Hebrews 13 2

Hebrews 13:2 kjv

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2 nkjv

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

Hebrews 13:2 niv

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2 esv

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2 nlt

Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Hebrews 13 verses

Hebrews 13 2 Meaning

This verse serves as a crucial exhortation within a section of practical commands for Christian living. It instructs believers not to forget or neglect the practice of hospitality towards strangers, providing a profound, divinely inspired reason: through this act, some individuals have unknowingly hosted divine messengers—angels. This highlights that ordinary acts of kindness, performed in faith, can have extraordinary, even supernatural, significance, connecting the practice of welcoming others with the hidden work of God's agents.

Hebrews 13 2 Context

Hebrews chapter 13 serves as a concluding section of practical exhortations following the rich theological exposition on the superiority of Christ. It transitions from deep doctrine to the daily conduct of Christian life. The preceding verse, Hebrews 13:1, sets the tone by calling for the continuation of "brotherly love." Hebrews 13:2, therefore, specifies an important outworking of this love: showing hospitality. The audience of the book of Hebrews were likely Jewish Christians who were tempted to revert to Judaism due to persecution or social pressure. They needed encouragement to persevere in their faith, practice active love, and endure hardship, knowing their true home is not of this world (Heb 11:13-16). In a world without inns and secure travel, hospitality was not just a kindness but a vital provision for safety and sustenance, particularly for itinerant preachers, fellow believers fleeing persecution, or other needy travelers. Neglecting this duty could have serious practical and spiritual implications for the early Christian community.

Hebrews 13 2 Word analysis

• Do not neglect (μὴ ἐπιλανθάνεσθε - mē epilanthanesthe): This is a present imperative with a negative, implying not merely a one-time omission, but a continuous failure to remember or give attention to something. It warns against habitually forgetting or actively overlooking the practice of hospitality. The sense is to "beware of forgetting," reminding them not to let the importance of this virtue slip from their minds or practice. It suggests a potential tendency among the recipients to slacken in this area, perhaps due to weariness or suspicion.
• to show hospitality (τῆς φιλοξενίας - tēs philoxenias): This Greek term literally means "love of strangers." It combines philos (love, friendship) and xenos (stranger, foreigner, guest). It's more than just providing a place to stay; it signifies a loving welcome and care for those who are unfamiliar or outside one's immediate circle, including traveling brothers, evangelists, or even pagans. It expresses a warm, embracing attitude rather than a grudging duty.
• to strangers (ξένους - xenous): Refers to those who are outside of one's known community, travelers, foreigners, or guests who are unfamiliar. In the ancient world, travelers relied heavily on the goodwill of others. This command extends brotherly love beyond fellow believers to a wider category of unknown individuals, reflecting God's heart for the alien and sojourner (Deut 10:18-19).
• for thereby (διὰ ταύτης γάρ - dia tautēs gar): This phrase indicates the reason or means by which the following statement is true. It means "for through this (act of hospitality)," implying that the act itself provides the opportunity for the outcome mentioned.
• some (τίνες - tines): An indefinite pronoun, meaning "certain ones" or "some people." It suggests that this isn't a universal experience for everyone who practices hospitality, but it is a genuine, documented occurrence that has happened to certain individuals in the past, implying it could happen again.
• have entertained (ἐξένισαν - exenisan): The aorist indicative verb here means "to host," "to lodge," or "to receive as a guest." It's derived from the same root xenos as "strangers" and "hospitality," reinforcing the direct link between the act of showing philoxenia and hosting.
• angels (ἀγγέλους - angelous): Greek for "messengers." While it can refer to human messengers, in the New Testament and its Old Testament context, it predominantly refers to divine, supernatural beings who act as God's emissaries. The examples referenced (Abraham, Lot) clearly point to divine beings.
• unawares (ἔλαθον - elathon): From the verb lanthano, meaning "to escape notice," "to be unperceived," or "to be hidden." The implication is that the hosts did not know at the time they were interacting with divine beings. This emphasizes the virtue of hospitality done purely out of a good heart, without seeking a reward or knowing the true identity of the guest, thus highlighting true generosity and selfless kindness.

