Hebrews 13 22

Hebrews 13:22 kjv

And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

Hebrews 13:22 nkjv

And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.

Hebrews 13:22 niv

Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.

Hebrews 13:22 esv

I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.

Hebrews 13:22 nlt

I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.

Hebrews 13 verses

Hebrews 13 22 Meaning

This verse serves as a direct, personal appeal from the author to the recipients of the letter. He humbly asks his readers, whom he addresses as "brothers," to patiently accept and internalize the message contained within the entire epistle. He characterizes the letter itself as a "word of exhortation" or "encouragement," affirming its primary purpose. The author then adds that his appeal is reasonable because the extensive and profound content of the letter has been delivered in a concise and brief manner. It is a request for attentive and receptive engagement with the weighty truths he has just presented.

Hebrews 13 22 Context

Hebrews chapter 13 concludes this profound theological treatise with practical exhortations, instructions for living, and a personal farewell. The chapter transitions from the deep doctrinal exposition of Christ's superiority and His perfect sacrifice (Heb 1-12) to everyday conduct for believers. It addresses themes like hospitality, purity of marriage, contentment, honoring leaders, endurance in suffering, prayer, and ultimately, relying on Christ as the unchangeable High Priest. Verse 22, positioned after a benediction and greetings, functions as a personal postscript or final word from the author, revealing his heart for his readers. He steps away from the majestic, almost sermonic tone to a direct plea for the effective reception of his powerful and challenging message, acknowledging that the depth of the letter’s content required their careful consideration. The entire book itself is widely understood as a "word of exhortation," aiming to encourage Jewish Christians, likely facing persecution and temptation to revert to old ways, to persevere in their faith in Christ, the ultimate reality, and not to turn back to shadows of the old covenant.

Hebrews 13 22 Word analysis

• I appeal (Greek: παρακαλῶ, parakalō):
  • Meaning: To call near, invite, urge, implore, beseech, exhort, comfort, encourage.
  • Significance: Not a command, but a polite, earnest request, revealing the author's humility and pastoral heart. It's an invitation for open-hearted reception, suggesting the message requires an active response from the reader. The term shares its root with parakletos (e.g., John 14:26), often translated as "Advocate" or "Comforter," indicating a powerful yet supportive appeal.
• to you (Greek: ὑμῖν, hymin):
  • Significance: Direct address, emphasizing the personal nature of the appeal. It highlights the letter is meant for these specific recipients facing specific challenges.
• brothers (Greek: ἀδελφοί, adelphoi):
  • Significance: A common New Testament address for fellow believers in Christ. It establishes a warm, familial bond and shared faith, reinforcing the pastoral concern and communal responsibility among the readers. It underscores that the author views them as spiritual kin.
• bear with (Greek: ἀνέχεσθε, anechesthe):
  • Meaning: To hold oneself up, endure, suffer, tolerate, put up with, be patient with.
  • Significance: This imperative implies the "word of exhortation" might be difficult, demanding, or even unpleasant to hear at times, given its themes of suffering, perseverance, and warnings against apostasy. It requests endurance and patience from the readers in processing the letter's content.
• my word (Greek: τοῦ λόγου μου, tou logou mou):
  • Significance: Refers to the entire preceding letter. The author sees the epistle not merely as a collection of facts, but as a living "word" designed to have an impact.
• of exhortation (Greek: τῆς παρακλήσεως, tēs paraklēseōs):
  • Meaning: From parakaleō; means exhortation, appeal, encouragement, comfort.
  • Significance: This describes the genre and primary purpose of the book of Hebrews. It is not just didactic teaching but aims to motivate, comfort, counsel, strengthen, and warn. It indicates the practical and pastoral intent behind the deep theology. This is consistent with scholarly understanding of Hebrews as a written sermon.
• for (Greek: γάρ, gar):
  • Significance: A conjunction introducing a reason or explanation. It links the appeal for patience to the perceived brevity of the letter.
• I have written (Greek: ἐπέστειλα, epesteila):
  • Meaning: From apostellō, to send forth, here specifically "to send a letter."
  • Significance: Highlights the medium of communication – a formal written message, conveying the weight and considered nature of its content. The perfect tense indicates the action is completed but its effect is ongoing.
• to you (Greek: ὑμῖν, hymin):
  • Significance: Repetition of the direct address, emphasizing the personal delivery and specific intended audience of the letter.
• briefly (Greek: διὰ βραχέων, dia bracheōn):
  • Meaning: "Through short [things/words]"; hence, concisely, briefly.
  • Significance: The author considers this lengthy and doctrinally rich epistle "brief." This could mean brief relative to the vastness of the subject matter, concise in its theological presentation, or perhaps a literary convention to disarm the readers. It suggests that despite its depth, the letter has distilled vital truths in a compact form, making it easier (or perhaps more necessary) to "bear with" or give it patient consideration. It encourages readers not to dismiss it for its length but to embrace its succinct power.

Hebrews 13 22 Bonus section

The designation of Hebrews as a "word of exhortation" (logos parakleseos) is a unique biblical self-identification for an epistle. This term was traditionally used in Hellenistic rhetoric for a formal, public address designed to encourage or persuade, similar to a sermon. The author of Hebrews, though unknown by name, thus identifies his work not merely as a private letter, but as a theological address intended for communal spiritual fortification. This implies it was meant to be read aloud and absorbed collectively by the early Christian community, fostering unity and perseverance in truth. Its form and content bear out this sermonic self-description, reflecting the structured logic and persuasive power characteristic of Greek oratory, but imbued with deep biblical revelation concerning the supremacy of Christ. This underscores the profound significance and pastoral intent behind the book, ensuring its relevance for Christians throughout history as an ongoing source of encouragement to hold fast to the living Christ.

Hebrews 13 22 Commentary

Hebrews 13:22 encapsulates the author's heart and the letter's essential nature. By calling his monumental work a "word of exhortation," he frames its purpose not primarily as a theological dissertation, but as a passionate pastoral appeal to Christians at a crossroads. This reveals a humble leader who appeals to shared identity ("brothers") rather than asserting authority. The plea to "bear with" the message indicates the potential discomfort or challenge some of its contents might pose, particularly its strong warnings against drifting away from faith and the call to endure suffering outside the camp. The author implicitly acknowledges that confronting deeply held Jewish traditions or urging steadfastness amidst persecution requires patient hearing. His final justification, "for I have written to you briefly," serves to mitigate any sense of being overwhelmed by the letter's profound theological arguments. Despite its weighty themes and extensive length in comparison to other biblical epistles, he portrays it as concise, making the demand for patient consideration reasonable. The brevity signifies not superficiality, but potent distillation, emphasizing that every word carries significant weight for their spiritual perseverance. Practically, this verse urges all readers of Hebrews to approach its words with diligence, openness, and a readiness to allow its message to reshape their faith and life, recognizing its design as encouragement from a concerned spiritual mentor.