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 King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of Hebrews 13:17

15Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. 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. 18Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

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 your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
• 1 Samuel 8:19But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said.
• 1 Samuel 15:19Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”
• Proverbs 5:13Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?
• Philippians 2:12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:14Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed.
• 1 Timothy 5:17Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.
• Genesis 16:9The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:16to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion.
• Ephesians 5:21And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
• James 4:7So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• 1 Peter 5:5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
• Ezekiel 3:17“Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.
• Ezekiel 33:2“Son of man, give your people this message: ‘When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose one of their own to be a watchman.
• Acts 20:24But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful 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