Hebrews 12 12

Hebrews 12:12 kjv

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

Hebrews 12:12 nkjv

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,

Hebrews 12:12 niv

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

Hebrews 12:12 esv

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,

Hebrews 12:12 nlt

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.

Hebrews 12 verses

Hebrews 12 12 Meaning

Hebrews 12:12 is a powerful exhortation to renewed spiritual vigor and endurance. Building on the preceding verses that discuss God's loving discipline and the necessity of running the Christian race with perseverance, this verse commands believers to "strengthen their feeble arms and weak knees." This imagery, directly drawn from Isaiah 35:3, refers to states of spiritual weariness, discouragement, despondency, and an inability to stand firm or advance in faith. It is a call for active spiritual resolve, urging the audience not to succumb to fatigue or doubt, but to rally their spiritual strength and steadfastness in their walk with Christ, particularly in the face of trials and temptations to shrink back.

Hebrews 12 12 Context

Hebrews chapter 12 serves as an exhortation to perseverance for believers facing trials and persecution, framed by the preceding discussions of faith and divine discipline. Following the "hall of faith" in chapter 11 and the metaphor of life as a "race" with a "great cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews 12:1-3, the author highlights Jesus as the ultimate example of endurance. Verses 4-11 elaborate on God's disciplinary actions, explaining that present sufferings, though painful, are the mark of His fatherly love, intended to cultivate holiness and yield "the peaceful fruit of righteousness." Hebrews 12:12 thus naturally flows from this discourse. Instead of yielding to weariness or resentment from God's discipline, or from the prolonged hardship, the audience is urged to actively re-engage their spiritual resolve. The specific call to "strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees" is directly connected to the theme of endurance and the fruit of righteousness (v.11), preparing the way for further commands regarding peace, holiness, and setting straight paths (v.14). The original audience comprised Jewish Christians who were undergoing various forms of opposition and spiritual testing, making them prone to despondency or a return to former ways of life; the author uses this imagery to snap them out of any lethargy and encourage them to press on.

Hebrews 12 12 Word analysis

• Word by word analysis:

  • Therefore (Διὸ - Dio): This conjunction signals a logical conclusion or inference, pointing back to the preceding theological truths, particularly God's disciplinary love and the resulting peaceful fruit of righteousness. It establishes this command as a necessary response to the discussed realities.
  • strengthen (ἀνορθώσατε - anorthōsate): An imperative verb meaning "to set upright again," "restore," or "make erect." It implies an active, deliberate effort to reverse a state of collapse or slackness. The word conveys a sense of repair or resuscitation, bringing back to a proper, functional state.
  • your (τὰς - tas): A plural article implying "your own" and signifying that this is a collective command to the community of believers addressed by the letter.
  • feeble (παρειμένας - pareimenas): A perfect passive participle meaning "relaxed," "drooping," "let down," or "paralyzed." It suggests a loss of vigor, a letting go due to weariness or despair, hinting at despondency or diminished capacity for spiritual effort.
  • arms (χεῖρας - cheiras): Refers literally to hands/arms, but is a common biblical metaphor for spiritual effort, labor, service, and activity (e.g., "labor of your hands," "lifting up holy hands"). Feeble arms signify an inability to act decisively or to perform spiritual duties.
  • and (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunctive, linking the two complementary images of weakness.
  • weak (παραλελυμένα - paralelymena): A perfect passive participle derived from paralyō, meaning "paralyzed," "unstrung," or "made loose." This term carries a stronger connotation of complete debilitation or functional paralysis compared to pareimenas, suggesting an inability to bear weight or move forward.
  • knees (γόνατα - gonata): Refers literally to knees, but commonly used metaphorically for stability, perseverance, steadfastness, and the ability to stand or walk. Weak knees imply spiritual instability, an inability to stand firm against opposition, or a reluctance to progress in the Christian journey.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Therefore strengthen": This opening phrase functions as an immediate, practical response to the challenging truths of God's discipline and the call to endure the race of faith. It transitions from theological exposition to a direct command for active participation in their spiritual recovery and vigor.
  • "your feeble arms and weak knees": This is a direct quotation from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) translation of Isaiah 35:3, which prophetically spoke of restoration and strengthening for those afflicted or in despair. It is a powerful idiom for profound spiritual exhaustion, despondency, or even a sense of paralysis in one's faith walk. "Feeble arms" represent an inability to "lift up" oneself in prayer or service, or to engage effectively in the Christian battle. "Weak knees" signify a loss of ability to "stand firm," "walk steadily," or "run with endurance." The double imagery intensifies the call to spiritual renewal in all aspects of life and action, reflecting a comprehensive summons to overcome spiritual apathy and exhaustion by active means, fueled by divine strength.

Hebrews 12 12 Bonus section

• The passive perfect participles pareimenas (feeble) and paralelymena (weak/paralysed) indicate a state that has been entered into and continues, reflecting the ongoing spiritual weariness or discouragement of the audience. The command is to actively reverse this condition.
• The emphasis here is not merely on human effort but on human cooperation with divine power. Just as a physical body recovers through therapy and proper nourishment, the spiritual self strengthens through faith, prayer, God's Word, and fellowship—all avenues through which God supplies strength.
• The imagery of "strengthening" in this verse, immediately followed by the injunction to "make straight paths for your feet" (Heb 12:13), creates a clear progression: overcoming inward weakness enables outward steady progress, which then prevents stumbling and facilitates healing for the "lame" among them.
• This exhortation implies that spiritual lethargy or weariness can be overcome through intentional choice and action, supported by God's grace, rather than passively waiting for the feeling to pass. It is a call to take personal responsibility for one's spiritual health and vigor.

Hebrews 12 12 Commentary

Hebrews 12:12 is a powerful imperative for believers to intentionally recover their spiritual strength and steadfastness. Coming after a profound discourse on the purifying nature of divine discipline and the example of Christ's endurance, this verse serves as a crucial bridge from understanding suffering to actively overcoming its debilitating effects. The imagery of "feeble arms" and "weak knees," borrowed from Isaiah 35:3, speaks directly to a state of spiritual fatigue, discouragement, or an inability to act with faith and perseverance. This condition might arise from prolonged suffering, the perceived harshness of God's discipline, or the societal pressures against Christian living. The command is not passive; "strengthen" implies an active engagement—a rallying of one's will and spiritual resources. It signifies a refusal to succumb to despair, urging believers to draw on God's grace and to actively restore their capacity for faith-filled action, prayer, and progress in the Christian journey. It calls them to assume a posture of resolve and readiness, ensuring that their spiritual "limbs" are fit for the endurance race that still lies before them. Practically, this means deliberately focusing on God's promises, engaging in spiritual disciplines, finding encouragement in fellow believers, and choosing to trust and obey even when weary.