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,
• 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,
• New Living Translation (NLT)You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.

Context of Hebrews 12:23

21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear." 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 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, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns 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 89:7a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?
• Psalms 111:1Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
• Acts 20:28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
• Ephesians 1:22And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
• Ephesians 5:24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
• Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
• 1 Timothy 3:5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?
• Exodus 4:22Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,
• Exodus 13:2"Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine."
• Deuteronomy 21:17but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.
• Psalms 89:27And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
• Jeremiah 31:9With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
• James 1:18Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• Revelation 14:4It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,
• Exodus 32:32But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written."
• Psalms 69:28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among 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