Hebrews 12:25

New Living Translation

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Be careful and don't refuse to listen when God speaks. Those people refused to listen to him when he warned them on earth. And they did not escape. Now God is speaking from heaven. So now it will be worse for those who refuse to listen to him.

Revised Standard Version
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 reject him who warns from heaven.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Se that ye despise not him yt speaketh. For yf they escaped not which refused him that spake on erth: moche more shall we not escape yf we turne awaye fro him yt speaketh fro heve:

Hebrew Names Version
See that you don't refuse him who speaks. For if they didn't escape when they refused him who warned on the Eretz, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,

New American Standard Bible
See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns us from heaven.

New Century Version
So be careful and do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Others refused to listen to him when he warned them on earth, and they did not escape. So it will be worse for us if we refuse to listen to God who warns us from heaven.

Update Bible Version
See that you do not refuse him that speaks. For if they did not escape when they refused him that warned [them] on earth, much more [shall] we [not escape] who turn away from him that [warns] from heaven:

Webster's Bible Translation
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:

English Standard Version
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 will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

World English Bible
See that you don't refuse him who speaks. For if they didn't escape when they refused him who warned on the Earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
for if they escaped not who refused him that delivered the oracle on earth, much more shall not we, who turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Weymouth's New Testament
Be careful not to refuse to listen to Him who is speaking to you. For if they of old did not escape unpunished when they refused to listen to him who spoke on earth, much less shall we escape who turn a deaf ear to Him who now speaks from Heaven.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Se ye, that ye forsake not the spekere; for if thei that forsaken him that spak on the erthe, aschapide not, myche more we that turnen awei fro him that spekith to vs fro heuenes.

English Revised Version
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not, when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape, who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:

Berean Standard Bible
See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?

Contemporary English Version
Make sure that you obey the one who speaks to you. The people did not escape, when they refused to obey the one who spoke to them at Mount Sinai. Do you think you can possibly escape, if you refuse to obey the one who speaks to you from heaven?

Amplified Bible
See to it that you do not refuse [to listen to] Him who is speaking [to you now]. For if those [sons of Israel] did not escape when they refused [to listen to] him who warned them on earth [revealing God's will], how much less will we escape if we turn our backs on Him who warns from heaven?

American Standard Version
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:

Bible in Basic English
See that you give ear to his voice which comes to you. For if those whose ears were shut to the voice which came to them on earth did not go free from punishment, what chance have we of going free if we give no attention to him whose voice comes from heaven?

Complete Jewish Bible
See that you don't reject the One speaking! For if those did not escape who rejected him when he gave divine warning on earth, think how much less we will escape if we turn away from him when he warns from heaven.

Darby Translation
See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if those did not escape who had refused him who uttered the oracles on earth, much more we who turn away from him [who does so] from heaven:

International Standard Version
See to it that you do not ignore the one who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they ignored the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escapeescape">[fn] if we turn away from the one who is from heaven!Hebrews 2:2-3; 3:17; 10:28-29;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Beware, therefore, lest ye be averse from Him who hath spoken with you; for if they escaped not who were averse from one who spake with them on earth, how much less we, if we withdraw from one who hath spoken to us from heaven?

Murdock Translation
Beware, therefore, lest ye refuse [fn] him who speaketh with you. For if they escaped not, who refused [fn] him who spake with them on the earth, how much more shall we not, if we refuse [fn] him who speaketh with us from heaven?

King James Version (1611)
See that yee refuse not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if wee turne away from him that speaketh from heauen.

New Life Bible
Be sure you listen to the One Who is speaking to you. The Jews did not obey when God's Law was given to them on earth. They did not go free. They were punished. We will be punished more if we do not listen to God as He speaks from heaven.

New Revised Standard
See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!

Geneva Bible (1587)
See that ye despise not him yt speaketh: for if they escaped not which refused him, that spake on earth: much more shall we not escape, if we turne away from him, that speaketh fro heauen.

George Lamsa Translation
Beware, therefore, lest you refuse him who speaks to you. For if they were not delivered who refused him who spoke with them on earth, much more can we not escape if we refuse him who speaks to us from heaven:

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Beware, lest ye excuse yourselves from him that speaketh; for, if, they escaped not, who excused themselves from him who on earth was warning, how much less, shall, we, who from him that warneth from the heavens, do turn ourselves away:

Douay-Rheims Bible
See that you refuse him not that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke upon earth, much more shall not we that turn away from him that speaketh to us from heaven.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
See that ye despise not hym that speaketh: For yf they escaped not, which refused hym that spake on earth: much more shall we [not escape] yf we turne away from hym that [speaketh] from heauen:

Good News Translation
Be careful, then, and do not refuse to hear him who speaks. Those who refused to hear the one who gave the divine message on earth did not escape. How much less shall we escape, then, if we turn away from the one who speaks from heaven!

