Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. New Living Translation Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. English Standard Version Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Berean Standard Bible Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Berean Literal Bible Let marriage be honorable in all, and the marriage bed undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. King James Bible Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. New King James Version Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. New American Standard Bible Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. NASB 1995 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. NASB 1977 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Legacy Standard Bible Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled, for the sexually immoral and adulterers God will judge. Amplified Bible Marriage is to be held in honor among all [that is, regarded as something of great value], and the marriage bed undefiled [by immorality or by any sexual sin]; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Christian Standard Bible Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Holman Christian Standard Bible Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. American Standard Version Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Contemporary English Version Have respect for marriage. Always be faithful to your partner, because God will punish anyone who is immoral or unfaithful in marriage. English Revised Version Let marriage be had in honour among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. GOD'S WORD® Translation Marriage is honorable in every way, so husbands and wives should be faithful to each other. God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery. Good News Translation Marriage is to be honored by all, and husbands and wives must be faithful to each other. God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery. International Standard Version Let marriage be kept honorable in every way, and the marriage bed undefiled. For God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery. Majority Standard Bible Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. NET Bible Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers. New Heart English Bible Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Webster's Bible Translation Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but lewd persons and adulterers God will judge. Weymouth New Testament Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be unpolluted; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. World English Bible Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThe marriage [is to be] honored by all, and the bed undefiled, for God will judge whoremongers and adulterers. Berean Literal Bible Let marriage be honorable in all, and the marriage bed undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Young's Literal Translation honourable is the marriage in all, and the bed undefiled, and whoremongers and adulterers God shall judge. Smith's Literal Translation Marriage honoured in all, and the bed unpolluted: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleMarriage honourable in all, and the bed undefiled. For fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Catholic Public Domain Version May marriage be honorable in every way, and may the marriage bed be immaculate. For God will judge fornicators and adulterers. New American Bible Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers. New Revised Standard Version Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleMarriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled; but God will judge those who practice vice and adultery; Aramaic Bible in Plain English Marriage is honorable with all and their bed is pure, but fornicators and adulterers God judges. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentMarriage is honorable among all men, and the bed undefiled; but lewd men and adulterers God will judge. Godbey New Testament Marriage is honorable among all, and the couch undefiled: for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Haweis New Testament Marriage is honourable for all persons, and the marriage bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Mace New Testament Marriage is every where honourable, and that state is innocent: but the licentious and adulterers God will punish. Weymouth New Testament Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be unpolluted; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Worrell New Testament Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Worsley New Testament Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed is not defiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Brotherly Love…3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them. 4 Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”… Cross References Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Matthew 19:4-6 Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? / So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. / Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. Ephesians 5:3 But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; ... Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery. Proverbs 5:18-19 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: / A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever. 1 Corinthians 7:2-3 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. / The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. Malachi 2:14-16 Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith. Leviticus 18:20 You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her. Romans 13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 1 Peter 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. 1 Timothy 5:14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander. Treasury of Scripture Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Marriage. Genesis 1:27,28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them… Genesis 2:21,24 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; … Leviticus 21:13-15 And he shall take a wife in her virginity… and the bed. Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Galatians 5:19,21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, … God. Psalm 50:16-22 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? … Malachi 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. 1 Corinthians 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. Jump to Previous Adulterer Adulterers Adulterous Bed Fornicators Held Honor Honorable Honored Honour Honourable Honoured Immoral Judge Judged Kept Lewd Marriage Married Persons Pure Sexually Unclean Undefiled Untrue Way WhoremongersJump to Next Adulterer Adulterers Adulterous Bed Fornicators Held Honor Honorable Honored Honour Honourable Honoured Immoral Judge Judged Kept Lewd Marriage Married Persons Pure Sexually Unclean Undefiled Untrue Way WhoremongersHebrews 13 1. Various admonitions as to love;4. to honest life; 5. to avoid covetousness; 7. to regard God's preachers; 9. to take heed of strange doctrines; 10. to confess Christ; 16. to give alms; 17. to obey governors; 18. to pray for the apostles. 20. The conclusion. Marriage should be honored by all Marriage is a divine institution established by God in Genesis 2:24, where a man and woman are united as one flesh. This phrase emphasizes the universal respect and sanctity that should be accorded to marriage, transcending cultural and temporal boundaries. In the biblical context, marriage is not merely a social contract but a covenant reflecting God's relationship with His people, as seen in Ephesians 5:31-32. The call for all to honor marriage underscores its foundational role in society and the church, promoting stability and reflecting God's order. and the marriage bed kept undefiled for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers Persons / Places / Events 1. Author of HebrewsTraditionally attributed to Paul, though the exact authorship is uncertain. The author writes to Jewish Christians, encouraging them to remain faithful to Christ. 