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Hebrews 12:7-13
New International Version
Hebrews 12:7-13
New International Version
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.(A) For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline(B)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 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(C) and live!(D) 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.(E) 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace(F) for those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.(G) 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[a](H) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.(I)
Footnotes
- Hebrews 12:13 Prov. 4:26
Hebrews 12:7-13
New English Translation
Hebrews 12:7-13
New English Translation
7 Endure your suffering[a] as discipline;[b] God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you do not experience discipline,[c] something all sons[d] have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from[e] our earthly fathers[f] and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?[g] 10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.[h] But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness[i] for those trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen[j] your listless hands and your weak knees,[k] 13 and make straight paths for your feet,[l] so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Hebrews 12:7 tn Grk “endure,” with the object (“your suffering”) understood from the context.
- Hebrews 12:7 tn Or “in order to become disciplined.”
- Hebrews 12:8 tn Grk “you are without discipline.”
- Hebrews 12:8 tn Grk “all”; “sons” is implied by the context.
- Hebrews 12:9 tn Grk “we had our earthly fathers as discipliners.”
- Hebrews 12:9 tn Grk “the fathers of our flesh.” In Hebrews, “flesh” is a characteristic way of speaking about outward, physical, earthly life (cf. Heb 5:7; 9:10, 13), as opposed to the inward or spiritual dimensions of life.
- Hebrews 12:9 tn Grk “and live.” sn Submit ourselves…to the Father of spirits and receive life. This idea is drawn from Proverbs, where the Lord’s discipline brings life, while resistance to it leads to death (cf. Prov 4:13; 6:23; 10:17; 16:17).
- Hebrews 12:11 tn Grk “all discipline at the time does not seem to be of joy, but of sorrow.”
- Hebrews 12:11 tn Grk “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
- Hebrews 12:12 tn Or “straighten.”
- Hebrews 12:12 sn A quotation from Isa 35:3. Strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees refers to the readers’ need for renewed resolve and fresh strength in their struggles (cf. Heb 10:36-39; 12:1-3).
- Hebrews 12:13 sn A quotation from Prov 4:26. The phrase make straight paths for your feet is figurative for “stay on God’s paths.”
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New English Translation (NET)
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