Hebrews 13:9
New International Version
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.

New Living Translation
So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.

English Standard Version
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.

Berean Literal Bible
Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, in which those being devoted were not profited.

King James Bible
Be 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.

New King James Version
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

New American Standard Bible
Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

NASB 1995
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

NASB 1977
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

Amplified Bible
Do not be carried away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and strengthened by grace and not by foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no benefit or spiritual growth to those who observe them.

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited.

American Standard Version
Be 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.

Contemporary English Version
Don't be fooled by any kind of strange teachings. It is better to receive strength from God's gift of undeserved grace than to depend on certain foods. After all, these foods don't really help the people who eat them.

English Revised Version
Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be stablished by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't get carried away by all kinds of unfamiliar teachings. Gaining inner strength from God's kindness is good for us. This strength does not come from following rules about food, rules that don't help those who follow them.

Good News Translation
Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you from the right way. It is good to receive inner strength from God's grace, and not by obeying rules about foods; those who obey these rules have not been helped by them.

International Standard Version
Stop being carried away by all kinds of unusual teachings, for it is good that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by food laws that have never helped those who follow them.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.

NET Bible
Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them.

New Heart English Bible
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

Webster's Bible Translation
Be 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 in them.

Weymouth New Testament
Do not be drawn aside by all sorts of strange teaching; for it is well to have the heart made stedfast through God's grace, and not by special kinds of food, from which those who scrupulously attend to them have derived no benefit.

World English Bible
Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do not be carried away with strange and manifold teachings, for [it is] good that by grace the heart is confirmed, not with meats, in which they who were occupied were not profited;

Berean Literal Bible
Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, in which those being devoted were not profited.

Young's Literal Translation
with teachings manifold and strange be not carried about, for it is good that by grace the heart be confirmed, not with meats, in which they who were occupied were not profited;

Smith's Literal Translation
With various and strange teachings be not carried about. For good the heart be rendered firm by grace; not by food, in which they having walked about were not profited.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Be 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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not be led away by changing or strange doctrines. And it is best for the heart to be sustained by grace, not by foods. For the latter have not been as useful to those who walked by them.

New American Bible
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching. It is good to have our hearts strengthened by grace and not by foods, which do not benefit those who live by them.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do not be carried away by strange and divers doctrines. For it is a good thing to strengthen our hearts with grace; not with food, because it did not help those who greatly sought after it.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Do not be led to strange and changeable teaching, for it is good that we strengthen our hearts by grace and not with foods, because those who have walked in them have not been helped.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Be not carried away by various and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be strengthened with grace, not with meats, which have not profited those who were occupied with them.

Godbey New Testament
Be not carried away with fantastical and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, in which those going round were not profited.

Haweis New Testament
Be not tossed about by various and strange doctrines: for it is good to have the heart firmly established by grace, not by meats, in which observances they who have walked have found no manner of advantage.

Mace New Testament
for the mind is better improv'd by the gospel-dispensation, than by the distinctions about meats, in which some have been so uselesly vers'd.

Weymouth New Testament
Do not be drawn aside by all sorts of strange teaching; for it is well to have the heart made stedfast through God's grace, and not by special kinds of food, from which those who scrupulously attend to them have derived no benefit.

Worrell New Testament
Be not carried away by manifold and strange teachings; for it is good that the heart be established with grace, not with foods, in which those who occupied themselves were not profited.

Worsley New Testament
be not then carried about by various and strange doctrines; for it is good that the heart be established by grace, and not in meats, in which those that have been most exact, have not profited by them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Christ's Unchanging Nature
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them. 10We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.…

Cross References
Galatians 1:6-9
I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— / which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. / But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! ...

Colossians 2:16-23
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. / Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind. ...

1 Timothy 4:1-5
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. / They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. ...

Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. / For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it very easily.

Acts 15:1-11
Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” / And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. / Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. ...

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 8:8
But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Matthew 15:9
They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”

Mark 7:7-9
They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ / You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” / He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.

1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Jeremiah 10:8
But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.


Treasury of Scripture

Be 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.

carried.

Matthew 24:4,24
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you…

Acts 20:30
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Romans 16:17,18
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them…

it is.

Acts 20:32
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

2 Corinthians 1:21
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

not with.

