Lectionary Calendar
Friday, November 29th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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New Living Translation

Hebrews 12:15

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Backsliders;   Diligence;   Holiness;   Influence;   Perseverance;   Reprobacy;   Sin;   Watchfulness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bitterness;   Defilement;   Defilement-Cleansing;   Evil;   Example;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God;   Diligence;   Grace;   Heedfulness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Church;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Discipline;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Church;   Wisdom of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bitter;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Fox;   Gall;   Simeon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Grace;   Hebrews;   Root;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Bitterness ;   Care, Careful;   Hebrews Epistle to the;   Metaphor;   Perseverance;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bitterness, Gall of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Root;   Springing;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Carefully;   Defile;   Fail;   Grace;   Jehoiada;   Root;   Septuagint;   Uncleanness;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Bitter;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for October 30;   Every Day Light - Devotion for March 1;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Be careful that no one fails to get God's grace. Be careful that no one loses their faith and becomes like a bitter weed growing among you. Someone like that can ruin your whole group.
Revised Standard Version
See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become defiled;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And looke to that no man be destitue of the grace of God and that no rote of bitternes springe vp and trouble and therby many be defiled:
Hebrew Names Version
looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
New American Standard Bible
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
New Century Version
Be careful that no one fails to receive God's grace and begins to cause trouble among you. A person like that can ruin many of you.
Update Bible Version
looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;
Webster's Bible Translation
Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble [you], and by it many be defiled;
English Standard Version
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 become defiled;
World English Bible
looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Looking diligently, lest any one fall from the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled: Lest there be any fornicator or profane person,
Weymouth's New Testament
Be carefully on your guard lest there be any one who falls back from the grace of God; lest any root bearing bitter fruit spring up and cause trouble among you, and through it the whole brotherhood be defiled;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Biholde ye, that no man faile to the grace of God, that no roote of bittirnesse buriownynge vpward lette, and manye ben defoulid bi it;
English Revised Version
looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
Berean Standard Bible
Be careful that no one falls short of the grace of God, so that no root of bitterness will spring up to cause trouble and defile many.
Contemporary English Version
Make sure that no one misses out on God's wonderful kindness. Don't let anyone become bitter and cause trouble for the rest of you.
Amplified Bible
See to it that no one falls short of God's grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
American Standard Version
looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
Bible in Basic English
Looking with care to see that no man among you in his behaviour comes short of the grace of God; for fear that some bitter root may come up to be a trouble to you, and that some of you may be made unclean by it;
Complete Jewish Bible
See to it that no one misses out on God's grace, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble and thus contaminates many,
Darby Translation
watching lest [there be] any one who lacks the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and many be defiled by it;
International Standard Version
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up and causes you trouble, or many of you will become defiled.Deuteronomy 29:18; 2 Corinthians 6:1; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And be aware lest any one be found among you failing of the grace of Aloha; or lest any root of bitternesses should put forth the flower and injure you, and many be contaminated:
Murdock Translation
And be careful, lest any be found among you destitute of the grace of God; or lest some root of bitterness shoot forth germs, and trouble you; and thereby many be defiled:
King James Version (1611)
Looking diligently, lest any man faile of the grace of God, lest any roote of bitternesse springing vp, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled:
New Life Bible
See that no one misses God's loving-favor. Do not let wrong thoughts about others get started among you. If you do, many people will be turned to a life of sin.
New Revised Standard
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Take heede, that no man fall away from the grace of God: let no roote of bitternes spring vp and trouble you, lest thereby many be defiled.
George Lamsa Translation
Take heed lest any man among you be found short of the grace of God; or lest any root of bitterness spring forth and harm you, and thereby many be defiled;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Using oversight - lest any one be falling behind from the favour of God, - lest any root of bitterness, springing up above, be causing trouble, and, through it, the many, be defiled:
Douay-Rheims Bible
Looking diligently, lest any man be wanting to the grace of God: lest any root of bitterness springing up do hinder and by it many be defiled:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Takyng heede that no man fall away from the grace of God, lest any roote of bitternesse spryngyng vp, trouble you, and therby many be defyled.
Good News Translation
Guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison.
Christian Standard Bible®
Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.
King James Version
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Lexham English Bible
Take care that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no one growing up like a root of bitterness causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Literal Translation
watching diligently that not any lack from the grace of God, that "no root of bitterness growing up" may crowd "in on you ", and through this many be defiled; Deut. 29:18
Young's Literal Translation
looking diligently over lest any one be failing of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up may give trouble, and through this many may be defiled;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
ad loke well, that no ma be destitute of the grace of God, lest there sprynge vp eny bytter rote, and cause disquyetnes, and therby many be defyled:
Mace New Testament (1729)
take care not to deprive yourselves of the divine favour: and that no poisonous root spring up, and spread a general infection among you.
New English Translation
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.
New King James Version
looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Simplified Cowboy Version
Keep an eye on your pards so they don't slip and fall out of the saddle and become trampled. Don't hold grudges. You can't ride for God toting a grudge. The worst part is that they are contagious.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
Legacy Standard Bible
seeing to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

