English Standard Version
Hebrews 6:12
12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- New International Version (NIV)We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
- New King James Version (NKJV)that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.
Context of Hebrews 6:12
10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you."
Read all of Hebrews 6Hebrews 6:12 word by word
ἵνα μὴ νωθροὶ γένησθε, μιμηταὶ δὲ τῶν διὰ πίστεως καὶ μακροθυμίας κληρονομούντων τὰς ἐπαγγελίας.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- ye beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- notμήmē · notG3361
- slothfulνωθρόςnōthros · dullG3576
- butδέde · thenG1161
- followersμιμητήςmimētēs · imitatorG3402
- of them whoκληρονομέωklēronomeō · to inheritG2816
- throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- patienceμακροθυμίαmakrothumia · patienceG3115
- the promisesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the promisesἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
Cross-references for Hebrews 6:12
- Hebrews 5:11About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
- Proverbs 12:24The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
- Proverbs 13:4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
- Proverbs 15:19The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.
- Proverbs 18:9Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
- Proverbs 24:30I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,
- Matthew 25:26But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
- Romans 12:11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
- 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.
- Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
- Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
- Jeremiah 6:16Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'
- Romans 4:12and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
- James 5:10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
- 1 Peter 3:5For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands,
- Hebrews 6:15And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.
Commentaries on Hebrews 6:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12That ye be not slothful - This shows how the full assurance of hope is to be regulated and maintained. They must be diligent; slothfulness will deprive them both of hope and faith. That faith which worketh by love will maintain hope in its full and due exercise. Followers of them - - · That ye be mimics or imitators of them who are inheriting the promises. And they inherited these promises by faith in him who is invisible, and who, they knew, could not…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12That ye be not slothful - Indolent; inactive. This was what he was especially desirous of guarding them against. By diligent and strenuous effort only could they secure themselves from the danger of apostasy. But followers - Imitators - that you may live as they lived. Of them who through faith and patience - By faith, or confidence in God, and by patience in suffering - referring to those who in times of trial had remained faithful to God, and had been…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-20Verses 11-20 The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things promised, through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing of them. Hope has its degrees, as faith also. The promise of blessedness God has made to believers, is from God's eternal purpose, settled between the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit. These promises of God may safely be depended upon; for here we have two things which cannot change, the counsel and the oath of God, in which…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12A strong commitment (Hebrews 6:10–11) helps prevent spiritual dullness (5:11–12). By loving God and others, we follow the example of great faith leaders. The author stresses that faith and endurance are essential for God's people (see 11:4–38).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. be not--Greek, "become not." In He 5:11, he said, "Ye have become dull (Greek, 'slothful') of hearing"; here he warns them not to become "slothful absolutely," namely, also in mind and deed. He will not become slothful who keeps always the end in view; hope is the means of ensuring this. followers--Greek, "imitators"; so in Ep 5:1, Greek; 1Co 11:1. patience--Greek, "long-suffering endurance." There is the long-suffering patience, or endurance of love…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 6:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hebrews 6
- 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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