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 King James Version (NKJV)Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

Context of Hebrews 13:2

1Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers—for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember the prisoners as if you were fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you also were suffering bodily. 4Let marriage be held in honor among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

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 outsider dwelling among you should be to you as the native-born among you. You should love him as yourself—for you dwelled as outsiders in the land of Egypt. I am Adonai your God.
• Deuteronomy 10:18He enacts justice for the orphan and widow, and loves the outsider, giving him food and clothing.
• 1 Kings 17:10So he arose and went to Zarephath. Now when he came to the town gate, to his surprise, a widow was there gathering sticks. So he called her and said, “Please bring a little water in a jar that I may drink.”
• 2 Kings 4:8One day when Elisha passed through Shunem, where there was a prominent woman who persuaded him to eat some food. And so it was, whenever he passed through, he would stop for a meal.
• Job 31:19if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing or the needy without a covering,
• Isaiah 58:7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your house? When you see the naked, to cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh and blood?
• Matthew 25:35For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in;
• Acts 16:15When she was immersed, along with her household, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she insisted.
• Romans 12:13contributing to the needs of the kedoshim, extending hospitality.
• Romans 16:23Gaius, host to me and the whole community, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and so does brother Quartus.
• 1 Timothy 3:2An overseer, then, must be beyond criticism—the husband of one wife, clear-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
• 1 Timothy 5:10well known for good deeds, if she raised children, if she showed hospitality, if she washed the feet of the kedoshim, if she helped those in trouble, and if she devoted herself to every good work.
• 1 Peter 4:9Be hospitable one to another without grumbling.
• Genesis 18:2When he lifted up his eyes to see, suddenly, three men were standing right by him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed down to the ground.
• Genesis 19:1Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, while Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, and bowed down with his face to the ground.
• Judges 13:15Then Manoah said to the angel of Adonai, “Please, let us detain you so that we may 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