God Disciplines His Sons

Hebrews 12:9

In 9 translations

BSB: Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
KJV: Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
WEB: Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
ASV: Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
LSV: Then, indeed, we have had fathers of our flesh, correctors, and we respected [them]; will we not much rather be subject to the Father of the spirits, and live?
YLT: Then, indeed, fathers of our flesh we have had, chastising [us], and we were reverencing [them]; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of the spirits, and live?
DBY: Moreover we have had the fathers of our flesh as chasteners, and we reverenced [them]; shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?
DRC: Moreover we have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we reverenced them: shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live?
GNV: Moreouer we haue had the fathers of our bodies which corrected vs, and we gaue them reuerence: should we not much rather be in subiection vnto the father of spirites, that we might liue?

Word by word Greek · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Greek has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Where the editions differ

Editions are published forms of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Meet the editions and sources →

NA28, NA27, Tyndale House, SBLGNT (2010), Westcott–Hort, Tregelles read πολὺ (“much”); Textus Receptus, Byzantine text read πολλῷ (“much”).

Spelling, punctuation and minor wording (1)

In STEPBible’s comparison, NA28, NA27 include δὲ (“however”); Tyndale House, SBLGNT (2010), Westcott–Hort, Tregelles, Textus Receptus, Byzantine text do not include this wording.

SBLGNT apparatus (1)

A comparison of published Greek editions. “Add” means after the SBLGNT wording; “omit” refers to that wording.

SBLGNT: πολὺ. Westcott and Hort (1881), Tregelles read πολὺ; Nestle–Aland 28th edition read πολὺ δὲ; Robinson–Pierpont read πολλῷ.

Edition differences: STEP Bible, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). Names and codes expanded; consecutive words grouped. Comparisons follow the editions used by the source; see version details.

Original-language editions

SBLGNT: εἶτα τοὺς μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν πατέρας εἴχομεν παιδευτὰς καὶ ἐνετρεπόμεθα· οὐ πολὺ μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα τῷ πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ ζήσομεν;
RP2018: Εἶτα τοὺς μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν πατέρας εἴχομεν παιδευτάς, καὶ ἐνετρεπόμεθα· οὐ πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα τῷ πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων, καὶ ζήσομεν;
TR-Boyd: Εἶτα τοὺς μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν πατέρας εἴχομεν παιδευτάς, καὶ ἐνετρεπόμεθα· οὐ πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα τῷ πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων, καὶ ζήσομεν;ἐνετρεπόμεθα ¦ ἐντρεπόμεθα ELZ
SCR1894: ειτα τους μεν της σαρκος ημων πατερας ειχομεν παιδευτας και ενετρεπομεθα ου πολλω μαλλον υποταγησομεθα τω πατρι των πνευματων και ζησομεν

Who and where

👤 God

People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

Adoption Resignation Further; Furtherance Chastening; Chastisement Reverence Children, Good Chastisement Sons of God (New Testament)Text and Manuscripts of the New Testament Fear, Godly

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

Numbers 16:22But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the whole congregation?”
Numbers 27:16“May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation
Isaiah 42:5This is what God the LORD says— He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:
John 3:6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
Job 12:10The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
Zechariah 12:1This is the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him:
Exodus 20:12Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Isaiah 38:16O Lord, by such things men live, and in all of them my spirit finds life. You have restored me to health and have let me live.
James 4:7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Isaiah 57:16For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made.
1 Peter 5:6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.
Leviticus 19:3Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.
Proverbs 30:17As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
Romans 9:5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.
Deuteronomy 27:16‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
Ecclesiastes 12:7before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).