισκοποῦντες μή τις ὑστερῶν ἀπὸ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ, μή τις ῥίζα πικρίας ἄνω φύουσα ἐνοχλῇ, καὶ δι᾽ αὐτῆς μιανθῶσιν πολλοί·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Looking diligentlyἐπισκοπέωepiskopeō · to oversee/care forG1983
- lestμήmē · notG3361
- any manτιςtis · oneG5100
- failὑστερέωhustereō · to lackG5302
- ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the graceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- rootῥίζαrhiza · rootG4491
- of bitternessπικρίαpikria · bitternessG4088
- springingφύωphuō · to growG5453
- upἄνωanō · aboveG507
- troubleἐνοχλέωenochleō · to troubleG1776
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- therebyδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- therebyοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- be defiledμιαίνωmiainō · to stainG3392
Cross-references for Hebrews 12:15
- Hebrews 2:1Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
- Hebrews 3:12Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
- Hebrews 4:1Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
- Hebrews 6:11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
- Hebrews 10:23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
- Deuteronomy 4:9"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—
- Proverbs 4:23Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
- 1 Corinthians 10:12Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
- 2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
- 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
- 2 Peter 3:11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
- 2 John 1:8Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
- Jude 1:20But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
- Luke 22:32but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
Commentaries on Hebrews 12:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Looking diligently - · Looking about, over, and upon; being constantly on your guard. Lest any man fail of the grace of God - ̔ · Lest any person should come behind, or fall off from, this grace or Gift of God; this state of salvation, viz. the Gospel system or Christianity; for this is most evidently the meaning of the apostle. It is not the falling from a work of grace in their own souls, but from the Gospel, to apostatize from which they had now many…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Looking diligently - This phrase implies close attention. It is implied that there are reasons why we should take special care. Those reasons are found in the propensities of our hearts to evil; in the temptations of the world; in the allurements to apostasy presented by the great adversary of our souls. Lest any man fail - As every man is in danger, it is his personal duty to see to it that his salvation be secure. Fail of the grace of God - Margin…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. 15root of bitterness: This refers to those people who abandon God's agreement to worship other gods (Deuteronomy 29:18). Bitterness can harm the church.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. lest any ... fall--Greek, "lest any (namely, through sloth in running) failing," or "falling short of the grace of God ... trouble you." The image is taken from a company of travellers, one of whom lags behind, and so never reaches the end of the long and laborious journey [Chrysostom]. root of bitterness--not merely a "bitter root," which might possibly bring forth sweet fruits; this, a root whose essence is "bitterness," never could. Paul here…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 12:15
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
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