Hebrews 13:9
in Hebrews 13Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.
KJV
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
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This verse in Hebrews 13
Commentary
19 notes on this verseThat is, the doctrines of the [levitical] priests and their offerings. "It is well that the heart is strengthened by grace," that is, is made firm by the new gospel, not by the restrictions of the priests about food. Those who practiced this way of …
This site's exposition
all kinds of strange teachings
on Hebrews 13:9-10
The drift the letter fights is named a last time, all kinds of strange teachings, and the example is food laws. The heart is to be strengthened by grace. We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 10 -- On Gluttony · Written before 523.
proposed
According to the teaching of Paul, "Those who occupied themselves with meats were not benefited by them," and not only were they deprived of any benefits, but they gathered together for their own persons loss and injury. And although the lust of the belly is …
By "strange teachings" he referred to what was at variance with the evangelical teachings. So he bids them persevere in the teaching of grace and abandon the observances of the law: No one reaped any benefit from them.
"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines." Not "with strange doctrines" only, but neither with "divers ones." "For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." Here he gently hints at those who introduce the observance of "meats." For by Faith all things are pure. There is need then of Faith, not of "meats."
"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines." "Strange," that is, different from those ye heard from us; "Divers" that is, of all sorts: for they have no stability, but are different one from another. For especially manifold is the doctrine of meats. "For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats." These are the "divers," these the "strange" doctrines: especially as Christ has said, "not that which entereth into the mouth defileth the man, but that which cometh out." (Matt. xv. 11.) And observe that he does not make bold to say this openly, but as it were by a hint. "For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats." Faith is all. If that establishes it, the heart stands in security. It follows that Faith establishes: consequently reasonings shake. For Faith is contrary to reasoning. "Which" (he says) "have not profited them that have been occupied therein." For what is the gain from the observance of them, tell me. Does it not rather destroy? Does it not make such an one to be under sin? If it be necessary to observe them, we must guard ourselves. "Which" (he says) "have not profited them that have been occupied therein." That is, who have always diligently kept them. There is one observance, abstaining from sin. For what profit is it, when some are so polluted, as not to be able to partake of the sacrifices? So that it did not save them at all; although they were zealous about the observances. But because they had not faith, even thus they profited nothing.
"diverse and strange teachings." Paul says, do not be led astray by teachings that go beyond doctrines, neither different nor strange ones. For the doctrine itself is also recognizable; but to be carried away, as from the metaphor of those who are mad, who are …
12 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The use of grace ought to be manly in itself. Whence the Apostle to the Hebrews: "It is best to establish the heart with grace," he does not say the stomach. At other times you have labored to strengthen your bodies. He who wishes to …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
From Christ, indeed, is the fruit of grace. This fruit of grace is fourfold: it consists in steadying the soul through faith, blessing it through divine love, lifting it up through hope, curbing it through divine fear. The Apostle speaks of the first: "It is …
After exhorting them to follow the example and manner of life of those who have departed, the Apostle now warns them to continue in their teaching. In regard to this he does two things: first, he gives the warning; secondly, the reason (v. 10). In …
"Various," meaning now some, now others, and from some and from others, but foreign to right doctrine. For teaching may be "various," yet not "foreign," and therefore not counterfeit. But when teachings are various, that is, from one person one thing and from another something …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Be not carried about with various doctrines - Which differ from that one faith in our one unchangeable Lord. Strange - To the ears and hearts of all that abide in him. For it is good - It is both honourable before God and pleasant and profitable That the heart be stablished with grace - Springing from faith in Christ.
), different from what they had received from their former faithful teachers, and inconsistent with themselves. b. They were strange doctrines: such as the gospel church was unacquainted with foreign to the gospel. c.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
); he then bespeaks their prayers for him, and offers up his prayers to God for them, gives them some hope of seeing himself and Timothy, and ends with the general salutation and benediction,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines - That is, they should have settled and fixed points of belief, and not yield to every new opinion which was started.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Christ's body offered once for all for us, is our true spiritual "meat" to "eat" (Heb 13:10), "the stay and the staff of bread" (Isa 3:1), the mean of all "grace." which have not profited--Greek, "in which they who walked were not profited"; namely, in respect to justification, perfect cleansing of the conscience, and sanctification.
