Hebrews 13:2

Hebrews 13:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Context of Hebrews 13:2

1Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Hebrews 13:2 word by word

τῆς φιλοξενίας μὴ ἐπιλανθάνεσθε· διὰ ταύτης γὰρ ἔλαθόν τινες ξενίσαντες ἀγγέλους.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Beἐπιλανθάνωepilanthanomai · to forgetG1950
• notμήmē · notG3361
• to entertain strangersὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• to entertain strangersφιλοξενίαphilonexia · hospitalityG5381
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• therebyδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• therebyοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• someτιςtis · oneG5100
• have entertainedξενίζωxenizō · to hostG3579
• angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• unawaresλανθάνωlanthanō · be hiddenG2990

Cross-references for Hebrews 13:2

• Leviticus 19:34You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
• Deuteronomy 10:18He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
• 1 Kings 17:10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink."
• 2 Kings 4:8One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food.
• Job 31:19if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,
• Isaiah 58:7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
• Matthew 25:35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
• Acts 16:15And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
• Romans 12:13Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
• Romans 16:23Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.
• 1 Timothy 3:2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
• 1 Timothy 5:10and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.
• 1 Peter 4:9Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
• Genesis 18:2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth
• Genesis 19:1The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth
• Judges 13:15Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, "Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you."

Commentaries on Hebrews 13:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2To entertain stranger's - In those early times, when there were scarcely any public inns or houses of entertainment, it was an office of charity and mercy to receive, lodge, and entertain travelers; and this is what the apostle particularly recommends. Entertained angels - Abraham and Lot are the persons particularly referred to. Their history, the angels whom they entertained, not knowing them to be such, and the good they derived from exercising their…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Be not forgetful to entertain strangers - On the duty of hospitality, see a full explanation in the notes on Romans 12:13. For thereby some have entertained angels unawares - Without knowing that they were angels. As Abraham (Genesis 18:2 ff), and Lot did; Genesis 19. The motive here urged for doing it is, that by entertaining the stranger we may perhaps be honored with the presence of those whose society will be to us an honor and a blessing. It is not…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Hospitality is an important principle in Jewish and Christian ethics (1 Peter 4:9; see also Matthew 10:11; Acts 16:15; Titus 3:13; Philemon 1:22; 3 John 1:5–8). In the first century, travelers usually did not stay at inns. some people have entertained angels without knowing it: See Genesis 18:2–15; Judges 13:2–23.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-251. brotherly love--a distinct special manifestation of "charity" or "love" (2Pe 1:7). The Church of Jerusalem, to which in part this Epistle was addressed, was distinguished by this grace, we know from Acts (compare He 6:10; 10:32-34; 12:12, 13). continue--Charity will itself continue. See that it continue with you.Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 13:2

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Commandments
• Hospitality
• Love

In the dictionaries

• Altar
• Bed
• Continuing
• Entertain
• Forgetful
• Marriage
• Meat
• Restore
• Trust
• Faithful; Faithfulness

Commentaries on Hebrews 13

• 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