Hebrews 13:17

Hebrews 13:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
• New International Version (NIV)Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

Context of Hebrews 13:17

15Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. 18Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Hebrews 13:17 word by word

Πείθεσθε τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ὑμῶν καὶ ὑπείκετε· αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀγρυπνοῦσιν ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ὡς λόγον ἀποδώσοντες, ἵνα μετὰ χαρᾶς τοῦτο ποιῶσιν καὶ μὴ στενάζοντες· ἀλυσιτελὲς γὰρ ὑμῖν τοῦτο.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Obeyπείθωpeithō · to persuadeG3982
• them that have the rule overἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
• youσύsu · youG4771
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• submit yourselvesὑπείκωhupeikō · to submitG5226
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• watchἀγρυπνέωagrupneō · be watchfulG69
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• soulsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• soulsψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• they that must giveἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
• accountλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• they may doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• itοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• joyχαράchara · joyG5479
• notμήmē · notG3361
• with griefστενάζωstenazō · to groanG4727
• unprofitableἀλυσιτελήςalusitelēs · unprofitableG255

Cross-references for Hebrews 13:17

• Hebrews 13:7Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
• 1 Samuel 8:19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,
• 1 Samuel 15:19Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?”
• Proverbs 5:13I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!
• Philippians 2:12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
• 2 Thessalonians 3:14And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
• 1 Timothy 5:17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
• Genesis 16:9The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:16that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.
• Ephesians 5:21submitting to one another in the fear of God.
• James 4:7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
• 1 Peter 5:5Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
• Ezekiel 3:17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:
• Ezekiel 33:2“Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman,
• Acts 20:24But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Commentaries on Hebrews 13:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Obey them that have the rule over you - Obey your leaders, ̔ . He is not fit to rule who is not capable of guiding. See on Hebrews 13:7, (note). In the former verse the apostle exhorts them to remember those who had been their leaders, and to imitate their faith; in this he exhorts them to obey the leaders they now had, and to submit to their authority in all matters of doctrine and discipline, on the ground that they watched for their souls, and should…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Obey them that have the rule over you - Margin, guide; see notes on Hebrews 13:7. The reference here is to their religious teachers, and not to civil rulers. They were to show them proper respect, and to submit to their authority in the church, so far as it was administered in accordance with the precepts of the Saviour. The obligation to obedience does not, of course, extend to anything which is wrong in itself, or which would be a violation of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 We must, according to our power, give to the necessities of the souls and bodies of men: God will accept these offerings with pleasure, and will accept and bless the offerers through Christ. The apostle then states what is their duty to living ministers; to obey and submit to them, so far as is agreeable to the mind and will of God, made known in his word. Christians must not think themselves too wise, too good, or too great, to learn. The…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17The relationship between the church's spiritual leaders and its members might have been tense. The author encourages members to listen to and trust their leaders. The Greek word for obey can also mean follow, place confidence in, or be persuaded by. Christian leaders care for people's souls (Acts 20:28–31; 1 Peter 5:1–4), which is a serious responsibility. It makes them accountable to God (James 3:1). The word grief could also mean groaning. It refers to…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Obey them that have the rule over you--(Compare He 13:7, 24). This threefold mention of the rulers is peculiar to this Epistle. In other Epistles Paul includes the rulers in his exhortations. But here the address is limited to the general body of the Church, in contrast to the rulers to whom they are charged to yield reverent submission. Now this is just what might be expected when the apostle of the Gentiles was writing to the Palestine Christians…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 13:17

• Church
• Commandments
• Minister, Christian
• Reverence

In the dictionaries

• Altar
• Bed
• Continuing
• Entertain
• Forgetful
• Marriage
• Meat
• Restore
• Trust
• Watches

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