Hebrews 12 15

Hebrews 12:15 kjv

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Hebrews 12:15 nkjv

looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Hebrews 12:15 niv

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Hebrews 12:15 esv

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Hebrews 12:15 nlt

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Hebrews 12 verses

Hebrews 12 15 Meaning

Hebrews 12:15 exhorts believers to exercise diligent oversight over one another within the community of faith, ensuring no one drifts away from God's continuous provision and empowerment (grace). It serves as a stern warning against allowing a hidden source of resentment, bitterness, or spiritual deviation to take root among them, as such an issue can proliferate, cause significant internal disruption, and lead to the widespread moral or spiritual contamination of many.

Hebrews 12 15 Context

Hebrews chapter 12 serves as a pivotal hortatory section within the epistle, transitioning from the previous chapter's gallery of faithful witnesses. Having presented "the great cloud of witnesses" (Heb 12:1) and the ultimate example of Jesus (Heb 12:2-3) as encouragements for perseverance, the author moves to practical exhortations for the readers. He urges them to endure discipline as a sign of sonship (Heb 12:4-11) and to actively "make straight paths" and pursue peace and holiness (Heb 12:12-14). Verse 15 builds directly upon this call for peace and holiness, specifically highlighting dangers that could disrupt peace and prevent holiness within the community: failing to remain within the sphere of God's grace, and harboring internal bitterness that spreads corruption. The warnings in Hebrews are frequently directed at preventing apostasy and spiritual decline, emphasizing communal responsibility for mutual watchfulness and spiritual well-being, especially for those contemplating falling back to Judaism or merely drifting.

Hebrews 12 15 Word analysis

• looking carefully (Greek: episkopountes, ἐπισκοποῦντες): This participle is derived from the verb episkopeō, which means to oversee, inspect, visit, or carefully observe. It implies diligent and active watchfulness, not passive observation. It's the root for terms like "episcopal" or "bishop," denoting a role of oversight. Here, it suggests that every member of the community has a responsibility to be actively concerned for the spiritual state of others, maintaining communal vigilance to prevent spiritual decline or internal corruption. This communal watchfulness is essential for the church's health.
• lest anyone (Greek: tis, τις): Emphasizes that the danger is personal yet has corporate implications. Even one individual's falling can affect the whole.
• fall short (Greek: hysterōn, ὑστερῶν): This means to be behind, to lack, to come up short, or to fail to attain. In this context, it refers to a failure to appropriate or continually benefit from the ongoing, enabling power of God's grace, which provides for spiritual perseverance and growth. It's not necessarily an instantaneous loss of salvation for a truly regenerate believer but a failure to remain under its divine provision, leading to spiritual decline, backsliding, or even apostasy for those who are merely professing.
• of the grace of God (Greek: charitos tou Theou, χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ): "Grace" (charis) is God's undeserved favor, love, and empowering presence. Here, it signifies the constant, enabling provision by which believers are sustained, grow, and endure in faith. "Falling short" means failing to continue to rely upon, experience, or live by this divine supply. It highlights that endurance and holiness are not self-generated but flow from God's grace.
• lest any root of bitterness (Greek: mē tis rhiza pikrias, μή τις ῥίζα πικρίας): This phrase is an allusion to Deut 29:18 in the Septuagint, where a "root of bitterness" leads to idolatry and apostasy, defiling the covenant community. Here, it denotes an insidious, underlying source of resentment, personal grudge, malice, anger, envy, or spiritual deviation. It is often an internal, unaddressed spiritual problem (like an "evil heart of unbelief" as in Heb 3:12) that can spring up and spread. It's a fundamental attitude that contradicts God's grace and community.
• springing up (Greek: anaphyousa, ἀναφύουσα): Means to sprout up, grow up. The imagery suggests that bitterness is not static; it grows slowly from a hidden root. Once it takes root (perhaps unnoticed), it inevitably grows and manifests its harmful fruit, spreading its influence.
• cause trouble (Greek: enochlē, ἐνοχλῇ): This means to disturb, harass, trouble, vex, annoy. The growth of this bitterness creates significant agitation, conflict, division, and harm within the community, disrupting peace and unity.
• and by this (Greek: kai dia tautēs, καὶ διὰ ταύτης): Points to the agency of the "root of bitterness" and its resultant trouble. It is the direct cause of the subsequent widespread defilement.
• many become defiled (Greek: hoi polloi mianthōsin, οἱ πολλοὶ μιανθῶσιν): "Defiled" (miainō) means to stain, pollute, make ceremonially or morally unclean. The corruption stemming from a "root of bitterness" is not confined to the individual; it spreads to "the many" within the community. This defilement can manifest as moral compromise, loss of faith, divisions, or spiritual apathy, illustrating the contagious nature of sin and disunity within the body of Christ. It stresses the corporate danger of unaddressed individual sin.

Hebrews 12 15 Bonus section

The concept of "grace of God" in Hebrews, especially with the warning not to fall short, points not just to the initial justifying grace received at conversion, but the sustaining and sanctifying grace needed for daily Christian life and perseverance. It's the divine strength and enablement that allows believers to endure trials (as described earlier in the chapter), pursue peace and holiness, and ultimately enter God's rest. Failure to remain engaged with this active grace results in a spiritual deficit, impacting one's ability to walk righteously and impacting the entire community. The severity of the warning concerning the "root of bitterness" shows that it is viewed as something potentially more dangerous than mere personal pique; it suggests a deep-seated spiritual ailment, often linked with rebellion or unbelief, that has devastating corporate consequences for purity and unity. The collective "looking carefully" is thus a communal call to pastoral oversight, ensuring healthy spiritual relationships and proactive intervention for the good of the whole body of Christ.

Hebrews 12 15 Commentary

Hebrews 12:15 acts as a powerful injunction to active, communal spiritual hygiene and mutual accountability. The call to be "looking carefully" highlights that vigilance is not just individual but a collective responsibility for every member, not just leaders. It underscores the preciousness of God's grace—His unmerited favor and empowering presence—which enables sustained Christian living. To "fall short of the grace of God" is to fail to live in its constant supply, either by neglecting spiritual disciplines, returning to self-reliance, or losing confidence in God's divine enablement, thus risking spiritual atrophy or apostasy. This isn't merely about failing to be saved, but about failing to continually walk by, be transformed by, and persevere in God's active provision.

The immediate follow-up, "lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled," points to a common pathway for such spiritual deficiency to manifest and spread. "Bitterness" is deeply rooted internal resentment, a stubborn unforgiveness, malice, or deep-seated grievance against God or others. This inner state is dynamic; it "springs up" from a hidden core, actively disrupting community peace and infecting "many" with its poisonous influence. This defilement can involve division, moral compromise, or even leading others astray into sin or unbelief. The spiritual contagion underscores the vital interconnectedness within the body of Christ, where one member's spiritual decay can genuinely harm the whole. The verse thus implores proactive communal care, to identify and address issues of spiritual neglect and inner grievances before they fester and corrupt the wider fellowship, safeguarding the church's peace, holiness, and faithful endurance.

Practical Examples:

• A member constantly criticizing leadership or other members behind their backs, fostering dissent instead of addressing concerns constructively.
• Someone holding onto past hurts or offenses within the church, allowing resentment to grow, withdrawing, and subtly influencing others to share their negativity.
• Believers becoming complacent in their faith, neglecting prayer, Scripture, and fellowship, and slowly drifting, unintentionally impacting others who observe their decline.