Hebrews 12:7
in Hebrews 12Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?
KJV
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
⋯
This verse in Hebrews 12
Commentary
11 notes on this verseFathers are in the habit of disciplining their true children, and if they see them caned by the teachers, they do not worry; they see the fruit coming from the discipline. But they despise illegitimate children and do not accord them equal attention. So if …
This site's exposition
God is treating you as sons
on Hebrews 12:7-8
The suffering becomes the proof of sonship, Endure suffering as discipline, for God is treating you as sons. Verse 8 states the reverse with a hard word, illegitimate children and not true sons. The absence of discipline is the sign to fear.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Although the same word, indeed, is employed in a different sense, where any one suffers evils for his sins, that he may be corrected. Whence is that in the Epistle to the Hebrews, "For what son is he to whom the father giveth not discipline?" And this is still more apparent in the same epistle: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."
"Ye endure chastisement" (he says); not for punishment, nor for vengeance, nor for suffering. See, from that from which they supposed they had been deserted of God, from these he says they may be confident, that they have not been deserted. It is as if he had said, Because ye have suffered so many evils, do you suppose that God has left you and hates you? If ye did not suffer, then it were right to suppose this. For if "He scourgeth every son whom He receiveth," he who is not scourged, perhaps is not a son. What then, you say, do not bad men suffer distress? They suffer indeed; how then? He did not say, Every one who is scourged is a son, but every son is scourged. For in all cases He scourges His son: what is wanted then is to show, whether any son is not scourged. But thou wouldest not be able to say: there are many wicked men also who are scourged, such as murderers, robbers, sorcerers, plunderers of tombs. These however are paying the penalty of their own wickedness, and are not scourged as sons, but punished as wicked: but ye as sons.
The Medieval Church2 voices
675. – Then (v. 7) he shows the meaning of the above scriptural quotation: first, he explains the meaning of the admonition; secondly, the meaning of the reason; thirdly, he shows that the reason is fitting (v. 7c). 676. – The Apostle's advice was not …
Using the example of those whom they thought were abandoned by God, he shows them that they were an object of God's care. For if you were free from afflictions, it would turn out that you are illegitimate children, and not sons. For what father …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
(4.) To be suffered to go on in sin without a rebuke is a sad sign of alienation from God; such are bastards, not sons. They may call him Father, because born in the pale of the church; but they are the spurious offspring of another father, not of God,
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
If ye endure chastening,.... In faith, with patience, with courage and constancy, with humility and reverence: there are many things which may encourage and animate the saints to endure it in such a manner; as that it is but a chastening, and the chastening of a father; it should be considered from whence it comes, and for what ends; that it comes from the Lord, and is for his glory, and their good; the example of Christ, and of other saints, should excite unto it.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
If ye endure chastening - That is, if you undergo, or are called to experience correction. It does not mean here, “if you endure it patiently; or if you bear up under it;” but “if you are chastised or corrected by God.” The affirmation does not relate to the manner of bearing it, but to the fact that we are disciplined. God dealeth with you as with sons - He does not cast you off and regard you as if you were in no way related to him.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
In Heb 12:7, 8 the need of "chastening" or "discipline" is inculcated; in Heb 12:9, the duty of those to whom it is administered. If--The oldest manuscripts read, "With a view to chastening (that is, since God's chastisement is with a view to your chastening, that is, disciplinary amelioration) endure patiently"; so Vulgate.
If ye endure chastening - If ye submit to his authority, humble yourselves under his hand, and pray for his blessing, you will find that he deals with you as beloved children, correcting you that he may make you partakers of his holiness. God dealeth with you as with sons - He acknowledges by this that you belong to the family, and that he, as your Father, has you under proper discipline. It is a maxim among the Jewish rabbins that “the love which is not conjoined with reproof is not genuine.”
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰς | eis | As | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| παιδείαν | paideian | discipline | G3809 → | 6 times |
| ὑπομένετε, | hupomenete | endure, | G5278 → | 17 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| υἱοῖς | huiois | sons | G5207 → | 377 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| προσφέρεται | prospheretai | is treating | G4374 → | 47 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεός· | theos | God; | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| τίς | tis | what | G5101 → | 563 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| υἱὸς | huios | son [is there] | G5207 → | 377 times |
| ὃν | hon | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| παιδεύει | paideuei | disciplines | G3811 → | 13 times |
| πατήρ; | pater | [his] father? | G3962 → | 410 times |
εἰςAs
eisG1519 →1755 times
παιδείανdiscipline
paideianG3809 →6 times
ὑπομένετε,endure,
hupomeneteG5278 →17 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
υἱοῖςsons
huioisG5207 →377 times
ὑμῖνyou
huminG4771 →2973 times
προσφέρεταιis treating
prospheretaiG4374 →47 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεός·God;
theosG2316 →1312 times
τίςwhat
tisG5101 →563 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
υἱὸςson [is there]
huiosG5207 →377 times
ὃνwhom
honG3739 →1405 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
παιδεύειdisciplines
paideueiG3811 →13 times
πατήρ;[his] father?
paterG3962 →410 times
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
Proverbs 13:24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
it leads to
- Proverbs 23:13–14
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 29:15
A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 29:17
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 19:18
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
- Proverbs 23:13–14
Through
Proverbs 19:18Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
it leads to
- Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 13:24
Through
Proverbs 29:15A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
it leads to
- Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 10:1
Through
Deuteronomy 8:5So know in your heart that just as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
it leads to
- Revelation 3:19
Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
- Revelation 3:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies41
- The General Epistles
- Cain and Abel
- Edom, the nation of Esau
- Esau
- Eternal Security, and the Five Warnings of Hebrews
- Faith
Show the next 6 titles
- The Hall of Faith
- Fire
- Forgiveness and Health
- The Fruit of the Spirit
- You Are Good, and You Do What Is Good
- Entertaining Angels Unaware
Show the next 6 titles
- Jerusalem
- The Joy Set Before Him
- Nadab and Abihu: the unauthorized fire
- Once for All: the Finished Sacrifice
- Patience
- Blessed Are the Peacemakers
Show the next 6 titles
Show the next 6 titles
About Hebrews
This page draws on 12 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); Augustine of Hippo, ON THE TRINITY 14.1.1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on Hebrews; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 29; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Owen, An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 12; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.