Devine Scripture

Hebrews 12:3

What does Hebrews 12:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 12:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 12:3 means

The readers are urged to deliberately consider how much contradiction and hostility Jesus endured from sinners. Reflecting on His patience under attack keeps discouraged hearts from collapsing. Weariness of soul grows when we measure trials only by their pain; it lessens when measured by Christ’s path and purpose. If He, the sinless Son, absorbed injustice and remained faithful, then our hardships, though real, are not ultimate nor unexpected. His endurance becomes both pattern and power for ours. We are to think deeply, not briefly, about His suffering, so that our own resistance to sin and faithlessness is strengthened and we do not quit the race.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Give thought to him who has undergone so much of the hate of sinners against himself, so that you may not be tired and feeble of purpose.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for consider again him who endured such gainsaying from the sinners to himself, that ye may not be wearied in your souls--being faint.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For consider well him who endured so great contradiction from sinners against himself, that ye be not weary, fainting in your minds.

Context

This follows the command to look to Jesus (v. 2). Verse 3 moves from where to look to how to think: consider Jesus’ endurance under contradiction. The goal is pastoral—preventing spiritual fainting. Next, the writer will put their current trials in perspective (v. 4) and then explain their hardships as fatherly discipline (vv. 5–11). The train of thought is practical: seeing Christ rightly reshapes how believers interpret their experiences and equips them to persevere without losing heart.

v.2looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

v.3This passage

v.4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 11:19

    The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! And wisdom is justified by her works.

  • Hebrews 12:2

    looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • John 8:59

    They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

  • Hebrews 3:1

    Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, evenJesus;

  • 2 Corinthians 4:1

    Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:

  • Luke 14:1

    And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.

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