✝
← Bible
ARCBLIVREKJVVBL

Hebrews 13

KJV · Chapter 13/13

1Let brotherly love continue.

2Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

3Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

4Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

7Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

9Be 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.

10We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17Obey 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.

18Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

19But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

20Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

22And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

23Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

24Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

25Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

The author closes the letter with practical instructions on hospitality, faithfulness in marriage, financial contentment, and respect for spiritual leaders. He asks for prayer for himself and ends with a final blessing.

Explanation

After a dense theological argument running through the letter, the author turns to everyday practical life: welcoming strangers (recalling that some entertained angels without knowing it, a reference to Abraham in Genesis 18), honoring marriage, and living content without excessive attachment to money. The statement that 'Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever' (13:8) sums up the book's central message: the permanence and supremacy of Christ over any change in religious system. The final call to 'go forth therefore unto him without the camp,' bearing his reproach, points to the idea of total identification with Jesus, even if it means social rejection. Today's practical application is that mature faith expresses itself both in deep convictions and in simple, everyday acts of kindness.

Fun facts

  • The phrase 'Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever' (13:8) has become one of the most quoted verses in Christian hymns and liturgies throughout the centuries as a declaration of Christ's unchangeableness.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Hebrews 13:1The letter shifts tone toward the end, with a series of short, practical instructions, beginning with the simple request to keep brotherly love alive.
  2. Hebrews 13:2The mention of entertaining angels without knowing it recalls episodes like Abraham receiving three visitors in Genesis 18, who later turn out to be divine messengers — used here as a practical incentive to treat guests well, even without knowing who they are.
  3. Hebrews 13:3The letter asks its readers to remember prisoners and the mistreated as if they were in their place, feeling others' suffering as their own.
  4. Hebrews 13:4Saying that “marriage” should be honored by all, and the bed kept undefiled, is a direct statement about valuing marriage and faithfulness within it, in a context where the letter also condemns relationships outside that commitment.
  5. Hebrews 13:5The letter asks for a life free of greed, content with what one already has, quoting the promise that God will never abandon or forsake those who trust Him.
  6. Hebrews 13:6Because of this promise, the letter says one can confidently affirm that the Lord is the one who helps, without fear of what anyone might do.
  7. Hebrews 13:7The letter asks its readers to remember the leaders who already taught them God's word, imitating their faith by observing how they lived.
  8. Hebrews 13:8The phrase “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” is used as an argument against getting carried away by various strange teachings, mentioned in the next verse — Christ's stability contrasts with passing doctrines.
  9. Hebrews 13:9A warning against being carried away by strange and varied teachings: the heart is strengthened by grace, not by rules about food that never really helped anyone.
  10. Hebrews 13:10The letter describes a Christian “altar” that those who still serve the old tabernacle system have no right to share in.
  11. Hebrews 13:11The letter recalls that, under the law, the bodies of the animals whose blood the high priest used to atone for sins were burned outside the Israelite camp.
  12. Hebrews 13:12Drawing a connection between the bodies of sacrificed animals, which were burned outside the camp under the rules of the Old Testament, and Jesus, who “suffered without the gate,” is a way of comparing the crucifixion, which happened outside the walls of Jerusalem, with the fate given to sin offerings.
  13. Hebrews 13:13That's why the letter invites its readers to go out as well, outside the camp, bearing the same kind of shame Jesus faced.
  14. Hebrews 13:14The reason for this willingness is simple: they don't have a permanent city here, but are seeking the one still to come.
  15. Hebrews 13:15The “sacrifice of praise” described here isn't a blood sacrifice, but “the fruit of our lips” publicly acknowledging God's name — the letter shifts the idea of ritual offering to an act of spoken gratitude.
  16. Hebrews 13:16The letter asks its readers not to forget to do good and to share what they have, because this kind of sacrifice also pleases God.
  17. Hebrews 13:17The letter calls for obedience to church leaders, who watch over others' souls as people who will give an account for it, so that they may do this work with joy, not with grief.
  18. Hebrews 13:18The letter asks for prayers for its own authors, stating that they act with a good conscience, seeking to behave honestly in everything.
  19. Hebrews 13:19The request for prayer comes with a personal reason: that the author may be restored to the readers as soon as possible.
  20. Hebrews 13:20The letter closes with a blessing that calls God “the God of peace,” recalling that He raised Jesus from the dead, described here as the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of an everlasting covenant.
  21. Hebrews 13:21The blessing continues, asking that God make the readers ready to do His will in everything, working in them what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ.
  22. Hebrews 13:22The letter asks its readers to receive well this “word of exhortation,” acknowledging that, despite everything it covered, the text was written briefly.
  23. Hebrews 13:23The letter shares a personal update: Timothy, the same companion of Paul from other letters, had just been released, and the author hopes to see him soon along with the readers.
  24. Hebrews 13:24The letter asks that all the leaders and all the Christians be greeted, and also passes along greetings from the Christians of Italy, where the letter appears to have been written from.
  25. Hebrews 13:25The letter ends with the simplest and most common blessing of all: that grace be with all the readers.

Chapters

12345678910111213

Our apps

Our apps →

Bible in Stories

The Bible told as a story, with audio and videos.

📱 Get the app

World in Stories

True stories of humanity that sound made up.

App StoreGoogle Play

Feito! Pequenas Vitórias

A light daily routine for people who lose track of the day.

App StoreGoogle Play