Hebrews 9:9,10
Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; …

Leviticus 11:1-47
And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, …

Deuteronomy 14:3-21
Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing…

Jump to Previous
Attend Benefited Carried Ceremonial Derived Different Divers Diverse Doctrines Drawn Eat Established Food Foods God's Good Grace Heart Hearts Kinds Meats Occupied Profit Profited Scrupulously Sorts Special Stedfast Strange Strengthened Strong Teaching Teachings Themselves Therein Trouble Turned Varied Various Wherein
Jump to Next
Attend Benefited Carried Ceremonial Derived Different Divers Diverse Doctrines Drawn Eat Established Food Foods God's Good Grace Heart Hearts Kinds Meats Occupied Profit Profited Scrupulously Sorts Special Stedfast Strange Strengthened Strong Teaching Teachings Themselves Therein Trouble Turned Varied Various Wherein
Hebrews 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.














Do not be carried away
The phrase "do not be carried away" suggests a warning against being led astray or influenced by external forces. In the Greek, the word used here is "παραφέρω" (parapherō), which implies being led away or misled. Historically, the early Christian community faced numerous challenges from false teachings and doctrines. This exhortation serves as a reminder to remain steadfast in the truth of the Gospel and not to be swayed by every new teaching that comes along. It is a call to spiritual discernment and stability.

by all kinds of strange teachings
The "strange teachings" refer to doctrines that are foreign to the core message of Christianity. The Greek word "ξένος" (xenos) means foreign or strange, indicating teachings that are not aligned with the apostolic doctrine. In the historical context of the early church, there were many heretical movements and philosophies that sought to infiltrate Christian communities. This phrase underscores the importance of adhering to sound doctrine and being wary of teachings that deviate from the truth of Scripture.

It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace
Here, the emphasis is on grace as the source of spiritual strength. The Greek word for "grace" is "χάρις" (charis), which denotes unmerited favor and divine assistance. The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one's being, including emotions, will, and intellect. The strengthening of the heart by grace suggests a reliance on God's unmerited favor rather than human effort or legalistic practices. This aligns with the broader New Testament teaching that salvation and spiritual growth are rooted in grace, not works.

and not by foods
The mention of "foods" likely refers to dietary laws and restrictions that were a significant part of Jewish religious practice. The Greek word "βρῶμα" (brōma) means food or nourishment. In the early church, there was a tension between Jewish Christians who adhered to the Mosaic Law and Gentile converts who did not. This phrase highlights the futility of relying on dietary practices for spiritual strength or favor with God. It reinforces the idea that true spiritual nourishment comes from grace, not adherence to ritualistic or ceremonial laws.

which are of no value to those devoted to them
This part of the verse emphasizes the ineffectiveness of relying on external practices for spiritual growth. The Greek word "ὠφέλεια" (ōpheleia) means benefit or profit. The text suggests that these practices, while perhaps culturally or religiously significant, do not contribute to one's spiritual well-being or relationship with God. The historical context of the early church, with its diverse backgrounds and practices, underscores the need to focus on what truly matters—faith in Christ and the grace He provides.

(9) Be not carried about.--The better reading of the Greek gives a meaning somewhat different, Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings. The ordinary reading may have come in from Ephesians 4:14. The "teachings" by which they were in danger of being led astray were various, and were all foreign to the one true word. The contrasts expressed in the second part of this verse and in Hebrews 13:10-11, throw light on the nature and source of the erroneous doctrine. Its subject was not "grace," but "meats;" its promoters were connected with those who serve the Tabernacle. Hence the writer is probably speaking of doctrines and practices similar to those censured by St. Paul in Colossians 2:16-23. (See the introductory Note on Romans 14; also 1Timothy 4:3.) In Hebrews 9:10 we read of "meats and drinks" in connection with the Law of Moses; here the divers and strange teachings" must include human additions to that Law and perversions of its spirit.

With grace; not with meats.--Better, by grace, not by meats. Instead of being "carried away by strange teachings," let your hearts be made firm and sure by grace. As the whole system of ceremonial observance is alluded to under the one term "meats," so the blessings of the Christian faith are comprised under "grace," a word used throughout this Epistle with peculiar significance. (See especially Hebrews 10:29; Hebrews 12:15; Hebrews 12:28.) One human system of teaching will but lead on to another; grace will keep the heart firm in its loyal love to Jesus Christ, who is ever "the same" (Hebrews 13:8). . . .