Be not carried about - Μη περιφερεσθε· Be not whirled about. But ABCD, and almost every other MS. of importance, with the Syriac, Coptic, Arabic, Vulgate, and several of the Greek fathers, have μη παραφερεσθε, be not carried away, which is undoubtedly the true reading, and signifies here, do not apostatize; permit not yourselves to be carried off from Christ and his doctrine. Divers and strange doctrines - Διδαχαις, ποικιλαις· Variegated doctrines; those that blended the law and the Gospel, and brought in the Levitical sacrifices and institutions in order to perfect the Christian system. Remember the old covenant is abolished; the new alone is in force. Strange doctrines, διδαχαις ξεναις, foreign doctrines; such as have no apostolical authority to recommend them. That the heart be established with grace - It is well to have the heart, the mind, and conscience, fully satisfied with the truth and efficacy of the Gospel; for so the word χαρις should be understood here, which is put in opposition to βρωμασιν, meats, signifying here the Levitical institutions, and especially its sacrifices, these being emphatically termed meats, because the offerers were permitted to feast upon them after the blood had been poured out before the Lord. See Lev 7:15; Deu 12:6, Deu 12:7. Which have not profited them - Because they neither took away guilt, cleansed the heart, nor gave power over sin.
Modern Voices1 voice
It is the great peril of our society that all its mechanisms may grow more fixed while its spirit grows more fickle. A man's minor actions and arrangements ought to be free, flexible, creative; the things that should be unchangeable are his principles, his ideals. …
The words behind it
20 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διδαχαῖς | didachais | by teachings | G1322 → | |
| ποικίλαις | poikilais | various | G4164 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ξέναις | xenais | strange | G3581 → | |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| παραφέρεσθε· | parapheresthe | do be taken away; | G3911 → | |
| καλὸν | kalon | [it is] good | G2570 → | 101 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| χάριτι | chariti | by grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| βεβαιοῦσθαι | bebaiousthai | to be strengthened | G950 → | |
| τὴν | ten | for the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καρδίαν | kardian | heart | G2588 → | 156 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| βρώμασιν | bromasin | by foods | G1033 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| οἷς | hois | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ὠφελήθησαν | ophelethesan | they profited | G5623 → | |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περιπατοῦντες.¶ | peripatountes | being devoted. | G4043 → |
διδαχαῖςby teachings
didachaisG1322 →
ποικίλαιςvarious
poikilaisG4164 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ξέναιςstrange
xenaisG3581 →
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
παραφέρεσθε·do be taken away;
parapherestheG3911 →
καλὸν[it is] good
kalonG2570 →101 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
χάριτιby grace
charitiG5485 →153 times
βεβαιοῦσθαιto be strengthened
bebaiousthaiG950 →
τὴνfor the
tenG3588 →19766 times
καρδίανheart
kardianG2588 →156 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
βρώμασινby foods
bromasinG1033 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
οἷςwhich
hoisG3739 →1405 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ὠφελήθησανthey profited
ophelethesanG5623 →
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
περιπατοῦντες.¶being devoted.
peripatountesG4043 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 John 4:1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
- 2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on…
- 1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
- 2 John 1:7
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
- Proverbs 14:15
The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Through
Ephesians 4:14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
it leads to
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 16:17–18
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
- 1 John 4:1
Through
Ephesians 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
it leads to
- Romans 1:18
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
- Romans 1:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies30
- Azazel and the Scapegoat
- The General Epistles
- Contentment
- You Shall Not Covet
- Be Strong and Courageous
- The Fall Feasts
Show the next 6 titles
- Barnabas, a Good Man
- Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving
- Now Thank We All Our God
- Hospitality
- Entertaining Angels Unaware
- See How They Love One Another
Show the next 6 titles
About Hebrews
This page draws on 17 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS; GK Chesterton, Tremendous Trifles, On Lying in Bed (1909); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 33; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Owen, An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 10 -- On Gluttony; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 13; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.