Hebrews 3:4
What does Hebrews 3:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 3:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 3:4 means
Every house has a human builder, but the Builder of everything is God. The logic strengthens the previous claim: if Jesus is the builder of God’s house, and God is the ultimate Builder of all, then Jesus’ work is bound up with God’s own work. The point is high Christology without detaching from monotheism. God’s agency stands behind every faithful servant and every real advance in salvation history. Thus the One who truly builds is divine, and Christ’s role aligns with God’s creative and redemptive activity, not merely with human administration within the house.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For every house is builded by some one; but he that built all things is God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For every house is builded by some one; but he that built all things is God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For every house has a builder; but the builder of all things is God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for every house is builded by some one, and He who the all things did build <FI>is<Fi> God,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For every house is built by some man: but he that created all things is God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For every house is built by some one; but he who has built all things [is]God.
Context
Verse 4 functions as the theological foundation for the builder-house metaphor in verse 3. It locates the origin of the house in God Himself, ensuring that Christ’s superior honor does not imply a rival to God but reveals God’s work through Him. With that foundation in place, the text will specify Moses’ role as a faithful servant who pointed forward (verse 5) and then contrast Christ as Son over the house (verse 6). The argument moves from metaphor to its implications for leadership, authority, and the identity of God’s people.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 3:3
For he hath been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by so much as he that built the house hath more honor than the house.
- Hebrews 1:2
hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;
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