Hebrews 12:14

New Living Translation

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Try to live in peace with everyone. And try to keep your lives free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord.

Revised Standard Version
Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Embrace peace with all men and holynes: with out the which no man shall se the Lorde.

Hebrew Names Version
Follow after shalom with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,

New American Standard Bible
Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

New Century Version
Try to live in peace with all people, and try to live free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord.

Update Bible Version
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:

Webster's Bible Translation
Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

English Standard Version
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

World English Bible
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Weymouth's New Testament
but may rather be restored. Persistently strive for peace with all men, and for that growth in holiness apart from which no one will see the Lord.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sue ye pees with alle men, and holynesse, with out which no man schal se God.

English Revised Version
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:

Berean Standard Bible
Pursue peace with all men, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Contemporary English Version
Try to live at peace with everyone! Live a clean life. If you don't, you will never see the Lord.

Amplified Bible
Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.

American Standard Version
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:

Bible in Basic English
Let your desire be for peace with all men, and to be made holy, without which no man may see the Lord;

Complete Jewish Bible
Keep pursuing shalom with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Darby Translation
Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord:

International Standard Version
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.Psalm 34:14; Matthew 5:8; Romans 12:18; 14:9; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 5:5; 2 Timothy 2:22;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Follow after peace with every man, and after holiness, without which man our Lord seeth not.

Murdock Translation
Follow after peace with every man; and after holiness, without which a man will not see our Lord.

King James Version (1611)
Followe peace with all men, and holinesse, without which no man shall see the Lord:

New Life Bible
Be at peace with all men. Live a holy life. No one will see the Lord without having that kind of life.

New Revised Standard
Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Followe peace with all men, and holinesse, without the which no man shall see ye Lord.

George Lamsa Translation
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see our LORD.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Peace, be pursuing, with all, and the obtaining of holiness, - without which no one shall see the Lord:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Follow peace with all men and holiness: without which no man shall see God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Folowe peace with all men, and holynesse, without the which, no man shall see the Lorde:

Good News Translation
Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it.

Christian Standard Bible®
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.

King James Version
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Lexham English Bible
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Literal Translation
Eagerly pursue peace and holiness with all, without which no one will see the Lord,

Young's Literal Translation
peace pursue with all, and the separation, apart from which no one shall see the Lord,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Folowe after peace with all men, and holynes, without the which no man shal se the LORDE,

Mace New Testament (1729)
seek peace with all men, and sanctity of life, without which no man shall see the Lord:

THE MESSAGE
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.

New English Translation
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.

New King James Version
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Simplified Cowboy Version
Get along to the best of your ability with everyone and don't give up riding for the Lord. Those who don't ride for him won't see him.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

Legacy Standard Bible
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord,

Contextual Overview

⁴ After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. ⁵ And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the Lord 's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. ⁶ For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." ⁷ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? ⁸ If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. ⁹ Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? ¹⁰ For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. ¹² So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. ¹³ Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Follow: Genesis 13:7-9, Psalms 34:14, Psalms 38:20, Psalms 120:6, Psalms 133:1, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 16:7, Proverbs 17:14, Isaiah 11:6-9, Matthew 5:9, Mark 9:50, Romans 12:18, Romans 14:19, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, Ephesians 4:1-8, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22, James 3:17, James 3:18, 1 Peter 3:11

and holiness: Hebrews 12:10, Psalms 94:15, Isaiah 51:1, Luke 1:75, Romans 6:22, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Philippians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, 1 Peter 1:15, 1 Peter 1:16, 1 Peter 3:13, 2 Peter 3:11, 2 Peter 3:18, 3 John 1:11

no man: Genesis 32:30, Job 19:26, Job 33:26, Matthew 5:8, 1 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 5:5, Galatians 3:21, 1 John 3:2, 1 John 3:3, Revelation 21:24-27, Revelation 22:3, Revelation 22:4, Revelation 22:11-15

Reciprocal: Genesis 13:8 - Let Genesis 13:9 - if thou wilt Genesis 23:7 - General Genesis 26:30 - General Exodus 28:36 - HOLINESS Leviticus 15:31 - Thus shall Leviticus 20:7 - General Numbers 16:5 - will cause Deuteronomy 13:5 - put the evil away from the midst Judges 11:14 - again unto Psalms 5:4 - evil Psalms 25:10 - keep Psalms 93:5 - holiness Psalms 119:131 - I longed Psalms 120:7 - for peace Proverbs 12:20 - but Proverbs 21:21 - that Isaiah 4:3 - shall be Isaiah 35:8 - The way Isaiah 59:20 - unto Matthew 5:20 - ye John 3:7 - Ye Romans 12:9 - cleave 1 Corinthians 6:9 - fornicators 1 Corinthians 7:15 - but 1 Corinthians 14:1 - Follow 2 Corinthians 13:11 - live Ephesians 4:3 - General Ephesians 4:24 - righteousness Philippians 2:14 - disputings Philippians 4:2 - that 1 Thessalonians 5:13 - and be 1 Timothy 2:2 - that Revelation 21:27 - there

Cross-References

Genesis 3:6
The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

Genesis 6:2
The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives.

Genesis 39:7
and Potiphar's wife soon began to look at him lustfully. "Come and sleep with me," she demanded.

