Pursue Holiness: Fearful Judgment and the Heavenly Zion
Hebrews 12:14-29
Heb.12.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ειρηνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- διωκετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- μετα: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αγιασμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- χωρις: PREP,gen
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- οψεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κυριον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Psalm 34:14 (33:15 LXX) (verbal): The LXX wording 'seek peace and pursue it' (ζητήσατε τὴν εἰρήνη καὶ διώκετε) closely parallels Hebrews' διώκετε τὴν εἰρήνη, a likely verbal source for the exhortation.
- 1 Peter 3:11 (quotation): 1 Peter explicitly quotes Psalm 34:14 ('seek peace and pursue it'), reflecting the same scriptural tradition or citation-form underlying Hebrews' call to pursue peace.
- Romans 14:19 (verbal): Paul's injunction 'let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace' (pursue what makes for peace) uses the same verb and communal emphasis on pursuing peace as in Hebrews 12:14.
- Matthew 5:8 (thematic): 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God' links purity/holiness with seeing God, paralleling Hebrews' claim that without holiness no one will see the Lord.
- 1 John 3:2-3 (thematic): Connects seeing the Lord with purification: 'we shall see him as he is' and 'everyone who thus hopes purifies himself,' echoing Hebrews' link between sanctification/holiness and seeing the Lord.
Alternative generated candidates
- Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
- Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Heb.12.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- επισκοπουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- μη: PART
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- υστερων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- χαριτος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μη: PART
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ριζα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- πικριας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ανω: ADV
- φυουσα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,sg,f
- ενοχλη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- δι᾽αυτης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- μιανθωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- πολλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Deut.29:18 (allusion): Warning language and the image of a harmful ‘root’ bearing bitterness/gall that leads to defilement or ruin; likely the OT background for Hebrews’ ‘root of bitterness.’
- Heb.3:12-13 (structural): Same epistolary exhortation formula (‘take care/see to it’) and theme—warning against unbelief or an evil heart that causes falling away and the need for mutual exhortation to prevent it.
- Heb.4:1 (thematic): Parallel concern that some may fail to enter God’s rest/obtain God’s promise—Hebrews frames vigilance so no one falls short of God’s gracious provision.
- Gal.5:9 (verbal): Uses the leaven metaphor (‘a little leaven leavens the whole lump’) to express how a small corrupting influence spreads—akin to a single ‘root of bitterness’ ruining many.
- 1 Cor.5:6-7 (thematic): Paul’s admonition that ‘a little leaven’ corrupts the whole batch connects to Hebrews’ fear that one bitter root can trouble and defile many within the community.
Alternative generated candidates
- See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, by which many are defiled.
- 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 are defiled.
Heb.12.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- πορνος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- βεβηλος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ως: ADV
- Ησαυ: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- αντι: PREP,gen
- βρωσεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- μιας: NUM,gen,sg,f
- απεδετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- πρωτοτοκια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- εαυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Genesis 25:29-34 (quotation): The narrative source: Esau sells his birthright for a meal—Hebrews 12:16 summarizes/quotes this episode as the basis for its warning.
- Genesis 27:30-40 (thematic): The later episode in which Esau loses the blessing (and expresses bitter regret); thematically linked to Hebrews’ point about forfeiting one’s inheritance and the impossibility of later recovery.
- Hebrews 12:17 (structural): Immediate context/continuation: explicitly interprets Esau’s action, noting his inability to repent and recover the blessing—reinforces the warning of 12:16.
- Galatians 5:19-21 (thematic): Lists sexual immorality and related vices as works of the flesh; parallels Hebrews’ opening warning against porneia and godlessness as disqualifying behaviors.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (thematic): Paul’s catalogue of those who will not inherit God’s kingdom includes sexually immoral persons—verbal/thematic resonance with Hebrews’ admonition against sexual immorality and profaneness.
Alternative generated candidates
- See that no one be sexually immoral or profane like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.
