Hebrews 13 13

Hebrews 13:13 kjv

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Hebrews 13:13 nkjv

Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

Hebrews 13:13 niv

Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.

Hebrews 13:13 esv

Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

Hebrews 13:13 nlt

So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore.

Hebrews 13 verses

Hebrews 13 13 Meaning

This verse is a call to believers to wholeheartedly identify with Jesus Christ, accepting the social cost and rejection that comes with such allegiance. It compels us to "go forth" from comfortable, worldly, or even outdated religious systems and norms—symbolized by "the camp"—and to embrace a position of identification with Christ, who was Himself cast out and suffered outside the city gate. This identification means "bearing His reproach," enduring the shame, ridicule, and suffering that He experienced for our sake, recognizing it as an essential part of following Him.

Hebrews 13 13 Context

Hebrews chapter 13 serves as the practical application section of the epistle, urging believers to live out the implications of Christ's superior New Covenant. After extensively demonstrating Christ's supremacy over the Old Testament Law, priesthood, and sacrifices, the author calls the Jewish Christian audience to commitment. Verses 10-12 specifically introduce the concept of "the altar" (Christ Himself) and the historical reality of certain Old Testament sin offerings and Christ's sacrifice taking place "outside the camp" or "outside the gate." This immediately sets the stage for verse 13, which calls the audience to follow Christ to this place of exclusion and reproach. The audience, primarily Jewish Christians, would have been highly tempted to revert to the familiar and socially acceptable practices of Judaism, which offered comfort and security, to escape the social pressure, persecution, and shame associated with identifying with a crucified Messiah. Thus, "going outside the camp" would mean forsaking their ties to Jerusalem's temple system and its social acceptance, fully aligning with the "outcast" status of Christ.

Hebrews 13 13 Word Analysis

• "Let us then go forth" (Greek: ἔξερχώμεθα, exerchōmetha): This is a present active subjunctive verb, used hortatively, meaning a call or exhortation for continuous, decisive action. It implies a voluntary, determined departure, not a passive expulsion. It signifies leaving behind that which provides earthly security, comfort, or accepted religious status to move towards Christ. It is a purposeful severance of allegiance.

• "to Him" (Greek: πρὸς αὐτόν, pros auton): The object and destination of this journey is specifically Jesus Christ. This highlights the Christ-centric nature of the call; it's about intimate identification and allegiance with Him above all else.

• "outside the camp" (Greek: ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς, exō tēs parembolēs):

  • Literal Reference: This phrase has deep roots in the Old Testament, particularly in Mosaic law. Defiled persons, things considered ritually impure, or specific sin offerings (like the bull and goat on the Day of Atonement, Lev 16:27; and the red heifer, Num 19:3) were taken and burned "outside the camp" to signify purification or removal of impurity and sin. Jesus, although sinless, became our sin offering (2 Cor 5:21) and was crucified "outside the gate" of Jerusalem (Heb 13:12; Jn 19:17), outside the sacred city, among the criminals, bearing the curse.
  • Metaphorical Meaning: "The camp" represents any system—religious, social, political, or cultural—that provides earthly comfort, identity, security, or acceptance but stands opposed to or is independent of true allegiance to Christ. For the original Jewish audience, this could literally mean the Temple system and the religious/social community of Judaism. For believers today, it can refer to prevailing societal norms, worldly values, comfort zones, or false religious institutions that compromise absolute loyalty to Christ. Going "outside" means a deliberate separation from such allegiances.

• "bearing" (Greek: φέροντες, pherontes): This is a present active participle, indicating an ongoing action. It suggests actively carrying, enduring, or participating in. It implies accepting the consequences and burdens that come with identifying with Christ, rather than merely passively suffering them. It requires active choice and perseverance.

• "His reproach" (Greek: τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν αὐτοῦ, ton oneidismon autou): This refers to the shame, public disgrace, scorn, ridicule, abuse, or dishonor that Jesus endured. He was reviled, mocked, falsely accused, and treated as a criminal and blasphemer, leading to a shameful public execution. Believers are called to expect and endure a similar "reproach" from a world that rejected and continues to reject Christ. This reproach can manifest as social ostracism, ridicule, professional setbacks, active persecution, or even martyrdom.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Let us then go forth to Him outside the camp": This phrase embodies the core command for a radical, Christ-directed pilgrimage. It signifies a decisive break from the old covenant system and any form of comfortable, human-centric security, moving specifically towards the rejected, crucified Christ. It's a call to join Him where He was deemed outcast, identifying with His humble and scandalous position rather than clinging to human status or comfort.
  • "bearing His reproach": This highlights the cost and the character of true discipleship. It's not a painless walk; it involves willingly embracing the same kind of contempt, shame, and suffering that Christ Himself endured. This isn't merely a consequence but a mark of authentic identification, signifying a life lived for Christ's glory over personal honor or worldly acceptance.

Hebrews 13 13 Bonus Section

• The Pilgrim Motif: This verse strongly reinforces the "pilgrim" motif prevalent throughout Hebrews (e.g., chapter 11). Believers are strangers and exiles in this world, continually seeking a "better country," a "city which has foundations." Going "outside the camp" solidifies this pilgrim identity, indicating that our true home and citizenship are not of this world, but with Christ.
• Paradox of Shame and Glory: The concept of "bearing His reproach" presents a profound paradox: true glory and spiritual richness are found in accepting what the world considers shameful. This echoes Christ's own path of humiliation leading to exaltation, promising that those who suffer with Him will also reign with Him (2 Tim 2:12).
• Sacrificial Living: The call to "go forth" implies a continued spiritual sacrifice—the giving up of self, comfort, and worldly approval for the sake of Christ. It is a daily surrender to His lordship, embodying the selfless spirit of the perfect High Priest.

Hebrews 13 13 Commentary

Hebrews 13:13 is a radical summons for believers to embrace a life of absolute devotion and identification with Jesus Christ, particularly in His suffering and rejection. The imagery of going "outside the camp" directly connects to Christ's sacrifice outside the city, where He was deemed a curse and impurity according to the Law, yet paradoxically became the means of our cleansing and new covenant reality. This verse challenges believers to detach from any comfort zone, social status, religious ritual, or cultural norm that offers an alternative "altar" or distracts from exclusive allegiance to Christ.

To "bear His reproach" is to willingly accept the disdain, ridicule, and persecution that come from identifying with Christ in a world that rejected Him and continues to reject His message. It means living as aliens and pilgrims, not seeking validation from human systems, but finding our true honor in sharing His shame. This command is both an ethical and eschatological call; it prepares believers for persecution while reinforcing their true identity as belonging to a heavenly citizenship, not bound by earthly ties or comforts. It underscores that true spiritual progress often means moving away from societal acceptance towards a costly, counter-cultural fidelity to Christ, who is our all-sufficient "Altar."