English Standard Version
Hebrews 12:8
8If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Hebrews 12:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
- New International Version (NIV)If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
Context of Hebrews 12:8
6For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." 7It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Besides 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? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
Read all of Hebrews 12Hebrews 12:8 word by word
εἰ δὲ χωρίς ἐστε παιδείας ἧς μέτοχοι γεγόνασιν πάντες, ἄρα νόθοι καὶ οὐχ υἱοί ἐστε.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- ye beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- withoutχωρίςchōris · withoutG5565
- chastisementπαιδείαpaideia · disciplineG3809
- whereofὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- areγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- partakersμέτοχοςmetochos · partakerG3353
- thenἄραara · thereforeG686
- bastardsνόθοςnothos · illegitimateG3541
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- notοὐou · noG3756
- sonsυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
Cross-references for Hebrews 12:8
- Hebrews 12:6For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."
- Psalms 73:1Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
- 1 Peter 5:9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Commentaries on Hebrews 12:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Then are ye bastards - This proceeds on the general fact, that bastards are neglected in their manners and education; the fathers of such, feeling little affection for, or obligation to regard, their spurious issue. But all that are legitimate children are partakers of chastisement or discipline; for the original word does not imply stripes and punishments, but the whole discipline of a child, both at home and at school.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8But if ye be without chastisement - If you never meet with anything that is adapted to correct your faults; to subdue your temper; to chide your wanderings, it would prove that you were in the condition of illegitimate children - cast off and disregarded by their father. Whereof all are partakers - All who are the true children of God. Then are ye bastards, and not sons - The reference here is to the neglect with which such children are treated, and to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8discipline … God is treating you as sons: Fathers in Greco-Roman and Jewish families played a key role in raising their children. They believed discipline was essential for preparing children for adulthood. Fatherly discipline, in this case facing hardships in life, is a sign of legitimate relationship. Not having to face hardships may on the surface seem like a blessing, but might instead reflect a lack of genuine relationship.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. if ye be without--excluded from participation in chastisement, and wishing to be so. all--all sons: all the worthies enumerated in the eleventh chapter: all the witnesses (He 12:1). are--Greek, "have been made." then are ye bastards--of whom their fathers take no care whether they are educated or not; whereas every right-minded father is concerned for the moral well-being of his legitimate son. "Since then not to be chastised is a mark of bastardy, we…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 12:8
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries