Hebrews 13:5
What does Hebrews 13:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 13:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 13:5 means
The love of money enslaves; freedom is found in contentment with what God has provided. The antidote to anxious grasping is a promise: God himself has said he will never fail or forsake his people. This assurance shifts the heart from scarcity to trust. Contentment is not complacency but confidence that God apportions enough for faithfulness today and will supply tomorrow. It loosens fear-driven choices, tempers envy, and fuels generosity. When possessions cease to be our security, they can become tools for love. The command is practical courage—reject the lie that more money means more safety, and rest in the Lord who pledges his abiding presence.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Be free from the love of money and pleased with the things which you have; for he himself has said, I will be with you at all times.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Without covetousness the behaviour, being content with the things present, for He hath said, `No, I will not leave, no, nor forsake thee,'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Let your manners be without covetousness, contented with such things as you have. For he hath said: I will not leave thee: neither will I forsake thee.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890[Let your] conversation [be] without love of money, satisfied with [your] present circumstances; for he has said, I will not leave thee, neither will I forsake thee.
Context
After warning against sexual sin (v.4), the author addresses covetousness (v.5) and courage (v.6). God’s unfailing presence grounds both purity and contentment. The promise cited here leads directly to the bold confession of verse 6, where trust in God displaces fear of people. Together, these verses move the readers from inward anxieties to outward confidence, preparing them to heed and imitate faithful leaders (vv.7–8).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Joshua 1:5
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
- Luke 8:14
And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
- Exodus 20:17
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.
- Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
- 1 Samuel 12:22
For Jehovah will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it hath pleased Jehovah to make you a people unto himself.
- Exodus 2:21
And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
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