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

Looking: Hebrews 2:1, Hebrews 2:2, Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 4:1, Hebrews 4:11, Hebrews 6:11, Hebrews 10:23-35, Deuteronomy 4:9, Proverbs 4:23, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 1 Corinthians 10:12, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Peter 1:10, 2 Peter 3:11, 2 Peter 3:14, 2 John 1:8, Jude 1:20, Jude 1:21

any man: Luke 22:32, 1 Corinthians 13:8, Galatians 5:4

fail of: or, fall from, Galatians 5:4

any root: Hebrews 3:12, Deuteronomy 29:18, Deuteronomy 32:32, Isaiah 5:4, Isaiah 5:7, Jeremiah 2:21, Matthew 7:16-18

trouble: Joshua 6:18, Joshua 7:25, Joshua 7:26, Joshua 22:17-20, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5

and thereby: Exodus 32:21, 1 Kings 14:16, Acts 20:30, Acts 20:31, 1 Corinthians 5:6, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Galatians 2:13, 2 Timothy 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:17, 2 Peter 2:1, 2 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 2:18

Reciprocal: Exodus 23:13 - be circumspect Leviticus 13:46 - without Leviticus 14:36 - be not made Leviticus 15:31 - Thus shall Numbers 5:3 - without Deuteronomy 11:16 - Take heed Deuteronomy 13:5 - put the evil away from the midst Joshua 7:1 - the anger Joshua 22:5 - take Joshua 23:11 - Take good 2 Kings 4:39 - a wild vine 2 Kings 10:31 - took no heed Job 5:6 - spring out Psalms 139:24 - wicked way Proverbs 5:4 - her Proverbs 15:32 - refuseth Ecclesiastes 9:18 - sinner Song of Solomon 7:12 - let us see Jeremiah 17:21 - Take Hosea 10:4 - thus Malachi 3:16 - spake Matthew 13:25 - men Matthew 25:3 - foolish Mark 13:33 - General Luke 17:3 - heed Luke 21:34 - take John 15:2 - and Acts 5:11 - General Acts 8:23 - the gall Acts 13:43 - persuaded Acts 20:28 - Take Romans 6:19 - unto iniquity 1 Corinthians 6:12 - but I 2 Corinthians 7:11 - fear Galatians 6:17 - let 2 Thessalonians 3:6 - that ye 1 Timothy 3:1 - bishop 1 Timothy 4:16 - Take Titus 2:11 - the grace Hebrews 6:4 - it is James 1:25 - looketh 1 Peter 5:2 - taking 2 Peter 1:5 - giving Revelation 8:11 - Wormwood

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
Genesis 12:4
So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
Genesis 12:5
He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan,
Genesis 12:16
Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
Genesis 20:2
Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, "She is my sister." So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.
Genesis 40:2
Pharaoh became angry with these two officials,
Genesis 41:1
Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River.
Exodus 2:5
Soon Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her.
Exodus 2:15
And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well.
1 Kings 3:1
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and the wall around the city.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Looking diligently,.... Acting the part of bishops, or overseers, as the word signifies; and so this exhortation either respects officers of the church of the Hebrews, whose business it was more especially to inspect into the principles and practices of the members of it, and take care that they did not imbibe false doctrines, or live immoral lives; or rather the several members of the church, whose business it is to watch over one another, since this epistle seems to be written to the whole church.

Lest any man fail of the grace of God; not the free favour and love of God in Christ, which is everlasting, unchangeable, and from whence there is no separation; nor the grace of God implanted in the heart in regeneration, which is incorruptible, never failing, but always remains, as do faith, hope, and love; but either the whole doctrine of the Gospel, which is a declaration of the grace of God; or particularly the doctrine of free justification by the righteousness of Christ, which men may receive in vain, and fall from, 2 Corinthians 6:1 to which these Hebrews might be prone: and such "fail" of it, who either come short of it, do not come up to it, receive and embrace it; or who having professed it, drop it and deny it: now such should be looked after, and such a case should be diligently looked into; because the glory of God, the honour of Christ, the good of souls, and the well being, and even the continuance of the church state are concerned:

lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, [and] thereby many be defiled; the Alexandrian copy reads οι πολλοι, "the many", the common people, the private members of the church; though it may intend either things or persons: it may design things; and these either the corruption of nature in general, which is a root that lies hidden in a man's heart; and is a root or gall of bitterness; and is apt to spring up, and bring forth bitter fruit, and gives trouble both to a man's self and others; and is of a defiling nature, in particular sins; such as malice, strife, and contention, covetousness, lust, pride, oppression, idleness, c. which make bitter work, and occasion great trouble in churches, oftentimes: or errors and heresies, which sometimes, like roots, lie under ground, secret and undiscovered and are bitter ones in their effects, bringing ruin and swift destruction on the souls of men; and these sometimes spring up in churches, while ministers and members are asleep, or not so diligent and watchful as they should be; and occasion great trouble, and are very infectious, and defiling: moreover, persons may be designed; which agrees well with

