Hebrews 12:23

Hebrews 12:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
• English Standard Version (ESV)and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
• New King James Version (NKJV)to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
• New Living Translation (NLT)You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.

Context of Hebrews 12:23

21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25See 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?

Hebrews 12:23 word by word

καὶ ἐκκλησίᾳ πρωτοτόκων ἀπογεγραμμένων ἐν οὐρανοῖς καὶ κριτῇ θεῷ πάντων καὶ πνεύμασιν δικαίων τετελειωμένωνRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• To the general assemblyπανήγυριςpanēguris · assemblyG3831
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• of the firstbornπρωτότοκοςprōtotokos · firstbornG4416
• which are writtenἀπογράφωapographō · to registerG583
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• the Judgeκριτήςkritēs · judgeG2923
• of allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• to the spiritsπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• of just menδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
• made perfectτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048

Cross-references for Hebrews 12:23

• Psalms 89:7In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.
• Psalms 111:1Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
• Acts 20:28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
• Ephesians 1:22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
• Ephesians 5:24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
• Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
• 1 Timothy 3:5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
• Exodus 4:22Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son,
• Exodus 13:2“Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”
• Deuteronomy 21:17He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
• Psalms 89:27And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
• Jeremiah 31:9They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
• James 1:18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
• Revelation 14:4These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.
• Exodus 32:32But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
• Psalms 69:28May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.

Commentaries on Hebrews 12:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23To the general assembly - . This word is joined to the preceding by some of the best MSS., and is quoted in connection by several of the fathers: Ye are come - to the general assembly of innumerable angels; and this is probably the true connection. The word is compounded of , all, and , an assembly; and means, particularly, an assembly collected on festive occasions. It is applied to the assembly of the Grecian states at their national games, Olympic…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23To the general assembly - see the notes on Hebrews 12:22. And church of the first-born - That is, you are united with the church of the first-born. They who were first-born among the Hebrews enjoyed special privileges, and especially pre-eminence of rank; see the notes on Colossians 1:15. The reference here is, evidently, to those saints who had been distinguished for their piety, and who may be supposed to be exalted to special honors in heaven - such as…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. 23The word translated as assembly is usually translated "church." It refers to God's gathered people. God's firstborn children are those who are part of the new covenant (see Hebrews 1:6; 2:10–13). The idea that God's people have their names written in heaven shows God's special care for them (see also Exodus 32:32; Psalm 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5). For God's children, God as judge is the one who defends…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-29For We Are under, Not a Law of Terror, but the Gospel of Grace, to Despise Which Will Bring the Heavier Penalties, in Proportion to Our Greater Privileges. 1. we also--as well as those recounted in He 12:11. are compassed about--Greek, "have so great a cloud (a numberless multitude above us, like a cloud, 'holy and pellucid,' [Clement of Alexandria]) of witnesses surrounding us." The image is from a "race," an image common even in Palestine from the time…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 12:23

• Birthright
• Church
• Covenant
• Fear of God
• Firstborn
• God Continued...
• Gospel
• Heaven
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• God
• Acceptably
• Angel
• Aside
• Birthright
• Bitterness
• Carefully
• Chastening
• Church
• Cloud

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