Keraia
Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13:17

Sacrifice, Obedience, and Prayer · Hebrews 13:15–19
Read Hebrews 13

Translations

Modern
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Traditional
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Literal
Obey you those leading and be subject, for they watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they may do this with joy and not groaning, for this is unprofitable for you.
Latin
Obedite præpositis vestris, et subjacete eis. Ipsi enim pervigilant quasi rationem pro animabus vestris reddituri, ut cum gaudio hoc faciant, et non gementes: hoc enim non expedit vobis.

Original

Greek
English
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Notes

Hebrews 13:17

  • The relationship between the church's spiritual leaders and its members might have been tense. The author encourages members to listen to and trust their leaders.

  • The Greek word for obey can also mean follow, place confidence in, or be persuaded by.

  • Christian leaders care for people's souls (Acts 20:28–31; 1 Peter 5:1–4), which is a serious responsibility. It makes them accountable to God (James 3:1).

  • The word grief could also mean groaning. It refers to emotional burden and stress. Leaders who are stressed and burdened by a difficult church are less able to help and lead the church effectively.

Hebrews 13:7–19

This middle part of chapter 13 is framed by mentions of the community's leaders (13:7, 17–19). Rabbis often used a technique called inclusio, where similar words or phrases mark the start and end of a section, like a subheading in a modern book. This part suggests there were several challenges in the church that the book of Hebrews originally addressed.

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Hebrews, Letter to the

Topics

Accountability Administration Appreciation Authority Bad Leadership Being a Good Leader Being Obedient Bosses Christian Minister: Character and Attributes of Christian Minister: Duties of the Church To Church Leaders Church Leadership Church Membership Church: Duty of, to Ministers Church: Government of, Mosaic and Christian Commandments: Precepts of Paul--Explicitly Stated or Implied in Didactic Epistles Discipline of the Church: should be Submitted To Elders in the Church Elevation Encouragement to Pastors Good Leaders Headship Honoring Leaders Joy: Ministers should Desire to Render an Account With Leaders Leadership Leadership in the Church Ministers are Bound to Watch for Souls Ministers: Their People are Bound, to Obey Them Negativity Obeying Authority Qualifications of Elders Respecting Authorities Respecting Elders Respecting your Elders Reverence for Servants of God Rules Serving the Church Submission to Authority Submission to God