Hebrews 12:25
What does Hebrews 12:25 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 12:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 12:25 means
Because God now speaks from heaven through His Son, we must not refuse His voice. If those under the old covenant did not escape when they rejected God’s earthly warnings, how much less will we if we turn away from the heavenly Speaker. Privilege intensifies accountability. The clearer the revelation, the greater the responsibility to heed it. The verse bridges the glories of Zion to the gravity of obedience: grace does not trivialize God’s word. Turning away from Christ is not a harmless preference but a perilous rejection. Therefore, we are urged to attend, receive, and submit to the voice that brings life and warns of judgment.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:
KJV
King James Version · 1611See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949See that you give ear to his voice which comes to you. For if those whose ears were shut to the voice which came to them on earth did not go free from punishment, what chance have we of going free if we give no attention to him whose voice comes from heaven?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862See, may ye not refuse him who is speaking, for if those did not escape who refused him who upon earth was divinely speaking--much less we who do turn away from him who <FI>speaketh<Fi> from heaven,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752See that you refuse him not that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke upon earth, much more shall not we that turn away from him that speaketh to us from heaven.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if those did not escape who had refused him who uttered the oracles on earth, much more we who turn away from him [who does so] from heaven:
Context
Coming right after the majestic description of Zion and Jesus’ mediating blood (vv. 22–24), this verse issues a solemn warning. The comparison with those who refused at Sinai sets up the next two verses (vv. 26–27), which recall God’s voice shaking the earth and promise a future, final shaking. The argument: if the old word carried consequences, the new, heavenly word carries even more. This sets the stage for the closing call to grateful, reverent service (vv. 28–29).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 16:29
See, for that Jehovah hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.
- Isaiah 48:6
Thou hast heard it; behold all this; and ye, will ye not declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, which thou hast not known.
- Matthew 8:4
And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
- Hebrews 8:5
who servethat which isa copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warnedof Godwhen he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount.
- Acts 7:35
This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.
- Isaiah 64:9
Be not wroth very sore, O Jehovah, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, look, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
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