Hebrews 12:15

Hebrews 12:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
• New International Version (NIV)See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
• English Standard Version (ESV)See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
• New King James Version (NKJV)looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Context of Hebrews 12:15

13Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. 14Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

Hebrews 12:15 word by word

ἐπισκοποῦντες μή τις ὑστερῶν ἀπὸ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ, μή τις ῥίζα πικρίας ἄνω φύουσα ἐνοχλῇ, καὶ δι᾽ αὐτῆς μιανθῶσιν πολλοί·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Looking diligentlyἐπισκοπέωepiskopeō · to oversee/care forG1983
• lestμήmē · notG3361
• any manτιςtis · oneG5100
• failὑστερέωhustereō · to lackG5302
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the graceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• rootῥίζαrhiza · rootG4491
• of bitternessπικρίαpikria · bitternessG4088
• springingφύωphuō · to growG5453
• upἄνωanō · aboveG507
• troubleἐνοχλέωenochleō · to troubleG1776
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• therebyδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• therebyοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• be defiledμιαίνωmiainō · to stainG3392

Cross-references for Hebrews 12:15

• Hebrews 2:1So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
• Hebrews 3:12Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.
• Hebrews 4:1God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.
• Hebrews 6:11Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.
• Hebrews 10:23Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
• Deuteronomy 4:9“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.
• Proverbs 4:23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
• 1 Corinthians 9:24Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!
• 1 Corinthians 10:12If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
• 2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
• 2 Peter 1:10So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.
• 2 Peter 3:11Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,
• 2 John 1:8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.
• Jude 1:20But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
• Luke 22:32But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

Commentaries on Hebrews 12:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Looking diligently - · Looking about, over, and upon; being constantly on your guard. Lest any man fail of the grace of God - ̔ · Lest any person should come behind, or fall off from, this grace or Gift of God; this state of salvation, viz. the Gospel system or Christianity; for this is most evidently the meaning of the apostle. It is not the falling from a work of grace in their own souls, but from the Gospel, to apostatize from which they had now many…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Looking diligently - This phrase implies close attention. It is implied that there are reasons why we should take special care. Those reasons are found in the propensities of our hearts to evil; in the temptations of the world; in the allurements to apostasy presented by the great adversary of our souls. Lest any man fail - As every man is in danger, it is his personal duty to see to it that his salvation be secure. Fail of the grace of God - Margin…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 A burden of affliction is apt to make the Christian's hands hang down, and his knees grow feeble, to dispirit him and discourage him; but against this he must strive, that he may better run his spiritual race and course. Faith and patience enable believers to follow peace and holiness, as a man follows his calling constantly, diligently, and with pleasure. Peace with men, of all sects and parties, will be favourable to our pursuit of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15root of bitterness: This refers to those people who abandon God's agreement to worship other gods (Deuteronomy 29:18). Bitterness can harm the church.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. lest any ... fall--Greek, "lest any (namely, through sloth in running) failing," or "falling short of the grace of God ... trouble you." The image is taken from a company of travellers, one of whom lags behind, and so never reaches the end of the long and laborious journey [Chrysostom]. root of bitterness--not merely a "bitter root," which might possibly bring forth sweet fruits; this, a root whose essence is "bitterness," never could. Paul here…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 12:15

• Backsliders
• Diligence
• Holiness
• Influence
• Perseverance
• Reprobacy
• Sin
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• God
• Acceptably
• Aside
• Birthright
• Bitter
• 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