God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 12:28
28Therefore, we must be thankful that we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Because we are thankful, we must serve God with fear and awe in a way that pleases him.
Hebrews 12:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
- New International Version (NIV)Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Context of Hebrews 12:28
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. Therefore, we must be thankful that we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Because we are thankful, we must serve God with fear and awe in a way that pleases him. 29After all, our God is a destructive fire.
Read all of Hebrews 12Hebrews 12:28 word by word
διὸ βασιλείαν ἀσάλευτον παραλαμβάνοντες ἔχωμεν χάριν δι᾽ ἧς λατρεύωμεν εὐαρέστως τῷ θεῷ μετὰ εὐλαβείας καὶ δέους·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
- we receivingπαραλαμβάνωparalambanō · to takeG3880
- a kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
- which cannot be movedἀσάλευτοςasaleutos · unshakableG761
- let us haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- wherebyδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- we may serveλατρεύωlatreuō · to ministerG3000
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- acceptablyεὐαρέστωςeuarestōs · acceptablyG2102
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- reverenceαἰδώςaidōs · modestyG127
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- godly fearεὐλάβειαeulabeia · reverenceG2124
Cross-references for Hebrews 12:28
- Isaiah 9:7His government and peace will have unlimited growth. He will establish David’s throne and kingdom. He will uphold it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The Lord of Armies is determined to do this!
- Daniel 2:44“At the time of those kings, the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed. No other people will be permitted to rule it. It will smash all the other kingdoms and put an end to them. But it will be established forever.
- Daniel 7:14He was given power, honor, and a kingdom. People from every province, nation, and language were to serve him. His power is an eternal power that will not be taken away. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
- Matthew 25:34“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
- Luke 1:33Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
- Luke 17:20The Pharisees asked Jesus when God’s kingdom would come. He answered them, “People can’t observe the coming of God’s kingdom.
- 1 Peter 1:4We have been born into a new life which has an inheritance that can’t be destroyed or corrupted and can’t fade away. That inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
- Revelation 1:6and has made us a kingdom, priests for God his Father. Amen.
- Revelation 5:10You made them a kingdom and priests for our God. They will rule as kings on the earth.”
- Hebrews 3:6But Christ is a faithful son in charge of God’s household. We are his household if we continue to have courage and to be proud of the confidence we have.
- Hebrews 10:23We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful.
- Psalms 19:14May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my defender.
- Isaiah 56:7Then I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them happy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, because my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
- Romans 12:1Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you.
- Ephesians 1:6so that the kindness he had given us in his dear Son would be praised and given glory.
- Ephesians 5:10Determine which things please the Lord.
Commentaries on Hebrews 12:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28We receiving a kingdom - The Gospel dispensation, frequently termed the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven, because in it God reigns among men, and he reigns in the hearts of them that believe, and his kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Which cannot be moved - Which never can fail, because it is the last dispensation. Let us have grace - · Let us have, keep, or hold fast, the benefit or gift, that is, the heavenly kingdom…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved - We who are Christians. We pertain to a kingdom that is permanent and unchanging. The meaning is, that the kingdom of the Redeemer is never to pass away. It is not like the Jewish dispensation, to give place to another, nor is there any power that can destroy it; see the notes on Matthew 16:18. It has now endured for eighteen hundred years, amidst all the revolutions on earth, and in spite of all the…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. 28-29God deserves holy fear and awe. our God is a consuming fire: This quote from Deuteronomy 4:24 highlights God's incredible power and his authority to judge.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. receiving--as we do, in prospect and sure hope, also in the possession of the Spirit the first-fruits. This is our privilege as Christians. let us have grace--"let us have thankfulness" [Alford after Chrysostom]. But (1) this translation is according to classical Greek, not Paul's phraseology for "to be thankful." (2) "To God" would have been in that case added. (3) "Whereby we may serve God," suits the English Version "grace" (that is Gospel grace…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 12:28
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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