Devine Scripture

Hebrews 12:26

What does Hebrews 12:26 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 12:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 12:26 means

The same God whose voice once shook the earth at Sinai has promised another shaking—this time not only the earth but also the heavens. This points to a coming, decisive intervention where created orders are shaken to reveal what is permanent. God’s speech is not empty; it moves creation. The verse reminds us that history is headed toward a divinely decreed upheaval that will expose the transient nature of all that is merely made. In contrast, God’s kingdom and promises remain. Hearing this promise should sober us, detach our hopes from shakable things, and fasten our confidence to the unshakable rule of God in Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Whose voice was the cause of the shaking of the earth; but now he has made an oath, saying, There will be still one more shaking, not only of the earth, but of heaven.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

whose voice the earth shook then, and now hath he promised, saying, `Yet once--I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Whose voice then moved the earth; but now he promiseth, saying: Yet once more: and I will move, not only the earth, but heaven also.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, Yet once will I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.

Context

After warning not to refuse God’s heavenly voice (v. 25), the writer recalls the past shaking at Sinai and a promised future, greater shaking. Verse 27 will explain the purpose of this shaking: the removal of the shakable so that the unshakable may remain. These verses heighten urgency and prepare for the grateful response of verse 28, grounding reverence and perseverance in an eschatological perspective.

v.25See 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:

v.26This passage

v.27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 13:13

    Therefore I will make the heavens to tremble, and the earth shall be shaken out of its place, in the wrath of Jehovah of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

  • Exodus 19:18

    And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

  • Psalms 114:6

    Ye mountains, that ye skip like rams; Ye little hills, like lambs?

  • Habakkuk 3:10

    The mountains saw thee, and were afraid; The tempest of waters passed by; The deep uttered its voice, And lifted up its hands on high.

  • Haggai 2:22

    and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

  • Hebrews 12:27

    And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

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