Hebrews 6:8
New International Version
But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

New Living Translation
But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

English Standard Version
But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

Berean Standard Bible
But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

Berean Literal Bible
But that bringing forth thorns and thistles is worthless and near to a curse, of which the end is unto burning.

King James Bible
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

New King James Version
but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

New American Standard Bible
but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

NASB 1995
but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

NASB 1977
but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

Legacy Standard Bible
but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is unfit and close to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

Amplified Bible
but if it persistently produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

Christian Standard Bible
But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and will be burned at the end.

American Standard Version
but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.

Contemporary English Version
But land that produces only thornbushes is worthless. It is likely to fall under God's curse, and in the end it will be set on fire.

English Revised Version
but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
However, if the earth produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Good News Translation
But if it grows thorns and weeds, it is worth nothing; it is in danger of being cursed by God and will be destroyed by fire.

International Standard Version
However, if it continues to produce thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed, and in the end will be burned.

Majority Standard Bible
But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

NET Bible
But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned.

New Heart English Bible
but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

Webster's Bible Translation
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh to cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Weymouth New Testament
But if it only yields a mass of thorns and briers, it is considered worthless, and is in danger of being cursed, and in the end will be destroyed by fire.

World English Bible
but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
but that which is bearing thorns and briers [is] disapproved of, and near to cursing, whose end [is] for burning;

Berean Literal Bible
But that bringing forth thorns and thistles is worthless and near to a curse, of which the end is unto burning.

Young's Literal Translation
and that which is bearing thorns and briers is disapproved of, and nigh to cursing, whose end is for burning;

Smith's Literal Translation
And producing thorns and briers is rejected, after having been tried, and near cursing; whose end for destruction.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers, is reprobate, and very near unto a curse, whose end is to be burnt.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But whatever brings forth thorns and briers is rejected, and is closest to what is accursed; their consummation is in combustion.

New American Bible
But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected; it will soon be cursed and finally burned.

New Revised Standard Version
But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if it should produce thorns and briers it is rejected and not far from being condemned; and at the end this crop will be used for fuel.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But if it should produce thorns and thistles, it would be rejected and not far from curses, but its end is burning.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But that which produces thorns and thistles is rejected, and is near the curse, the end of which is to be burned.

Godbey New Testament
but that which produces thorns and thistles, is reprobate, and nigh unto the curse; whose end is unto burning.

Haweis New Testament
but if it produceth thorns and thistles, it is abandoned, and near the curse of barrenness, whose end will be for burning.

Mace New Testament
but that which bears thorns and briars, is look'd upon as lying under a curse; whose end will be to be burnt.

Weymouth New Testament
But if it only yields a mass of thorns and briers, it is considered worthless, and is in danger of being cursed, and in the end will be destroyed by fire.

Worrell New Testament
but, if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected, and is near to a curse; whose end is to be burned.

Worsley New Testament
but that which bringeth forth thorns and briars, is rejected and near to a curse, (whose end is burning) so are they.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Call to Maturity
7For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned. 9Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.…

Cross References
Matthew 7:19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Luke 13:6-9
Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. / So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ / ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ...

John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Matthew 3:10
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

2 Peter 2:20-22
If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. / It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. / Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

James 1:15
Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Romans 11:22
Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

2 Timothy 2:20-21
A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. / So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.

Jude 1:12-13
These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted. / They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

Isaiah 5:1-7
I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! / “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. ...

Ezekiel 15:1-8
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest? / Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils? ...

Jeremiah 17:5-6
This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD. / He will be like a shrub in the desert; he will not see when prosperity comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

Psalm 80:8-16
You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it. / You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. / The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches. ...

Isaiah 27:10-11
For the fortified city lies deserted—a homestead abandoned, a wilderness forsaken. There the calves graze, and there they lie down; they strip its branches bare. / When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.


Treasury of Scripture

But that which bears thorns and briers is rejected, and is near to cursing; whose end is to be burned.

beareth.

Hebrews 12:17
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Genesis 3:17,18
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; …

Genesis 4:11
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

whose.