- Make sure that no one is immoral or profane like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
Heb.12.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ιστε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- γαρ: PART
- οτι: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- μετεπειτα: ADV
- θελων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- κληρονομησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ευλογιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- απεδοκιμασθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- μετανοιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- γαρ: PART
- τοπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ουχ: PART,neg
- ευρεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- καιπερ: CONJ
- μετα: PREP
- δακρυων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- εκζητησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Genesis 25:29-34 (verbal): The origin of the episode: Esau sells his birthright for food—Heb 12:17 presupposes this event (sold his blessing/heritage) as background for his later attempt to obtain the blessing.
- Genesis 27:34-38 (verbal): Direct narrative parallel: after Jacob receives the blessing Esau cries out and begs for a blessing (with tears); Heb 12:17 echoes the failed, tearful seeking of a blessing.
- Hebrews 12:16 (structural): Immediate internal parallel in the same chapter that explicitly cites Esau as an example (profane, sold his birthright); Heb 12:17 elaborates the outcome mentioned there.
- Hebrews 6:4-6 (thematic): Thematic parallel on the irreversibility of a certain spiritual loss: like Heb 12:17's 'found no place for repentance,' Heb 6 warns of the impossibility of renewing to repentance those who have fallen away.
Alternative generated candidates
- For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected—though he sought it with tears, he found no chance to repent.
- For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it with tears.
Heb.12.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ου: PART,neg
- γαρ: PART
- προσεληλυθατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- ψηλαφωμενω: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- κεκαυμενω: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,dat,sg,m
- πυρι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- γνοφω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ζοφω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- θυελλη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Exodus 19:16-19 (quotation): Direct portrait of Sinai: thunder, lightning, thick cloud, trumpet blast and the mountain smoking with fire — language that Hebrews 12:18 draws on/echoes as the paradigmatic terrifying theophany.
- Deuteronomy 4:11-12 (allusion): Summarizes the Sinai theophany (mountain burning with fire; darkness, cloud and gloom) and is an Old Testament retelling whose vocabulary and themes are echoed in Hebrews' contrast of Sinai and Zion.
- Exodus 20:18-21 (thematic): The people's fear and trembling at the thunder, lightning and trumpet at Sinai provides the narrative context for the terrifying elements Hebrews attributes to the Sinai encounter.
- Psalm 18:7-16 (cf. 2 Samuel 22:8-16) (thematic): Rich theophanic imagery (earthquake, smoke, fire, darkness, lightning) describing God's appearance — thematically parallel to Hebrews' depiction of a tactile, blazing, dark, tempestuous divine manifestation.
Alternative generated candidates
- For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest,
- For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched, to a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest,
Heb.12.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- σαλπιγγος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ηχω: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ρηματων: NOUN,gen,pl,neut
- ης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ακουσαντες: PTCP,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- παρητησαντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- μη: PART
- προστεθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- λογον·: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Exodus 19:16-19 (allusion): The Sinai scene with thunder, lightning, and a trumpet blast—Moses and the people’s fear—provides the immediate OT background Hebrews alludes to (trumpet/voice at Mount Sinai).
- Exodus 20:18-19 (quotation): After the giving of the law the people implore Moses to speak for them and not let God speak directly to them—Hebrews echoes this reaction (‘they begged that no further word be spoken’).
- Deuteronomy 5:22 (allusion): Deuteronomy’s retelling of the Sinai revelation (the LORD’s voice out of the fire and the people’s fear) parallels the report Hebrews compresses about hearing a terrifying voice and trumpet.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (verbal): Eschatological language of ‘the Lord’s voice’ together with ‘the trumpet of God’ echoes Hebrews’ coupling of trumpet and voice as heralds of divine manifestation.},{
Alternative generated candidates
- and to the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them;
- and to the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard begged that no further message be spoken to them.
Heb.12.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εφερον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- γαρ: PART
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- διαστελλομενον·Καν: PTCP,pres,pass,acc,sg,n
- θηριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- θιγη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ορους: NOUN,gen,sg,neut
- λιθοβοληθησεται·: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 19:12-13 (quotation): Hebrews 12:20 directly echoes the Sinai injunction in Exodus (LXX) that no one touch the mountain—if a beast touches it it shall be stoned, and anyone who touches it shall die; a near verbal source for the verse.
- Exodus 19:16-20 (structural): The wider Sinai theophany (thunders, lightning, trumpet, smoke, God's descent on Sinai) provides the immediate literary and theological context that Hebrews contrasts with Mount Zion (Heb 12:18–21 draws on this scene).
- Deuteronomy 4:11-12 (thematic): Deuteronomy's description of Israel standing 'under the mountain' as it burned with fire and smoke and their fearful awe parallels the sense of holy terror and forbidden approach found in Hebrews 12:20 and its Exodus background.
- Deuteronomy 5:22-27 (allusion): The people's plea that God not speak directly to them (lest they die) echoes the theme of prohibitive boundary and mortal danger in approaching Sinai, which Hebrews invokes in 12:20 to contrast Sinai's threat with the new covenant.
Alternative generated candidates
- for they could not endure the order, “If even an animal touches the mountain it shall be stoned,” and “so terrifying was the sight.”
- For they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”
Heb.12.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ουτω: ADV
- φοβερον: ADJ,nom,sg,neut
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- φανταζομενον: PART,pres,mid,neut,sg,nom
- Μωυσης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν·Εκφοβος: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- και: CONJ
- εντρομος: ADJ,masc,sg,nom
Parallels
- Exodus 19:16-19 (quotation): The Sinai theophany: thunder, lightning, trumpet blast, smoke and the terrifying manifestation of God that Hebrews alludes to as the cause of fear.
- Exodus 20:18-19 (verbal): The people's reaction at Sinai and their plea to Moses; the LXX wording parallels Hebrews' citation of Moses' fearful words ('I tremble and am afraid').
- Deuteronomy 5:24-27 (allusion): Deuteronomy's retelling of Sinai emphasizes the people's dread and their request that Moses speak for God—echoing the theme of terror and mediated revelation.
- Hebrews 12:18-20 (structural): Immediate context in Hebrews contrasting Mount Sinai's terrifying, law-giving presence with Mount Zion; vv.18–20 set up verse 21's citation of Moses' fear.
Alternative generated candidates
- Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
- Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
Heb.12.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλα: CONJ
- προσεληλυθατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- Σιων: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ορει: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- πολει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ζωντος: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,m
- Ιερουσαλημ: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- επουρανιω: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- μυριασιν: NUM,dat,pl,f
- αγγελων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- πανηγυρει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Psalm 48:2 (allusion): Both depict Mount Zion as the city of God (Zion as the divine city/royal dwelling), echoing the imagery of 'Zion, the city of the great King.'
- Revelation 21:2 (thematic): Describes the 'holy/new Jerusalem' coming down from heaven—paralleling Hebrews' 'heavenly Jerusalem' language and eschatological city imagery.
- Galatians 4:26 (thematic): Refers to 'Jerusalem above' as our mother; both passages contrast an earthly Jerusalem with a heavenly/Jerusalem-above motif.
- Revelation 5:11 (verbal): Uses the phrase of countless/myriad angels ('myriads of angels') surrounding the throne—verbal parallel to Hebrews' 'myriads of angels.'
- Hebrews 11:16 (thematic): Earlier in Hebrews the patriarchs long for 'a better country, that is, a heavenly one,' connecting the epistle's theme of a heavenly city as the believers' true destination.
Alternative generated candidates
- But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
- But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal assembly,
Heb.12.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εκκλησια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- πρωτοτοκων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- απογεγραμμενων: VERB,perf,pass,part,gen,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- κριτη: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- πνευμασι: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- δικαιων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- τετελειωμενων: VERB,perf,pass,part,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Romans 8:29 (verbal): Uses the term πρωτότοκος (firstborn) of believers (‘firstborn among many brothers’), paralleling the designation ‘church of the firstborn.’
- Luke 10:20 (verbal): Both speak of names written/enrolled in heaven (γεγράπται/ἀπογεγραμμένων ἐν οὐρανοῖς), linking assurance of heavenly registration.
- Hebrews 11:40 (verbal): Shares the theme and language of the righteous being ‘made perfect’ (τετελειωμένοι/τετελειωθῶσιν), continuing Hebrews’ motif of perfected saints.
- Acts 10:42 (thematic): Peter’s testimony that Jesus is appointed by God ‘to be judge of the living and the dead’ corresponds to the declaration ‘and to God, the Judge of all.’
