God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 12:9
9On earth we have fathers who disciplined us, and we respect them. Shouldn’t we place ourselves under the authority of God, the father of spirits, so that we will live?
Hebrews 12:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
- New International Version (NIV)Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
- English Standard Version (ESV)Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
Context of Hebrews 12:9
7Endure your discipline. God corrects you as a father corrects his children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. 8If you aren’t disciplined like the other children, you aren’t part of the family. On earth we have fathers who disciplined us, and we respect them. Shouldn’t we place ourselves under the authority of God, the father of spirits, so that we will live? 10For a short time our fathers disciplined us as they thought best. Yet, God disciplines us for our own good so that we can become holy like him. 11We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.
Read all of Hebrews 12Hebrews 12:9 word by word
εἶτα τοὺς μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν πατέρας εἴχομεν παιδευτὰς καὶ ἐνετρεπόμεθα· οὐ πολὺ δὲ μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα τῷ πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ ζήσομεν;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Furthermoreεἶταeita · thenG1534
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- we have hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- ofσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- which correctedπαιδευτήςpaideutēs · instructorG3810
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- we gaveἐντρέπωentrepō · to cause shameG1788
- shall weὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
- notοὐou · noG3756
- muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
- of spiritsπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
Cross-references for Hebrews 12:9
- John 3:6Flesh and blood give birth to flesh and blood, but the Spirit gives birth to things that are spiritual.
- Acts 2:30David was a prophet and knew that God had promised with an oath that he would place one of David’s descendants on his throne.
- Romans 1:3This Good News is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In his human nature he was a descendant of David.
- Romans 9:3I wish I could be condemned and cut off from Christ for the sake of others who, like me, are Jewish by birth.
- Hebrews 12:7Endure your discipline. God corrects you as a father corrects his children. All children are disciplined by their fathers.
- Exodus 20:12“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live for a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
- Leviticus 19:3“Respect your mother and father. Observe my days of rest as holy days. I am the Lord your God.
- Deuteronomy 21:18Parents might have a stubborn and rebellious son who doesn’t obey them. Even though they punish him, he still won’t listen to them.
- Deuteronomy 27:16“Whoever curses his father or mother will himself be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
- Proverbs 30:17The eye that makes fun of a father and hates to obey a mother will be plucked out by ravens in the valley and eaten by young vultures.
- Ezekiel 22:7People in you hate their fathers and mothers. They oppress foreigners in you. They oppress orphans and widows in you.
- Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents because you are Christians. This is the right thing to do.
- Malachi 1:6“This is what the Lord of Armies says: A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master. So if I am a father, where is my honor? If I am a master, where is my respect? You priests despise my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised your name?’
- James 4:7So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.
- 1 Peter 5:6Be humbled by God’s power so that when the right time comes he will honor you.
- Numbers 16:22Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground and said, “O God, you are the God who gives the breath of life to everyone! If one man sins, will you be angry with the whole community?”
Commentaries on Hebrews 12:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9We have had fathers of our flesh - The fathers of our flesh, i.e. our natural parents, were correctors; and we reverenced them, notwithstanding their corrections often arose from whim or caprice: but shall we not rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits; to him from whom we have received both body and soul; who is our Creator, Preserver, and Supporter; to whom both we and our parents owe our life and our blessings; and who corrects us only for our…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Furthermore - As an additional consideration to induce us to receive chastisement with submission. The argument in this verse is derived from the difference in the spirit and design with which we are corrected by God and by an earthly parent. In God everything is without any intermingling of passion or any improper feeling. In an earthly parent there is often much that is the result of hasty emotion, of an irascible temper, perhaps of the mere love of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9The author uses a comparison from lesser to greater (see study note on Hebrews 9:14). The lesser situation is the respect given to an earthly father during discipline. We should submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits in our relationship with God. We should be open to God like a good Father, trusting that he helps us grow, even through tough times.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. fathers ... which corrected us--rather as Greek, "We had the fathers of our flesh as correctors." subjection--See the punishment of insubordination, De 21:18. Father of spirits--contrasted with "the fathers of our flesh." "Generation by men is carnal, by God is spiritual" [Bengel]. As "Father of spirits," He is both the Originator, and the Providential and Gracious Sustainer, at once of animal and spiritual life. Compare "and LIVE," namely…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 12:9
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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