Hebrews 10:27
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Isaiah 27:10,11
Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof…

Ezekiel 15:2-7
Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? …

Jump to Previous
Beareth Bears Briers Burned Close Considered Curse Cursed Cursing Danger Destroyed End Ends Evil Fire Forth Found Mass Nigh Plants Produces Rejected Sends Thistles Thorns Use Worthless Yields
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Beareth Bears Briers Burned Close Considered Curse Cursed Cursing Danger Destroyed End Ends Evil Fire Forth Found Mass Nigh Plants Produces Rejected Sends Thistles Thorns Use Worthless Yields
Hebrews 6
1. He exhorts not to fall back from the faith;
11. but to be steadfast,
12. diligent, and patient to wait upon God;
13. because God is most sure in his promise.














But land
The phrase "But land" introduces a metaphorical comparison. In the context of Hebrews, the "land" represents the human heart or the spiritual condition of individuals. The Greek word for "land" here is "γῆ" (gē), which can refer to soil or earth. This metaphor is rooted in the agrarian culture of the time, where land was a vital resource, and its productivity was crucial for survival. Spiritually, this suggests that just as land is expected to produce a good crop, so are believers expected to produce spiritual fruit.

that produces thorns and thistles
The imagery of "thorns and thistles" is reminiscent of the curse in Genesis 3:18, where the ground is cursed because of Adam's sin, producing "thorns and thistles" as a result. In the Greek, "thorns" is "ἀκάνθας" (akanthas) and "thistles" is "τριβόλους" (tribolous). These words symbolize the consequences of sin and disobedience. In a spiritual sense, this phrase warns against a life that yields sin and rebellion instead of righteousness and faithfulness.

is worthless
The term "worthless" in Greek is "ἀδόκιμος" (adokimos), meaning unapproved or rejected. This word is used in the New Testament to describe something that fails to meet the test or standard. In the context of Hebrews, it implies that a life producing "thorns and thistles" is not fulfilling its intended purpose and is therefore rejected by God. This serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of living a life that aligns with God's will.

and soon to be cursed
The phrase "soon to be cursed" indicates impending judgment. The Greek word for "cursed" is "κατάρα" (katara), which denotes a divine curse or condemnation. This reflects the Old Testament understanding of blessings and curses as consequences of obedience or disobedience to God's covenant. The warning here is clear: a life that does not bear good fruit is in danger of divine judgment.

In the end it will be burned
The final phrase, "In the end it will be burned," uses the imagery of fire as a symbol of judgment and purification. The Greek word for "burned" is "καίεται" (kaietai), which means to be consumed by fire. In biblical times, burning was a method of clearing unproductive land to prepare it for new growth. Spiritually, this signifies the ultimate fate of those who persist in unbelief and disobedience. It serves as a call to repentance and renewal, urging believers to cultivate a life that bears good fruit in accordance with God's will.

(8) But that which beareth.--Rather, But if it bear thorns and briars it is rejected. We are told that the presence of briars (i.e., caltrops) is a sure evidence of a poor soil, on which labour will be wasted. The words are partially a quotation from Genesis 3:18. The change of translation here is important; if that very land, which has drunk in the abundant rain and has received careful culture still prove unfruitful, it is rejected. Man can do no more; and the curse of God is "near"; its end is "for burning." The explanation of the last words is probably found in Deuteronomy 29:23, which speaks of the land of Sodom which God overthrew, which "is brimstone and salt and burning." The connection between these two verses and the preceding passages is obvious. In the case of the apostates there described, man is helpless; God's curse is near. But, as Chrysostom says, in this very word there is mercy; "the end" is not yet come.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[land that] produces
ἐκφέρουσα (ekpherousa)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1627: To bring out, carry out, sometimes out of the city for burial; I bring forth, bear, produce. From ek and phero; to bear out.

thorns
ἀκάνθας (akanthas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 173: A thorn-bush, prickly plant; a thorn. Probably from the same as akmen; a thorn.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

thistles
τριβόλους (tribolous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5146: A thistle. From treis and belos; properly, a crow-foot, i.e. a thorny plant.

[is] worthless,
ἀδόκιμος (adokimos)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 96: Failing to pass the test, unapproved, counterfeit. By implication, worthless.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[its] curse
κατάρας (kataras)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2671: Cursing; a curse; meton: a doomed one. From kata and ara; imprecation, execration.

is imminent.
ἐγγύς (engys)
Preposition
Strong's 1451: Near. From a primary verb agcho; near.

[In]
ἧς (hēs)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

end
τέλος (telos)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5056: (a) an end, (b) event or issue, (c) the principal end, aim, purpose, (d) a tax.

it will be burned.
καῦσιν (kausin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2740: A burning up, being burned. From kaio; burning.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 6:8 But if it bears thorns and thistles (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 6:7
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