Hebrews 13:18
in Hebrews 13Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.
KJV
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
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This verse in Hebrews 13
Commentary
15 notes on this verse"Pray for us." Because some were slandering the apostle, as teaching apostasy from the law, many of the Hebrews had a strong distaste toward him; therefore, Paul did not even place his name at the beginning of the letter, so that they would not find …
This site's exposition
they watch over your souls
on Hebrews 13:17-19
Leaders are to be obeyed on a stated ground, they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. The verb for watch is agrupneo, to keep awake. The writer then asks the readers to pray that I may be restored to you soon.
This site's exposition
a clear conscience
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, who take Paul as the writer, compare Acts 23:1 and 24:16, where he claims a good conscience in the same language. The word for honorably repeats the Greek word behind clear. The plural includes his companions.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Ephrem the SyrianCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 13 · Written before 373.
proposed
And so we are confident that you will have "a good conscience," that is, a perfect opinion on everything. We must live righteously in everything which concerns us. But I invite you to do more, "that is, to encourage us to this task."
Paul had been misrepresented to them as preaching the opposite of the law; so he impresses on them that he acted for no other reason than obedience to the divine word—hence his calling his conscience to witness.
"Pray for us" (he says); "for we trust we have a good conscience among all, willing to live honestly." Thou seest that he used these apologies, as writing to persons grieved with him, as to those who turned away, who were disposed as towards a transgressor, not enduring even to hear his name? Inasmuch then as he asked from those who hated him what all others ask from those who love them (their prayers for him), therefore he here introduces this; saying, "We trust that we have a good conscience." For do not tell me of accusations; our conscience, he says, in nothing hurts us; nor are we conscious to ourselves that we have plotted against you. "For we trust," he says, "that we have a good conscience among all," not among the Gentiles only, but also among you. We have done nothing with deceitfulness, nothing with hypocrisy: for it was probable that these calumnies were reported respecting him. "For they have been informed concerning thee" (it is said) "that thou teachest apostasy." (Acts xxi. 21.) Not as an enemy, he means, nor as an adversary I write these things, but as a friend. And this he shows also by what follows.
We have mutual need of one another's prayers, for those reciprocal prayers are enkindled by charity and—like a sacrifice offered on the altar of piety—are fragrant and pleasing to the Lord. If the apostles used to ask for prayers on their own behalf, how much more does it behoove me to do so?
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he says, pray for us. Thus does the Apostle tell them how they should act in regard to him: for he asks that they pray for him. The same is had in Romans (15:30): 'I beseech you, therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Since some slandered the apostle, as though he teaches apostasy from the law, many of the Jews were hostile toward him. Therefore he did not indicate his name at the beginning of the epistle, since they could not even bear to hear of him. So …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Many of the Jews had a bad opinion of Paul, because he, being a Hebrew of the Hebrews, had cast off the Levitical law and preached up Christ: now he here modestly asserts his own integrity: We trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Pray for us,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Pray for us - Even the success of apostles depended, in a certain way, on the prayers of the Church. Few Christian congregations feel, as they ought, that it is their bounden duty to pray for the success of the Gospel, both among themselves and in the world. The Church is weak, dark, poor, and imperfect, because it prays little.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
24:16, 20, 21 (wherein he virtually implies that his reply to Ananias was not sinful impatience; for, indeed, it was a prophecy which he was inspired at the moment to utter, and which was fulfilled soon after). we trust--Greek, "we are persuaded," in the oldest manuscripts.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Pray for us - This is a request which the apostle often makes in his own behalf, and in behalf of his fellow laborers in the gospel; see 1Th 5:25. notes, Eph 6:18-19. For we trust we have a good conscience ... - see the notes on Act 24:16. The apostle here appeals to the uprightness of his Christian life as a reason why he might claim their sympathy. He was conscious of an aim to do good; he sought the welfare of the church; and having this aim he felt that he might appeal to the sympathy of all Christians in his behalf. It is only when we aim to do right, and to maintain a good conscience, that we can with propriety ask the prayers of others, or claim their sympathy. And if we are “willing in all things to live honestly,” we may expect the sympathy, the prayers, and the affections of all good people.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Προσεύχεσθε | proseuchesthe | do pray | G4336 → | |
| περὶ | peri | for | G4012 → | 332 times |
| ἡμῶν· | hemon | us; | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| πειθόμεθα | peithometha | we are assured | G3982 → | 51 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| καλὴν | kalen | a good | G2570 → | 101 times |
| συνείδησιν | suneidesin | conscience | G4893 → | 30 times |
| ἔχομεν | echomen | we have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| πᾶσιν | pasin | all things | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| καλῶς | kalos | well | G2573 → | |
| θέλοντες | thelontes | desiring | G2309 → | 208 times |
| ἀναστρέφεσθαι. | anastrephesthai | to conduct ourselves. | G390 → |
Προσεύχεσθεdo pray
proseuchestheG4336 →
περὶfor
periG4012 →332 times
ἡμῶν·us;
hemonG3165 →1936 times
πειθόμεθαwe are assured
peithomethaG3982 →51 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
καλὴνa good
kalenG2570 →101 times
συνείδησινconscience
suneidesinG4893 →30 times
ἔχομενwe have
echomenG2192 →707 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
πᾶσινall things
pasinG3956 →1235 times
καλῶςwell
kalosG2573 →
θέλοντεςdesiring
thelontesG2309 →208 times
ἀναστρέφεσθαι.to conduct ourselves.
anastrephesthaiG390 →
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
Colossians 4:3as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:19–20
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 14:27
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
- Ephesians 6:19–20
Through
1 Timothy 1:5The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:19
holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.
- Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Galatians 5:13–14
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- 1 Timothy 1:19
Through
2 Thessalonians 3:1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:25
Brothers, pray for us as well.
- Colossians 4:3
as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:25
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 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 305A.10; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 13; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 34; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 13; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.