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,
• English Standard Version (ESV)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,
• 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,

Context of Hebrews 12:23

21The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said he was trembling and afraid. 22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to tens of thousands of angels joyfully gathered together and to the assembly of God’s firstborn children (whose names are written in heaven). You have come to a judge (the God of all people) and to the spirits of people who have God’s approval and have gained eternal life. 24You have come to Jesus, who brings the new promise from God, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abel’s. 25Be careful that you do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Your ancestors didn’t escape when they refused to listen to God, who warned them on earth. We certainly won’t escape if we turn away from God, who warns us 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 89:7God is terrifying in the council of the holy ones. He is greater and more awe-inspiring than those who surround him.
• Psalms 111:1Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart in the company of decent people and in the congregation.
• Acts 20:28Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God’s church which he acquired with his own blood.
• Ephesians 1:22God has put everything under the control of Christ. He has made Christ the head of everything for the good of the church.
• Ephesians 5:24As the church is under Christ’s authority, so wives are under their husbands’ authority in everything.
• Colossians 1:24I am happy to suffer for you now. In my body I am completing whatever remains of Christ’s sufferings. I am doing this on behalf of his body, the church.
• 1 Timothy 3:5(If a man doesn’t know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
• Exodus 4:22Then tell Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son.
• Exodus 13:2“Set apart every firstborn male for me. Every firstborn male offspring among the Israelites is mine, whether human or animal.”
• Deuteronomy 21:17Instead, he must recognize the son of the wife he doesn’t love as the firstborn. He must give that son a double portion of whatever he owns. That son is the very first son he had. The rights of the firstborn son are his.
• Psalms 89:27Yes, I will make him the firstborn. He will be the Most High to the kings of the earth.
• Jeremiah 31:9They will cry as they return. They will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams on a level path where they will not stumble. I will be a Father to Israel, and Ephraim will be my firstborn.
• James 1:18God decided to give us life through the word of truth to make us his most important creatures.
• Revelation 14:4These 144,000 virgins are pure. They follow the lamb wherever he goes. They were bought from among humanity as the first ones offered to God and to the lamb.
• Exodus 32:32But will you forgive their sin? If not, please wipe me out of the book you have written.”
• Psalms 69:28Let their ⌞names⌟ be erased from the Book of Life. Do not let them be listed with righteous people.

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
• Acceptably
• Angel
• Aside
• Birthright
• Bitterness
• Carefully
• Chastening
• Church
• Cloud

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