Hebrews 12:9

Hebrews 12:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
• New International Version (NIV)Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
• English Standard Version (ESV)Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

Context of Hebrews 12:9

7It is for discipline that you endure. God is treating you as sons—for what son does a father not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline—something all have come to share—then you are illegitimate and not sons. Besides, we are used to having human fathers as instructors—and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10Indeed, for a short time they disciplined us as seemed best to them; but He does so for our benefit, so that we may share in His holiness. 11Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:9 word by word

εἶτα τοὺς μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν πατέρας εἴχομεν παιδευτὰς καὶ ἐνετρεπόμεθα· οὐ πολὺ δὲ μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα τῷ πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ ζήσομεν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Furthermoreεἶταeita · thenG1534
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• we have hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• ofσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• which correctedπαιδευτήςpaideutēs · instructorG3810
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• we gaveἐντρέπωentrepō · to cause shameG1788
• shall weὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
• notοὐou · noG3756
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• ratherμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
• of spiritsπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198

Cross-references for Hebrews 12:9

• John 3:6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
• Acts 2:30So because he was a prophet and knew God had sworn with an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne,
• Romans 1:3Concerning His Son, He came into being from the seed of David according to the flesh.
• Romans 9:3For I would pray that I myself were cursed, banished from Messiah for the sake of my people—my own flesh and blood,
• Hebrews 12:7It is for discipline that you endure. God is treating you as sons—for what son does a father not discipline?
• Exodus 20:12“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long upon the land which Adonai your God is giving you.
• Leviticus 19:3“Each one of you is to respect his mother and his father, and keep My Shabbatot. I am Adonai your God.
• Deuteronomy 21:18“Suppose a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not listen to the voice of his father or mother. They discipline him, but he does not listen to them.
• Deuteronomy 27:16‘Cursed is the one who dishonors his father or mother.’ Then all the people are to say, ‘Amen.’
• Proverbs 30:17The eye that mocks a father and scorns obeying a mother— will be pecked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by young vultures!
• Ezekiel 22:7Father and mother have been treated with contempt; the outsider has been oppressed in your midst; the orphan and the widow have been mistreated in you.
• Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
• Malachi 1:6“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. So if I am Father, where is My honor? If I am Master, where is My reverence?”—says Adonai-Tzva’ot—“you, kohanim who despise My Name!” But you say, “How did we despise Your Name?”
• James 4:7Therefore submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.
• 1 Peter 5:6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may lift you up at the appropriate time.
• Numbers 16:22But they fell on their faces and cried out, “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, if one man sins, will you be angry with the entire community?”

Commentaries on Hebrews 12:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9We have had fathers of our flesh - The fathers of our flesh, i.e. our natural parents, were correctors; and we reverenced them, notwithstanding their corrections often arose from whim or caprice: but shall we not rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits; to him from whom we have received both body and soul; who is our Creator, Preserver, and Supporter; to whom both we and our parents owe our life and our blessings; and who corrects us only for our…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Furthermore - As an additional consideration to induce us to receive chastisement with submission. The argument in this verse is derived from the difference in the spirit and design with which we are corrected by God and by an earthly parent. In God everything is without any intermingling of passion or any improper feeling. In an earthly parent there is often much that is the result of hasty emotion, of an irascible temper, perhaps of the mere love of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9The author uses a comparison from lesser to greater (see study note on Hebrews 9:14). The lesser situation is the respect given to an earthly father during discipline. We should submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits in our relationship with God. We should be open to God like a good Father, trusting that he helps us grow, even through tough times.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. fathers ... which corrected us--rather as Greek, "We had the fathers of our flesh as correctors." subjection--See the punishment of insubordination, De 21:18. Father of spirits--contrasted with "the fathers of our flesh." "Generation by men is carnal, by God is spiritual" [Bengel]. As "Father of spirits," He is both the Originator, and the Providential and Gracious Sustainer, at once of animal and spiritual life. Compare "and LIVE," namely…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 12:9

• Adoption
• Afflictions and Adversities
• Chastisement
• God
• Perseverance
• Resignation

In the dictionaries

• Acceptably
• Adoption
• Aside
• Birthright
• Bitterness
• 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