Matthew 5:28
But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Follow peace with all men,.... That are in a natural and domestic relation to one another, being of the same family; and that are in a civil and political one, being of the same nation, city, or society; and that are in a spiritual one, being members of the same church; or, if not, yet being saints, and though in some things different in judgment; yea, even peace is to be followed with enemies, as much as in us lies: and perhaps by "all men", the Gentiles may be more especially designed, whose peace the Hebrews thought they were not to seek, Deuteronomy 23:6 mistaking the sense of the text, by applying it to the Gentiles in general: to "follow peace", signifies an eager pursuit after it, in the use of proper means; exerting the utmost of a man's power to attain it, in all things possible: many things serve to enforce this upon the saints; this is most agreeable to all the three divine Persons; to God, who is the God of peace; to Christ, the Prince of peace; and to the Spirit, one of whose fruits is peace; and to the characters of the saints, who are sons of peace, and who are called to peace, and who make a profession of the Gospel of peace; and to the privileges they enjoy, being interested in the covenant of peace, partaking of spiritual peace now, and being entitled to eternal peace hereafter: and this agrees with the sayings and counsels of the ancient Jews. It was a saying of Hillell r, who lived about the times of Christ;

"be thou one of the disciples of Aaron, who loved peace,

ורודף שלום, "and followed peace".''

This is said of Aaron in the Talmud s, that

"he loved peace, and followed peace, and made peace between a man and his neighbour, as is said, Malachi 2:6.''

They recommend peace on many accounts, and say, great is peace, and among the rest, because it is one of the names of God t:

and holiness: this being added to peace, shows that peace is no further to be followed than is consistent with holiness; and holiness here does not design any particular branch of holiness, as chastity of the body and mind, but the whole of holiness, inward and outward; and intends true holiness, in opposition to ceremonial holiness, which the Hebrews were fond of, and pursued after: it means even perfect holiness; for though holiness is not perfect in this life, yet it will be in heaven; and there is a perfection of it in Christ; and it is to be followed after, by going to Christ for more grace, and exercising faith upon him, as our sanctification; and by eager desires that the Spirit of God would sanctify us more and more, and enable us, by his grace and strength, to walk in the way of holiness, till we get safe to heaven:

without which no man shall see the Lord; or "God", as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read; that is, with the beatific vision in heaven: or the Lord Jesus Christ, "our Lord", as the Syriac version reads; even in this life, so as to have communion with him; and hereafter, so as to behold his glory, both intellectually and corporeally: to such a sight holiness is necessary; for God is holy, and Christ is holy, and so is heaven, and so are the angels, and the souls of men in it.

r Pirke Abot, c. 1. sect. 12. s T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 6. 2. & Gloss. in T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 71. 2. t Vajikra Rabba, sect. 9. fol. 153. 1, 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Follow peace with all men - Do not give indulgence to those passions which lead to litigations, strifes, wars; see the notes on Romans 14:19. The connection here requires us to understand this mainly of persecutors. The apostle is referring to the trials which those whom he addressed were experiencing. Those trials seem to have arisen mainly from persecution, and he exhorts them to manifest a spirit of kindness toward all - even though they were engaged in persecuting them. This is the temper of the gospel. We are to make war with sin, but not with people; with bad passions and corrupt desires, but not with our fellow-worms.

And holiness - Instead of yielding to contending passions and to a spirit of war; instead of seeking revenge on your persecutors and foes, make it rather your aim to be holy. Let that be the object of your pursuit; the great purpose of your life. Men might in such cases counsel them to seek revenge; the spirit of religion would counsel them to strive to be holy. In such times they were in great danger of giving indulgence to evil passions, and hence, the special propriety of the exhortation to endeavor to be holy.

Without which no man shall see the Lord - That is, shall see him in peace; or shall so see him as to dwell with him. All will see him in the day of judgment, but to “see” one is often used in the sense of being with one; dwelling with one; enjoying one; see the notes on Matthew 5:8. The principle here stated is one which is never departed from; Revelation 21:27; Isaiah 35:8; Isaiah 52:1; Isaiah 60:21; Joel 3:17; Matthew 13:41; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. No one has ever been admitted to heaven in his sins; nor is it desirable that anyone ever should be. Desirable as it is that lost people should be happy, yet it is benevolence which excludes the profane, the impious, and the unbelieving from heaven - just as it is benevolence to a family to exclude profligates and seducers, and as it is benevolence to a community to confine thieves and robbers in prison. This great principle in the divine administration will always be adhered to; and hence, they who are expecting to be saved without holiness or religion, are destined to certain disappointment.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but God will not admit one unrepenting and unpardoned sinner to heaven. It was the importance and the certainty of this principle which made the apostle insist on it here with so much earnestness. Amidst all their trials; when exposed to persecution; and when everything might tempt them to the indulgence of feelings which were the opposite of holiness, they were to make it their great object to be like God. For this they were to seek, to strive. to labor, to pray. This with us in all our trials should also be the great aim of life. How deeply affecting then is the inquiry whether we have that holiness which is indispensable to salvation! Let us not deceive ourselves. We may have many things else - many things which are in themselves desirable, but without this one thing we shall never see the Lord in peace. We may have wealth, genius, learning, beauty, accomplishments, houses, lands, books, friends - but without religion they will be all in vain. Never can we see God in peace without a holy heart; never can we be admitted into heaven without that religion which will identify us with the angels around the throne!

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. Follow peace with all men — Cultivate, as far as you possibly can, a good understanding, both with Jews and Gentiles. ειρηνηνδιωκετε, pursue peace with the same care, attention, and diligence, as beasts do their game; follow it through all places; trace it through all winding circumstances; and have it with all men, if you can with a safe conscience.

And holiness — τον αγιασμον. That state of continual sanctification, that life of purity and detachment from the world and all its lusts, without which detachment and sanctity no man shall see the Lord-shall never enjoy his presence in the world of blessedness. To see God, in the Hebrew phrase, is to enjoy him; and without holiness of heart and life this is impossible. No soul can be fit for heaven that has not suitable dispositions for the place.