Hebrews 10:31
What does Hebrews 10:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 10:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 10:31 means
The conclusion of the warning is stark: it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. God is not an abstraction; he is living and active, and his hands uphold the righteous and judge the wicked. For those who spurn Christ after knowing the truth, God’s hands are not a refuge but a place of dread. The statement aims to cure presumption and stir holy fear, so that readers will not treat grace lightly. Fear here is not opposed to faith; it serves faith by awakening seriousness about the realities of sin and judgment.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949We may well go in fear of falling into the hands of the living God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862fearful <FI>is<Fi> the falling into the hands of a living God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890[It is] a fearful thing falling into [the] hands of [the] livingGod.
Context
Verse 31 succinctly caps the warning section (vv. 26–31) with a memorable statement about the fearfulness of divine judgment. Having pressed the danger of apostasy, the author will now encourage the readers by reminding them of their earlier faithfulness under trial. Verses 32–34 call them to remember past endurance, compassion, and joyful acceptance of losses in light of a better, lasting possession. This shift balances warning with hope, leading into exhortations to confidence and patience (vv. 35–36) and the assurance of Christ’s coming (vv. 37–39).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 10:27
but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.
- Matthew 10:28
And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Hebrews 12:29
for our God is a consuming fire.
- Luke 21:11
and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.
- Psalms 90:11
Who knoweth the power of thine anger, And thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto thee?
- Psalms 76:7
Thou, even thou, art to be feared; And who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
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