God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 12:25
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 12:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
- New International Version (NIV)See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
- English Standard Version (ESV)See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
- New King James Version (NKJV)See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,
Context of Hebrews 12:25
23and 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. Be 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. 26When God spoke to your ancestors, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the sky.” 27The words once more show clearly that God will change what he has made. These are the things that can be shaken. Then only the things that cannot be shaken will remain.
Read all of Hebrews 12Hebrews 12:25 word by word
Βλέπετε μὴ παραιτήσησθε τὸν λαλοῦντα· εἰ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι οὐκ ἐξέφυγον ἐπὶ γῆς παραιτησάμενοι τὸν χρηματίζοντα, πολὺ μᾶλλον ἡμεῖς οἱ τὸν ἀπ᾽ οὐρανῶν ἀποστρεφόμενοι,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Seeβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- thatμήmē · notG3361
- refuseπαραιτέομαιparaiteomai · to refuse/excuseG3868
- him that speakethλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- theyἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- escapedφεύγωpheugō · to fleeG5343
- notοὐou · noG3756
- him that spakeχρηματίζωchrēmatizō · to announceG5537
- onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- earthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
- muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- moreμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
- weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- if we turn away fromἀποστρέφωapostrephō · to turn awayG654
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
Cross-references for Hebrews 12:25
- Hebrews 8:5They serve at a place that is a pattern, a shadow, of what is in heaven. When Moses was about to make the tent, God warned him, “Be sure to make everything based on the plan I showed you on the mountain.”
- Exodus 16:29Remember: The Lord has given you this day of rest as a holy day. That’s why he gives you enough food on the sixth day for two days. On the seventh day stay in your place—no one is to go out. Everyone, stay where you are.”
- 1 Kings 12:16When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, “What share do we have in David’s kingdom? We won’t receive an inheritance from Jesse’s son. To your own tents, Israel! Now look after your own house, David!” So Israel went home to their own tents.
- Isaiah 48:6You’ve heard these words. Now look at all this. Won’t you admit it? From now on I will reveal to you new things, hidden things that you do not know.
- Isaiah 64:9Don’t be too angry, Lord. Don’t remember our sin forever. Now look, we are all your people.
- Matthew 8:4Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifice Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15Make sure that no one ever pays back one wrong with another wrong. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and everyone else.
- 1 Peter 1:22Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have a sincere love for each other.
- Revelation 19:10I bowed at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Don’t do that! I am your coworker and a coworker of the Christians who hold on to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy!”
- Revelation 22:9He told me, “Don’t do that! I am your coworker. I work with other Christians, the prophets, and those who follow the words in this book. Worship God!”
- Proverbs 1:24“I called, and you refused to listen. I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention.
- Proverbs 8:33Listen to discipline, and become wise. Do not leave my ways.
- Proverbs 13:18Poverty and shame come to a person who ignores discipline, but whoever pays attention to constructive criticism will be honored.
- Proverbs 15:32Whoever ignores discipline despises himself, but the person who listens to warning gains understanding.
- Jeremiah 11:10They’ve gone back to the evil ways of their ancestors and refused to obey my words. They are following other gods and worshiping them. The nations of Israel and Judah have rejected the promise that I made to their ancestors.
- Ezekiel 5:6The people of Jerusalem have rebelled against my rules and my laws more than the surrounding nations. They have rejected my rules, and they don’t live by my laws.
Commentaries on Hebrews 12:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25See - · Take heed, that ye refuse not him - the Lord Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, who now speaketh from heaven, by his Gospel, to the Jews and to the Gentiles, having in his incarnation come down from God. Him that spake on earth - Moses, who spoke on the part of God to the Hebrews, every transgression of whose word received a just recompense of reward, none being permitted to escape punishment; consequently, if ye turn away from Christ, who…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25See that ye refuse not - That you do not reject or disregard. Him that speaketh - That is, in the gospel. Do not turn away from him who has addressed you in the new dispensation, and called you to obey and serve him. The meaning is, that God had addressed “them” in the gospel as really as he had done the Hebrews on Mount Sinai, and that there was as much to be dreaded in disregarding his voice now as there was then. He does not speak, indeed, amidst…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. 25God speaks through his Son, Jesus (Hebrews 1:1–3). The author compares two situations: Moses warning people under the old covenant is less serious. God's warning from heaven is more serious. If people did not avoid judgment when warned by Moses, those who reject the message of God's Son will definitely not avoid punishment.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. refuse not--through unbelief. him that speaketh--God in Christ. As the blood of sprinkling is represented as speaking to God for us, He 12:24; so here God is represented as speaking to us (He 1:1, 2). His word now is the prelude of the last "shaking" of all things (He 12:27). The same word which is heard in the Gospel from heaven, will shake heaven and earth (He 12:26). who refused him--Greek, "refusing as they did." Their seemingly submissive…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 12:25
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries