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 Living Translation (NLT)Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Context of Hebrews 13:2

1Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also. 4Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Beἐπιλανθάνωepilanthanomai · to forgetG1950
• notμήmē · notG3361
• to entertain strangersὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• to entertain strangersφιλοξενίαphilonexia · hospitalityG5381
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• therebyδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• therebyοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• someτιςtis · oneG5100
• have entertainedξενίζωxenizō · to hostG3579
• angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• unawaresλανθάνωlanthanō · be hiddenG2990

Cross-references for Hebrews 13:2

• Leviticus 19:34The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
• Deuteronomy 10:18He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, 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, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.”
• 2 Kings 4:8Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.
• Job 31:19If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;
• Isaiah 58:7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
• Matthew 25:35for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
• Acts 16:15And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
• Romans 12:13distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
• Romans 16:23Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.
• 1 Timothy 3:2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
• 1 Timothy 5:10well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
• 1 Peter 4:9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
• Genesis 18:2So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,
• Genesis 19:1Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
• Judges 13:15Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain You, and we will 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