2. Jewish Christians The primary audience of the letter, who were facing persecution and were tempted to revert to Judaism. 3. Marriage A sacred institution established by God, emphasized here as deserving honor and purity. 4. Sexually Immoral and Adulterers Individuals who engage in sexual relations outside the bounds of marriage, which the scripture warns will face God's judgment. 5. God's Judgment The divine evaluation and consequence for actions, particularly concerning sexual immorality and adultery. Teaching Points Honor in MarriageMarriage is a divine institution that should be respected and upheld by all believers. It reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church. Purity in the Marriage Bed The marriage bed should remain undefiled, meaning that sexual relations are reserved for the marriage covenant alone. This purity is a reflection of faithfulness and commitment. Consequences of Sexual Immorality God’s judgment on sexual immorality and adultery serves as a warning to maintain moral integrity. Believers are called to live in a way that honors God’s design for sexuality. Community Responsibility The call to honor marriage is not just for married individuals but for the entire Christian community. Supporting and upholding the sanctity of marriage is a collective responsibility. Reflecting Christ’s Love In marriage, believers have the opportunity to reflect Christ’s sacrificial love and commitment. This serves as a powerful testimony to the world.(4) Marriage is honourable in all.--Rather, Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. The precept is directed against impurity (Hebrews 12:16), and also against the false asceticism of men "forbidding to marry" (1Timothy 4:3). The laxity of morals among Gentiles (Note on Acts 15:20) and the prevalence of divorce amongst Jews (Matthew 5:32) explain the sudden introduction of such warnings: of these sinners the all-seeing God will be the judge. (Comp. 1Thessalonians 4:6.)Verse 4. - Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. So in the A.V. the first clause of this verse, which is taken as an assertion, the copula ἔστι, being understood. So it is also taken by Chrysostom and other ancients. If so, it is a declaration, interposed among hortations, of the honorableness of the" estate of matrimony," with the hortatory purpose of suggesting this "remedy against sin "(as in 1 Corinthians 7:9), or as a protest against false asceticism, such as is alluded to in 1 Timothy 4:3, "forbidding to marry." And certainly the expression, τίμιος ὁ γάμος, taken by itself, would most naturally have this meaning. But most modern commentators understand it as an exhortation, supplying ἔστω; and this for the following cogent reasons: it occurs in the midst of a series of exhortations, and is therefore more likely to be one; it is difficult to understand the connected clause, "and the bed undefiled (καὶ ἡ κοίτη ἀμίαντος)," as a statement; and the exactly similar phrase in ver. 5, ἀφιλάργυρος ὁ τρόπος, seems evidently hortatory. Hence we take it to mean "Let marriage be τίμος ἐν πᾶσον." Two questions remain - that of the import of τίμιος, and whether πᾶσιν is masculine or neuter. Τίμιος elsewhere, when applied to persons, means "held in honor" (as in Acts 5:34, of Gamaliel); when applied to things, it means "precious" (as in 1 Corinthians 3:12; Revelation 17:4; Revelation 18:12, 16; Revelation 21:19, of precious stones; in 1 Peter 1:19, of the blood of the Lamb; 2 Peter 1:4, of promises; Acts 20:24, of "my own life;" James 5:7, of the fruit of the earth). Bengel explains thus: "Caelibes, quibus periculum scortationis imminet, hortatur ut matrimonium contrahant, tanquam pretiosum quiddam agnoscentes, ejusque bone digne utantur. Conf. 1 Thessalonians 4:4.' And, taking πᾶσιν as masculine, he explains further: "Omnesque debent matrimonium magni facere, ut, si quis eo ipse non utatur, alios tamen non prohibeat." According to this view the first clause is an injunction to all to appreciate marriage, the second warns those that are married against any violation of the bond: "Τίμιος γάμος antitheton ad scortatotes, κοίτη ἀμίαντος ad adulteros" (Bengel). But the more natural, and the usual, meaning of the common expression ἐν πᾶσιν is "in all things," not "among all persons" (cf. Jaffa, ver. 18; also Colossians 1:18; Titus 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 4:5). If so here, τίμιος ὁ γάμος must be taken rather as an injunction with respect to the sanctity of marriage when contracted: "Let it be held in honor in all respects; in all ways reverently regarded as a holy bond;" the succeeding clause, ἡ κοίτη ἀμίαντος, being a further explication of the same idea (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:4, "That every one of you should know how to possess his own vessel [meaning, probably, as seems to be required by the verb κτᾶσθαι, 'get to himself his own wife] in sanctification and honor (ἐν ἀγιασμῷ καὶ τιμῇ);" where ἐν τιμῇ may express the same ides as τίμιος in the text). 'In the conclusion of the verse "for" (γὰρ) suits the drift of the sentence as above understood, and is considered to be supported better than "but" (δὲ) of the Textus Receptus. Observe, lastly, that, in "God will judge," "God" is emphatic, being placed last. Though the kind of sin spoken of is lightly regarded among men, and may escape detection or punishment now, yet certainly God will judge it (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:6, "God is the Avenger of all such, as we have also forewarned you and testified;" and 1 Corinthians 6:9, where fornicators and adulterers are included among those about whom Christians are not to deceive themselves, as though they would "inherit the kingdom of God"). Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Marriageγάμος (gamos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 1062: A marriage, wedding, wedding-ceremony; plur: a wedding-feast. Of uncertain affinity; nuptials. should be honored Τίμιος (Timios) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 5093: Of great price, precious, honored. by ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. all πᾶσιν (pasin) Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. the ἡ (hē) Article - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. marriage bed κοίτη (koitē) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 2845: From keimai; a couch; by extension, cohabitation; by implication, the male sperm. kept undefiled, ἀμίαντος (amiantos) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 283: Undefiled, untainted, free from contamination. Unsoiled, i.e. pure. for γὰρ (gar) Conjunction Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. God Θεός (Theos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. will judge κρινεῖ (krinei) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2919: Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish. the sexually immoral πόρνους (pornous) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Strong's 4205: A fornicator, man who prostitutes himself. From pernemi; a prostitute, i.e. a debauchee. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. adulterers. μοιχοὺς (moichous) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Strong's 3432: An adulterer, that is, a man who is guilty with a married woman. Perhaps a primary word; a paramour; figuratively, apostate. Links Hebrews 13:4 NIVHebrews 13:4 NLT Hebrews 13:4 ESV Hebrews 13:4 NASB Hebrews 13:4 KJV Hebrews 13:4 BibleApps.com Hebrews 13:4 Biblia Paralela Hebrews 13:4 Chinese Bible Hebrews 13:4 French Bible Hebrews 13:4 Catholic Bible NT Letters: Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among (Heb. He. Hb) |
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