Deuteronomy 29:18 from whence this phrase is taken; and with the instance in the following verse, such as all immoral persons, and false teachers, particularly self-justiciaries, that preach the doctrine of justification by the works of the law: this was the capital mistake, and rooted error of the Jewish nation; and a bitter one it was; it produced many bitter fruits of pride and vain glory; and this sprung up in the church, and troubled and defiled many there and elsewhere, being spread by the abettors of it; see Acts 15:24. Now, care should be taken, that no such person be in churches, holding such an error; because of the glory of God, Father, Son, and Spirit; the comfort of souls; the peace of the church, and the growth and increase of it, which must be hurt by such men and doctrines; so

ριζα αμαρτωλος, "a sinful root", is used for a "wicked man", in the Apocrypha:

"In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.'' (1 Maccabees 1:11)

and שורש המרי, "a root of bitterness", signifies, in Jewish writings u, an error, or heresy, in opposition to a root of faith, or a fundamental doctrine.

u Cosri, Orat. 1. fol. 35. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Looking diligently - This phrase implies close attention. It is implied that there are reasons why we should take special care. Those reasons are found in the propensities of our hearts to evil; in the temptations of the world; in the allurements to apostasy presented by the great adversary of our souls.

Lest any man fail - As every man is in danger, it is his personal duty to see to it that his salvation be secure.

Fail of the grace of God - Margin, “fail from.” The Greek is, “lest any one be wanting or lacking” - ὑστερῶν husterōn. There is no intimation in the words used here that they already had grace and might fall away - whatever might he true about that - but that there was danger that they might be found at last to be deficient in that religion which was necessary to save them. Whether this was to be by losing the religion which they now had, or by the fact that they never had any however near they may have come to it - the apostle does not here intimate, and this passage should not be used in the discussion of the question about failing from grace. It is a proper exhortation to be addressed to any man in the church or out of it, to inquire diligently whether there is not reason to apprehend that when he comes to appear before God he will be found to be wholly destitute of religion.

Lest any root of bitterness springing up - Any bitter root. There is doubtless an allusion here to Deuteronomy 29:18. “Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood.” The allusion there is to those who were idolaters, and who instead of bearing the fruits of righteousness, and promoting the piety and happiness of the nation, would bear the fruits of idolatry, and spread abroad irreligion and sin. The allusion, in both cases, is to a bitter plant springing up among those that were cultivated for ornament or use, or to a tree bearing bitter and poisonous fruit, among those that produced good fruit. The reference of the apostle is to some person who should produce a similar effect in the church - to one who should inculcate false doctrines; or who should apostatize; or who should lead an unholy life, and thus be the means of corrupting and destroying others. They were to be at especial pains that no such person should start up from among themselves, or be tolerated by them.

Trouble you - By his doctrines and example.

And thereby many be defiled - Led away from the faith and corrupted. One wicked man, and especially one hypocrite in the church, may be the means of destroying many others.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 15. Looking diligently — επισκοπουντες. Looking about, over, and upon; being constantly on your guard.

Lest any man fail of the grace of God — Μη τις ὑστερων απο της χαριτος του Θεου· Lest any person should come behind, or fall off from, this grace or GIFT of God; this state of salvation, viz. the Gospel system or Christianity; for this is most evidently the meaning of the apostle. It is not the falling from a work of grace in their own souls, but from the Gospel, to apostatize from which they had now many temptations; and to guard them against this, the whole epistle was written.

Lest any root of bitterness springing up — A root of bitterness signifies a poisonous plant. The Hebrews call every species of poison a bitter, and with considerable propriety, as most plants are poisonous in proportion to the quantum of the bitter principle they possess. The root of bitterness is here used metaphorically for a bad man, or a man holding unsound doctrines, and endeavouring to spread them in the Church.

Trouble you — This alludes to the effects of poison taken into the body: the whole animal system is disturbed, sometimes violent retchings, great disturbances through the whole alimentary canal, together with the most fatal changes in the whole sanguineous system, are the consequences of poison taken into the stomach. The blood itself (the principle, under God, of life) becomes putrescent; and probably to this the intelligent apostle alludes when he says, and thereby many be defiled, μιανθωσι, corrupted or contaminated.

Bad example and false teaching have corrupted thousands, and are still making desolation in the world and in the Church.


 
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