Hebrews 13:9
What does Hebrews 13:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 13:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 13:9 means
Believers must not be swept away by a stream of varied and foreign teachings. What steadies the heart is grace, not regulations about foods. Those who fixate on ritual “meats” gain no true spiritual benefit, for such rules cannot cleanse the conscience or transform character. The writer redirects the community from outward ceremonial observances to inward grace received through Christ. To be established by grace means relying on Jesus’ finished work and the Spirit’s power rather than on dietary distinctions for standing with God. This guards against legalism and syncretism alike, keeping the church anchored in the sufficiency of the new covenant.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Do not be turned away by different strange teachings, because it is good for your hearts to be made strong by grace, and not by meats, which were of no profit to those who took so much trouble over them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862with teachings manifold and strange be not carried about, for <FI>it is<Fi> good that by grace the heart be confirmed, not with meats, in which they who were occupied were not profited;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Be not led away with various and strange doctrines. For it is best that the heart be established with grace, not with meats: which have not profited those that walk in them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Be not carried away with various and strange doctrines; for [it is] good that the heart be confirmed with grace, not meats; those who have walked in which have not been profited by [them].
Context
After affirming Christ’s unchangeableness (v.8), the author warns against unstable, strange doctrines (v.9), particularly food-related regulations associated with the old system or speculative teaching. He will now contrast old-covenant ritual participation with the Christian’s altar (v.10), explaining by sacrificial imagery why the former cannot profit as the latter does. Verses 10–12 develop this contrast through tabernacle and atonement language.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 14:17
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- Ephesians 4:14
that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
- Leviticus 11:1
And Jehovah spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
- 1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;
- Titus 1:14
not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
- 2 Corinthians 1:21
Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;
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