Hebrews 13:2

Hebrews 13:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

Context of Hebrews 13:2

1Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Hebrews 13:2 word by word

τῆς φιλοξενίας μὴ ἐπιλανθάνεσθε· διὰ ταύτης γὰρ ἔλαθόν τινες ξενίσαντες ἀγγέλους.Read the interlinear

• Do not neglectἐπιλανθάνωepilanthanomai · to forgetG1950
• show hospitalityφιλοξενίαphilonexia · hospitalityG5381
• for by thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• someτιςtis · oneG5100
• entertainedξενίζωxenizō · to hostG3579
• angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• withoutλανθάνωlanthanō · be hiddenG2990

Cross-references for Hebrews 13:2

• Leviticus 19:34The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
• Deuteronomy 10:18He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.
• 1 Kings 17:10So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.”
• 2 Kings 4:8Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food.
• Job 31:19If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering,
• Isaiah 58:7Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
• Matthew 25:35For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
• Acts 16:15And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
• Romans 12:13contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
• Romans 16:23Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.
• 1 Timothy 3:2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
• 1 Timothy 5:10having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
• 1 Peter 4:9Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
• Genesis 18:2When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth,
• Genesis 19:1Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
• Judges 13:15Then Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you so that we may prepare a young goat for you.”

Commentaries on Hebrews 13:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2To entertain stranger's - In those early times, when there were scarcely any public inns or houses of entertainment, it was an office of charity and mercy to receive, lodge, and entertain travelers; and this is what the apostle particularly recommends. Entertained angels - Abraham and Lot are the persons particularly referred to. Their history, the angels whom they entertained, not knowing them to be such, and the good they derived from exercising their…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Be not forgetful to entertain strangers - On the duty of hospitality, see a full explanation in the notes on Romans 12:13. For thereby some have entertained angels unawares - Without knowing that they were angels. As Abraham (Genesis 18:2 ff), and Lot did; Genesis 19. The motive here urged for doing it is, that by entertaining the stranger we may perhaps be honored with the presence of those whose society will be to us an honor and a blessing. It is not…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Hospitality is an important principle in Jewish and Christian ethics (1 Peter 4:9; see also Matthew 10:11; Acts 16:15; Titus 3:13; Philemon 1:22; 3 John 1:5–8). In the first century, travelers usually did not stay at inns. some people have entertained angels without knowing it: See Genesis 18:2–15; Judges 13:2–23.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-251. brotherly love--a distinct special manifestation of "charity" or "love" (2Pe 1:7). The Church of Jerusalem, to which in part this Epistle was addressed, was distinguished by this grace, we know from Acts (compare He 6:10; 10:32-34; 12:12, 13). continue--Charity will itself continue. See that it continue with you.Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 13:2

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Commandments
• Hospitality
• Love

In the dictionaries

• Altar
• Bed
• Continuing
• Entertain
• Forgetful
• Marriage
• Meat
• Restore
• Trust
• Faithful; Faithfulness

Commentaries on Hebrews 13

• 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