Christian Standard Bible®
See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.

King James Version
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Lexham English Bible
Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape, if we reject the one who warns from heaven,

Literal Translation
Watch that you do not refuse the One speaking; for if these did not escape, who refused Him who divinely warned them on earth, much rather we, those turning away from Heaven;

Young's Literal Translation
See, may ye not refuse him who is speaking, for if those did not escape who refused him who upon earth was divinely speaking -- much less we who do turn away from him who [speaketh] from heaven,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Se that ye despyse not him that speaketh vnto you: for yf they escaped not which refused him that spake on earth, moch more shal we not escape, yf we turne awaye from him that speaketh from heaue:

Mace New Testament (1729)
Take care that you be not deaf to him that speaketh: for if they did not escape, who disregarded the oracles pronounc'd on earth, much less shall we escape, if we turn away from him that delivered the oracles from heaven:

THE MESSAGE
So don't turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn't get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he's told us this quite plainly—he'll also rock the heavens: "One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern." The phrase "one last shaking" means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered.

New English Translation
Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven?

New King James Version
See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,

Simplified Cowboy Version
You'd best listen when God is speaking to you. If the Israelites were not cut any slack for not listening to God through Moses, then we will surely be held more accountable when God is speaking directly to us from heaven!

New American Standard Bible (1995)
See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.

Legacy Standard Bible
See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.

Contextual Overview

¹⁸ You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. ¹⁹ For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. ²⁰ They staggered back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death." ²¹ Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling." ²² No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. ²³ You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. ²⁴ You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. ²⁵ Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! ²⁶ When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." ²⁷ This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

See: Hebrews 8:5, Exodus 16:29, 1 Kings 12:16, Isaiah 48:6, Isaiah 64:9, Matthew 8:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 1 Peter 1:22, Revelation 19:10, Revelation 22:9

refuse: Proverbs 1:24, Proverbs 8:33, Proverbs 13:18, Proverbs 15:32, Jeremiah 11:10, Ezekiel 5:6, Zechariah 7:11, Matthew 17:5, Acts 7:35

if they: Hebrews 2:1-3, Hebrews 3:17, Hebrews 10:28, Hebrews 10:29

turn away: Numbers 32:15, Deuteronomy 30:17, Joshua 22:16, 2 Chronicles 7:19, Proverbs 1:32, 2 Timothy 4:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:14 - he refuseth Exodus 10:3 - How long Exodus 20:22 - I have talked Exodus 23:21 - Beware of him Leviticus 26:14 - General Numbers 9:13 - forbeareth Numbers 16:49 - fourteen thousand Deuteronomy 4:10 - the day Deuteronomy 4:36 - General Deuteronomy 5:29 - O that there Deuteronomy 18:18 - like unto Deuteronomy 18:19 - General Joshua 1:18 - that doth rebel Joshua 22:15 - General 2 Kings 5:11 - went away 2 Chronicles 15:2 - if ye forsake Nehemiah 9:17 - refused Psalms 2:11 - rejoice Psalms 68:21 - of such Psalms 85:8 - hear Psalms 95:8 - Harden Proverbs 5:7 - Hear Proverbs 10:17 - he that Isaiah 28:12 - yet Isaiah 30:15 - and ye Isaiah 49:1 - and hearken Jeremiah 3:3 - thou refusedst Jeremiah 8:5 - they refuse Jeremiah 13:10 - evil Jeremiah 17:27 - ye will Jeremiah 25:4 - ye Jeremiah 29:19 - General Jeremiah 35:13 - Will Jeremiah 38:21 - if thou Ezekiel 3:19 - if thou Ezekiel 33:9 - if he Micah 5:8 - and none Malachi 3:2 - who may abide Matthew 3:10 - now Matthew 5:22 - I say Matthew 21:41 - He will Matthew 22:3 - and they would not Matthew 23:33 - how Matthew 27:51 - the earth Mark 9:7 - hear Luke 9:35 - hear Luke 14:21 - being Luke 14:24 - General John 3:18 - he that believeth not John 8:24 - for John 12:48 - rejecteth Acts 3:23 - that every Acts 4:12 - is there Acts 13:40 - Beware Romans 2:3 - that thou shalt 2 Corinthians 3:11 - if 2 Corinthians 6:1 - ye Ephesians 5:15 - See Titus 1:14 - turn Hebrews 2:3 - How Hebrews 3:12 - in Hebrews 4:1 - us therefore Hebrews 10:27 - a certain Hebrews 13:22 - suffer 1 Peter 4:17 - what Revelation 20:15 - whosoever

