Hebrews 12:9

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 suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? 10For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 11Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.

Hebrews 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 3:6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
• Acts 2:30So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne,
• Romans 1:3concerning his Son who was a descendant of David with reference to the flesh,
• Romans 9:3For I could wish that I myself were accursed – cut off from Christ – for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen,
• Hebrews 12:7Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?
• Exodus 20:12“Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you.
• Leviticus 19:3Each of you must respect his mother and his father, and you must keep my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.
• Deuteronomy 21:18If a person has a stubborn, rebellious son who pays no attention to his father or mother, and they discipline him to no avail,
• Deuteronomy 27:16‘Cursed is the one who disrespects his father and mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
• Proverbs 30:17The eye that mocks at a father and despises obeying a mother – the ravens of the valley will peck it out and the young vultures will eat it.
• Ezekiel 22:7They have treated father and mother with contempt within you; they have oppressed the foreigner among you; they have wronged the orphan and the widow within you.
• Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.
• Malachi 1:6“A son naturally honors his father and a slave respects his master. If I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? The Lord who rules over all asks you this, you priests who make light of my name! But you reply, ‘How have we made light of your name?’
• James 4:7So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.
• 1 Peter 5:6And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand
• Numbers 16:22Then they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all people, will you be angry with the whole community when only one man sins?”

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

• Adoption
• Afflictions and Adversities
• Chastisement
• God
• Perseverance
• Resignation

In the dictionaries

• Acceptably
• Adoption
• Aside
• Birthright
• Bitterness
• Carefully
• Chastening
• Cloud
• Contradiction
• Endure

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