Words-group analysis:

• "Do not neglect to show hospitality": This group highlights the importance of conscious, intentional action. It's not about being sporadically kind, but maintaining a consistent attitude and practice of welcoming. The negative imperative me epilanthanesthe implies that forgetting this duty is a real danger and needs to be actively resisted.
• "show hospitality to strangers": This phrase precisely defines the act: a warm, loving welcome extended specifically to those unknown, setting it apart from just entertaining friends or family. This broadens the scope of Christian love beyond one's immediate community.
• "for thereby some have entertained angels unawares": This is the core motivation presented. It connects an everyday act of kindness (hospitality) to an extraordinary, supernatural possibility. The "unawares" part is crucial, suggesting that true hospitality is done without ulterior motives, simply out of love, and yet God can surprisingly honor it by sending His own messengers. This connection encourages faithful action, regardless of who the recipient might be, because the recipient might be an emissary of God. It encourages active, spontaneous acts of mercy rather than a calculated, self-serving generosity.

Hebrews 13 2 Bonus section

The Greek word philoxenia itself stands in stark contrast to xenophobia (fear/hatred of strangers), a common human tendency. The exhortation in Hebrews 13:2 can be seen as a direct call for Christians to actively counter such tendencies, embracing the love of strangers as a defining characteristic of God's people. This virtue reflects God's own nature as one who "loves the sojourner" (Deut 10:18) and welcomed humanity into relationship with Him. The inclusion of the "angels unawares" highlights a deeper theological truth: God can and does work through seemingly ordinary interactions, blurring the lines between the mundane and the miraculous. This fosters an attitude of humility and expectancy, recognizing that every human encounter has the potential for divine encounter and blessed consequence, even if only perceived retrospectively. This also subtly reminds believers that faithful actions are often rewarded or honored in ways we cannot anticipate or even perceive in the moment.

Hebrews 13 2 Commentary

Hebrews 13:2 encapsulates a timeless Christian virtue: philoxenia, the "love of strangers" or hospitality. It’s presented not merely as a suggestion but as an imperative to be diligently practiced and never forgotten. This command echoes the deep-seated importance of welcoming outsiders, a theme prevalent throughout the Bible, rooted in Israel's own experience as sojourners in Egypt (Deut 10:19). For early Christians, often forming a counter-cultural community in a skeptical or hostile world, hospitality was vital. It was essential for itinerate evangelists and teachers who relied on the goodwill of fellow believers, and it strengthened the bonds of fellowship amidst persecution.

The verse's profound motivation ("for thereby some have entertained angels unawares") points directly to two pivotal Old Testament narratives: Abraham's welcome of three divine visitors by the oaks of Mamre (Gen 18) and Lot's receiving two angels in Sodom (Gen 19). In both cases, the hosts showed kindness to what appeared to be ordinary travelers, only to discover their true, celestial identity. The phrase "unawares" is critical; it emphasizes that the blessing was not contingent upon recognizing the guest's true nature. It champions hospitality as an act of pure faith and love, trusting that acts of kindness, performed with a sincere heart, are seen by God and can lead to unexpected, divine encounters.

This verse challenges believers to view every person, especially the stranger, as a potential vessel for God’s interaction, even if that person is not literally an angel but represents the "least of these" whom Christ identifies with (Matt 25:35-40). It elevates an everyday social grace to a spiritual discipline with eternal significance. Hospitality is thus portrayed as a practical outworking of faith and love, not just for others but as an act of service toward God Himself, with the promise of divine commendation and surprise encounters. This practice builds community, extends grace, and honors the God who commands us to love even our enemies.

Examples:

• Opening one's home to a new person at church who is without family nearby.
• Providing a meal or a place to rest for a traveling missionary or evangelist.
• Offering shelter or practical assistance to a refugee or immigrant in need, seeing them as those God calls us to love.