Gill's Notes on the Bible

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh,.... Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, whose blood speaks better things than Abel, or than his blood and sacrifice: he was the speaker in the council and covenant of grace, that spoke for the elect; in the creation of all things out of nothing, that said, and it was done; in giving the law to the Israelites, in the wilderness, for he is the angel which spake to Moses in Mount Sinai, he spoke to God for the Old Testament saints, and was the angel of God's presence to them; he spoke in his own person, as the prophet of the church, in the days of his flesh; and he now speaks in heaven, by appearing in the presence of God for his people, and by presenting his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; he speaks by his Spirit, in and to the hearts of his saints; and by his ministers in the Gospel, and the ordinances of it: nor should he be refused, as he is, when his Gospel is made light of, and neglected; when men excuse themselves from an attendance on it; when they will not hear it; or, when they do, and contradict and blaspheme, despise and reproach it, or leave off hearing it. Care should be taken that Christ is not refused in the ministry of the word; which may be enforced from the greatness and excellency of the person speaking, who is God, and not a mere man; from the excellency of the matter spoken, the great salvation: and the rather diligent heed should be had unto him, since there is a backwardness to everything that is spiritual and heavenly; and since Satan is vigilant and industrious to put off persons from hearing the Gospel, or to steal the word from them:

for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth: the Ethiopic version renders it, "who appeared to them on the mount"; that is, on Mount Sinai; meaning either God himself, who descended on the mount, and spoke the ten commandments to the children of Israel; or Christ, the Angel that spoke to Moses in it; or rather Moses himself, who was on the earth, and of the earth, earthly; who spake from God to the people, being their mediator; him the Jews refused, would not obey him, but thrust him away, Acts 7:39, though they promised to hear and do all that was said to them; wherefore they did not escape divine vengeance and punishment; their carcasses fell in the wilderness at several times, in great numbers, and were not suffered to enter into Canaan's land: much more

shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven; that is, Christ, who came from heaven originally; is the Lord from heaven; whose doctrine is from heaven; and who, having done his work, is gone to heaven; where he now is, and from whence he speaks; and from hence he will come a second time, as Judge of all. There have been, and are some, that turn away from him; from a profession of him, and his Gospel and ordinances, and draw back unto perdition; such shall not escape divine wrath and vengeance; the sorest punishment shall be inflicted on them; see Hebrews 10:29.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See that ye refuse not - That you do not reject or disregard.

Him that speaketh - That is, in the gospel. Do not turn away from him who has addressed you in the new dispensation, and called you to obey and serve him. The meaning is, that God had addressed “them” in the gospel as really as he had done the Hebrews on Mount Sinai, and that there was as much to be dreaded in disregarding his voice now as there was then. He does not speak, indeed, amidst lightnings, and thunders, and clouds, but he speaks by every message of mercy; by every invitation; by every tender appeal. He spake by his Son Hebrews 1:1; he speaks by the Holy Spirit, and by all his calls and warnings in the gospel.

For if they escaped not - If they who heard God under the old dispensation, who refused to obey him, were cut off; notes, Hebrews 10:28.

Who refused him that spake on earth - That is, Moses. The contrast here is between Moses and the Son of God - the head of the Jewish and the head of the Christian dispensation. Moses was a mere man, and spake as such, though in the name of God. The Son of God was from above, and spake as an inhabitant of heaven. “Much more,” etc.; see the notes on Hebrews 2:2-3; Hebrews 10:29.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. See — βλεπετε. Take heed, that ye refuse not him - the Lord Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, who now speaketh from heaven, by his Gospel, to the Jews and to the Gentiles, having in his incarnation come down from God.

Him that spake on earth — Moses, who spoke on the part of God to the Hebrews, every transgression of whose word received a just recompense of reward, none being permitted to escape punishment; consequently, if ye turn away from Christ, who speaks to you from heaven, you may expect a much sorer punishment, the offence against God being so much the more heinous, as the privileges slighted are more important and glorious.