- Colossians 1:18 (thematic): Describes Christ as the firstborn (πρωτότοκος) and head of the church, illuminating the title ‘church of the firstborn’ as belonging to Christ’s redeemed people.
Alternative generated candidates
- to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
- to the assembly of the firstborn whose names are written in heaven, to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Heb.12.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- διαθηκης: NOUN,gen,sg,fem
- νεας: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- μεσιτη: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αιματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- ραντισμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- κρειττον: ADJ,comp,nom/acc,sg,neut
- λαλουντι: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,n
- παρα: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Αβελ: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Hebrews 9:15 (verbal): Explicitly speaks of Jesus as 'mediator of a new covenant,' the same role named in Heb 12:24.
- Jeremiah 31:31-34 (allusion): The Old Testament promise of a 'new covenant' provides the foundation for Hebrews' claim about Christ inaugurating a new covenant.
- Genesis 4:10 (quotation): God's word that Abel's blood 'cries' from the ground is the background for Hebrews' contrast between Abel's blood and Christ's blood.
- Matthew 23:35 (cf. Luke 11:51) (allusion): Jesus cites Abel's 'blood cried out' (in condemning the bloodshed of the righteous), an intertextual echo used by Hebrews to contrast purposes of blood.
- Leviticus 17:11 (thematic): Declares that 'the life is in the blood' and associates blood with atonement—background for Hebrews' emphasis on the saving/effective power of Christ's blood.
Alternative generated candidates
- and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than Abel’s.
- and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Heb.12.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Βλεπετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- μη: PART
- παραιτησησθε: VERB,pres,mid/pass,imp,2,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λαλουντα·ει: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- εκεινοι: PRO,nom,pl,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εξεφυγον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- επι: PREP
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- παραιτησαμενοι: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- χρηματιζοντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,sg,m
- πολυ: ADV
- μαλλον: ADV
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- απ᾽ουρανων: PREP+NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αποστρεφομενοι·: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Hebrews 1:1-2 (allusion): Contrasts God’s former speaking through prophets on earth with now speaking 'from heaven' (through the Son); Heb.12:25 echoes this contrast and warns against refusing the heavenly speaker.
- Hebrews 2:2-3 (verbal): Uses a similar line of argument that those who heard a message 'spoken by angels' did not escape judgment; Heb.12:25 repeats the reasoning about refusing a prior earthly speaker to heighten the warning.
- Acts 7:53 (verbal): Stephen charges his audience with not keeping 'the law ordained by angels'—a close verbal and thematic parallel to Hebrews’ reference to those who refused the one who spoke on earth.
- Psalm 95:7-11 (cf. Hebrews 3:7-11) (quotation): Psalm 95 (quoted in Heb.3) warns Israel not to harden their hearts when they hear God’s voice and recounts their refusal and judgment—the same covenantal pattern of refusing God’s speaker that Heb.12:25 invokes.
Alternative generated candidates
- See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking. For if they did not escape who refused the one who warned them on earth,
- See that you do not refuse the One who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth,
Heb.12.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εσαλευσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τοτε: ADV
- νυν: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- επηγγελται: VERB,perf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- λεγων·Ετι: PARTCP,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- απαξ: ADV
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- σεισω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- ου: PART,neg
- μονον: ADV
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αλλα: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Haggai 2:6 (quotation): Hebrews 12:26 directly cites Haggai's promise 'Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth,' using it as the basis for the coming cosmic shaking.
- Exodus 19:18 (structural): Describes the Sinai theophany—mountain trembling and divine presence—behind Hebrews' reference to 'the voice that then shook the earth' (the earlier, ear-splitting revelation to Israel).
- Deuteronomy 4:11-12 (structural): Speaks of hearing God's voice out of the fire at Sinai and the earth-shaking experience; Hebrews recalls this Mosaic/Sinai context to contrast the former and future shakings.
- Isaiah 13:13 (thematic): Echoes the prophetic motif of God 'shaking' the heavens and earth as judgment and cosmic renewal, paralleling Hebrews' use of cosmic disturbance language.
- 2 Peter 3:10 (thematic): Uses similar language of heavens and earth passing away or being altered in the final divine intervention—resonant with Hebrews' emphasis on a coming universal shaking.
