Devine Scripture

Hebrews 12:6

What does Hebrews 12:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 12:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 12:6 means

God’s discipline flows from His love. The verse states plainly that the Lord chastens those He loves and even scourges every son He receives. This does not paint God as harsh but as committed to our true good. Love that never corrects is not love. Painful providences are not evidence of rejection; they are marks of belonging. The language is strong to make a clear point: God’s training can be severe, but it is never cruel. It aims to strip away what harms us and to conform us to His character. To be corrected by God is to be treated as family, not as strangers.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For the Lord sends punishment on his loved ones; everyone whom he takes as his son has experience of his rod.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for whom the Lord doth love He doth chasten, and He scourgeth every son whom He receiveth;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For whom the Lord loveth he chastiseth: and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for whom [the] Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.

Context

This verse continues the scriptural quotation introduced in verse 5 and provides the theological heart of the discipline theme: love motivates God’s chastening. It prepares for the reasoning that follows in verse 7—that endurance under discipline proves sonship—and for the warning in verse 8 that the absence of discipline signals illegitimacy. The flow builds a persuasive case that suffering under God’s hand should be interpreted as evidence of His relational commitment and sanctifying purpose.

v.5and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;

v.6This passage

v.7It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 27:9

    Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, so that the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.

  • Psalms 119:71

    It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I may learn thy statutes.

  • Psalms 73:14

    For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning.

  • James 5:11

    Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.

  • James 1:12

    Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.

  • Psalms 94:12

    Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Jehovah, And teachest out of thy law;

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