English Standard Version
Hebrews 12:9
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?
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!
- 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?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
Context of Hebrews 12:9
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? 8If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 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? 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. 11For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
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 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
- Acts 2:30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,
- Romans 1:3concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
- Romans 9:3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
- Hebrews 12:7It 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?
- Exodus 20:12"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
- Leviticus 19:3Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.
- Deuteronomy 21:18"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them,
- Deuteronomy 27:16"'Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
- Proverbs 30:17The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.
- Ezekiel 22:7Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you.
- Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- Malachi 1:6"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, 'How have we despised your name?'
- James 4:7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- 1 Peter 5:6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
- Numbers 16:22And they fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?"
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
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