Devine Scripture

Hebrews 12:16

What does Hebrews 12:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 12:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 12:16 means

Two dangers are singled out: sexual immorality and profanity—treating what is holy as common. Esau is the example of profanity. For a single meal, he traded away his birthright—his privileged place in the family’s blessing. This shows a tragic short-term mindset: satisfying immediate appetite at the cost of lasting inheritance. The verse warns that some choices cannot be undone; despising sacred things brings real loss. Immorality and profanity both elevate bodily desire or worldly gain over God’s promises. The community must guard against such attitudes, recognizing how quickly passing pleasures can lure hearts from their true treasure and lead to irreversible consequences.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And that there may not be any evil liver, or any man without respect for God, like Esau, who let his birthright go for a plate of food.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

lest any one be a fornicator, or a profane person, as Esau, who in exchange for one morsel of food did sell his birthright,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau who for one mess sold his first birthright.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright;

Context

This follows the general warning to watch out for grace-failure and bitterness (v. 15) by naming concrete sins that destroy communities and souls. Esau’s story sets up the next verse (v. 17), which emphasizes the bitter end of his decision. The progression from internal roots (bitterness) to overt sins (fornication, profanity) shows how neglected heart issues become destructive actions. This prepares for the chapter’s turn to majestic, covenantal contrasts (vv. 18–24), highlighting the gravity of turning from God’s holy gifts.

v.15looking carefully lestthere beany man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;

v.16This passage

v.17For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ephesians 5:5

    For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

  • Galatians 5:19

    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

  • 1 Corinthians 6:15

    Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid.

  • Acts 15:20

    but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3

    For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication;

  • 1 Corinthians 10:8

    Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

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