Alternative generated candidates
- much less shall we escape if we turn away from him who warns from heaven. His voice then shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
- much less shall we escape if we reject the One who warns from heaven. His voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
Heb.12.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- Ετι: ADV
- απαξ: ADV
- δηλοι: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- σαλευομενων: VERB,pres,pass,ptc,gen,pl,neut
- μεταθεσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ως: ADV
- πεποιημενων: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,gen,pl,neut
- ινα: CONJ
- μεινη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- μη: PART
- σαλευομενα: VERB,pres,pass,ptc,nom,pl,neut
Parallels
- Haggai 2:6-7 (quotation): Hebrews picks up the prophet’s formula “Yet once more” and the promise to ‘shake’ heaven and earth — the immediate source for the shaking motif in 12:26–27.
- Psalm 102:25-27 (verbal): Speaks of the works of God (heavens and earth) passing away while God remains; Hebrews uses the same contrast between created things that perish and the unchanging God.
- 2 Peter 3:10-13 (thematic): Describes the heavens and earth being dissolved or burned up and the appearance of new heavens and a new earth — a parallel eschatological vision of the removal of the present order so that what endures will remain.
- Revelation 21:1 (thematic): Portrays the coming of a new heaven and new earth after the passing-away of the former, echoing Hebrews’ hope that the unshakable order will remain.
- Isaiah 51:6 (allusion): Declares that the heavens will vanish and the earth wear out but God’s salvation endures — an OT background for the theme of created things being shaken while the divine remains.
Alternative generated candidates
- This “yet once more” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
- This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removal of the things that can be shaken—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb.12.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- διο: CONJ
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ασαλευτον: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- παραλαμβανοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εχωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- χαριν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δι᾽ης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- λατρευωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- ευαρεστως: ADV
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- μετα: PREP
- ευλαβειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- δεους: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Daniel 2:44 (thematic): God will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or left to another—parallels the idea of receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken (eternal, unassailable rule).
- 2 Peter 1:11 (verbal): Promises believers will 'receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom'—language of receiving entrance into God's enduring kingdom echoes Heb. 12:28.
- Hebrews 12:29 (structural): Immediate context: 'for our God is a consuming fire.' This links the call to worship with reverence and godly fear in 12:28 to the character of God presented in the next verse.
- Hebrews 1:10-12 (cf. Psalm 102:25-27) (verbal): Cites the permanence of the Son and contrasts created things that perish with God's abiding reality—supports Heb. 12:28's emphasis on an unshakable/everlasting kingdom.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be grateful, and by that gratitude let us serve God acceptably with reverence and awe.
- Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.
Heb.12.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- γαρ: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- πυρ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- καταναλισκον: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,n
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 4:24 (quotation): Hebrews 12:29 is essentially a citation of Deut 4:24, which explicitly calls Yahweh ‘a consuming fire’ (or ‘devouring fire’), grounding the NT statement in the LXX/OT tradition.
- Exodus 24:17 (verbal): The glory of the LORD appeared to Israel on the mountain ‘like a consuming/devouring fire’—similar verbal imagery portraying God’s presence as consuming fire.
- Isaiah 33:14 (thematic): Speaks of sinners trembling and asks who can ‘dwell with devouring fire’/‘everlasting burnings’—the same theme of God as a devouring/consuming fire that inspires reverence and fear.
- Leviticus 10:2 (allusion): Fire came out from the LORD and consumed Nadab and Abihu—an OT episode that concretely illustrates God’s consuming fire as a judgment on irreverence, echoing Hebrews’ warning to worship rightly.
Alternative generated candidates
- For our God is a consuming fire.
- For our God is a consuming fire.
Strive for peace with all, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble, and through it many become defiled.
See that no one is sexually immoral or godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.
For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it with tears.
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that burned with fire and was wrapped in darkness and gloom and tempest,
nor to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words, on which those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them,
for they could not endure the command: “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”
Indeed, so terrifying was the spectacle that Moses said, “I am beset with fear and trembling.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
to the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than Abel’s.
See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth,
much less shall we escape if we turn away from him who warns from heaven; his voice then shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of the things that are shaken—things created—so that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be grateful, and so offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe.
For our God is a consuming fire.