Hebrews 3:12
What does Hebrews 3:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 3:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 3:12 means
The writer turns from quotation to direct appeal: watch yourselves, brothers and sisters, lest an evil, unbelieving heart take root and lead you to fall away from the living God. The danger is internal and subtle—unbelief that grows into departure. Calling God “living” stresses His present, active reality, making apostasy personal, not theoretical. The verse frames diligence as a community responsibility because the threat is real. It also clarifies that unbelief is moral as well as intellectual—“evil” because it refuses the God who has revealed Himself. Vigilance means examining the heart before drift becomes desertion.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949My brothers, take care that there is not by chance in any one of you an evil heart without belief, turning away from the living God:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862See, brethren, lest there shall be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in the falling away from the living God,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Take heed, brethren, lest perhaps there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890See, brethren, lest there be in any one of you a wicked heart of unbelief, in turning away from [the] livingGod.
Context
Having cited Psalm 95’s warning, the author applies it in earnest. Verse 12 begins a pastoral section (12–14) showing how to respond: take heed, exhort one another, and hold fast confidence to the end. The flow moves from a general call to caution (v. 12), to a communal remedy (v. 13), to a theological grounding for perseverance (v. 14). This application then returns in verse 15 to the Psalm’s refrain to keep the urgency of “Today” alive before moving into rhetorical questions (16–18) that press home the historical lesson.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 13:33
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God,
- Luke 21:8
And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.
- Job 21:14
And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
- Hebrews 12:25
See 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:
- Hebrews 2:1
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Hebrews 3
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Hebrews 3.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About God’s Calling
Explore what it means to be called by God, whether to salvation, service, or a particular purpose in life.
Topic
Bible Verses About Rebellion
These Bible verses explore the nature and consequences of rebellion against God and his established authorities.
Topic
Bible Verses About Unbelief
Bible verses on unbelief show how it hinders faith and spiritual growth, emphasizing the importance of trust in God.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Feel Spiritually Numb
When God feels distant and you feel nothing — verses for the dry season.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Feel Alone
When no one seems to see you — verses for the One who does.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You're Worried About Money
When the bills outpace the paycheck — verses for a steadier kind of provision.