Verse 9. - Be not carried away (so, according to the best authorities, rather than carried about) by divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, in which they that were occupied (literally, that walked) were not profited. From the exhortation to imitate the faith of the departed leaders, the transition is natural to warnings against being carried away from it by new teachings. The faith, which was their faith, remains unchanged, as Jesus Christ remains unchanged; why, then, these doctrines, new and strange (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:11; Galatians 1:6-10)? What these doctrines were is not shown, except so far as is intimated by the word βρώμασιν ("meats"), which reminds us at once of similar warnings in St. Paul's Epistles (cf. Romans 14:2, 14, 21; Colossians 2:8, 16-723; 1 Timothy 4:3). These passages seem to refer in the first place to purely Jewish distinctions, still held to by Jewish Christians, between dean and unclean or polluted meats; and further to a new kind of asceticism, not found in the Old Testament, but based probably on notions of the impurity of matter, which led to entire abstention from flesh or wine, and also in some (1 Timothy 4:3) from marriage; also, as appears from the passage in Colossians, a false philosophy about angels and the spiritual world. We may perceive in these allusions the germs at least of later Gnostic heresies, such as found (as that of the Ebionites) their first congenial soil in Jewish circles; Oriental theosophy, or neo-Platonic philosophy, being supposed to have been engrafted on Jewish modes of thought. Some, misled by what is said in ver. 10, see in the word βρώμασιν an allusion to those sacrifices of the Law which were eaten by the worshippers, against any fancied obligation to partake in which the readers are supposed to be warned. But the word is never so applied in the Old Testament or the New (see above, Hebrews 9:10; Leviticus 11:34; 1 Macc. 1:16; Romans 14:15, 20, 31; 1 Corinthians 6:13; 1 Corinthians 8:8, 13); nor would such error be likely to be classed among "strange doctrines." The drift of the warning is that the religion of the gospel does not consist in any of these notions or observances, the supposed importance of meats being specially noted, and that to make them its essence is a misconception of its whole meaning, and a departure from the faith: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
{Do} not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

be carried away [by]
παραφέρεσθε (parapheresthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3911: From para and phero; to bear along or aside, i.e. Carry off; by implication, to avert.

all kinds
ποικίλαις (poikilais)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4164: Various, of different colors, diverse, various. Of uncertain derivation; motley, i.e. Various in character.

[of] strange
ξέναις (xenais)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3581: Apparently a primary word; foreign; by implication, a guest or entertainer.

teachings,
Διδαχαῖς (Didachais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1322: Teaching, doctrine, what is taught. From didasko; instruction.

for
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

[it is] good
καλὸν (kalon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2570: Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.

for the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative 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.

heart
καρδίαν (kardian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.

to be strengthened
βεβαιοῦσθαι (bebaiousthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 950: To confirm, ratify, secure, establish; pass: I guarantee. From bebaios; to stabilitate.

by grace
χάριτι (chariti)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5485: From chairo; graciousness, of manner or act.

[and] not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

by [ceremonial] foods,
βρώμασιν (brōmasin)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1033: Food of any kind. From the base of bibrosko; food, especially articles allowed or forbidden by the Jewish law.

which
οἷς (hois)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

are of no value
ὠφελήθησαν (ōphelēthēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5623: To help, benefit, do good, be useful (to), profit. From the same as opheleia; to be useful, i.e. To benefit.

to those
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

devoted
περιπατοῦντες (peripatountes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4043: From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. Walk at large; figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow.

to [them].
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.


Links
Hebrews 13:9 NIV
Hebrews 13:9 NLT
Hebrews 13:9 ESV
Hebrews 13:9 NASB
Hebrews 13:9 KJV

Hebrews 13:9 BibleApps.com
Hebrews 13:9 Biblia Paralela
Hebrews 13:9 Chinese Bible
Hebrews 13:9 French Bible
Hebrews 13:9 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: Hebrews 13:9 Don't be carried away by various (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 13:8
Top of Page
Top of Page