Hebrews 13 3

Hebrews 13:3 kjv

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Hebrews 13:3 nkjv

Remember the prisoners as if chained with them?those who are mistreated?since you yourselves are in the body also.

Hebrews 13:3 niv

Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Hebrews 13:3 esv

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

Hebrews 13:3 nlt

Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Hebrews 13 verses

Hebrews 13 3 Meaning

Hebrews 13:3 commands believers to actively remember and empathize with fellow Christians who are suffering persecution, specifically those imprisoned or ill-treated. The core of the command is to identify with them so profoundly that one feels as though they are enduring the same hardships. This empathetic solidarity is grounded in the shared human condition and vulnerability, recognizing that all believers are part of the same physical reality and potentially susceptible to similar adversities. It calls for practical love and compassionate action, moving beyond mere sympathy to genuine identification and support.

Hebrews 13 3 Context

Hebrews 13 concludes the letter with a series of practical ethical exhortations for believers on how to live out their faith. Following rich theological discussions on the supremacy of Christ, His priesthood, and the call to perseverance, the author shifts to direct commands related to daily conduct, community life, and spiritual responsibilities. The verses preceding 13:3 call for brotherly love (13:1) and hospitality (13:2). Historically, early Christians faced intermittent, yet severe, persecution, including imprisonment and various forms of mistreatment, often for their refusal to worship Roman gods or the emperor. This specific command is highly relevant to an audience who either had experienced or were actively experiencing such trials, or who were expected to demonstrate radical loyalty within their community when others did. The letter itself reminds them of past suffering and the importance of holding fast (Heb 10:32-34).

Hebrews 13 3 Word analysis

• Remember (Mnemoneuete - μνημονεύετε): This is not merely intellectual recollection but an active, practical, and continuous act of mindfulness. It implies keeping someone's condition so vividly in mind that it moves one to prayer, action, and genuine concern. It's an ongoing state of care, not a fleeting thought.
• those who are in prison (desmiōn - δεσμίων): Refers to those bound or chained, specifically prisoners. In the context of early Christianity, this almost always refers to fellow believers imprisoned for their faith, which was a common form of persecution. Prisons were not places of reform but holding cells, often unsanitary and dangerous, where prisoners relied heavily on external support for food, warmth, and even legal representation.
• as though in prison with them (hōs syndedesmenoi - ὡς συνδεδεμένοι): This is the heart of the command. Hōs means "as if" or "as though." Syndedesmenoi (having been bound together with) highlights an extraordinary degree of empathetic identification. It’s a call to vicariously share their physical and emotional pain, not just feel sympathy for them but feel as if you are bound with them. This implies a profound level of solidarity that drives tangible help.
• and those who are ill-treated (kakouchoumenoi - κακουχουμένοι): This broadens the scope beyond just imprisonment to any form of harsh treatment, affliction, hardship, or persecution. It implies those who are suffering badly, enduring evil treatment or enduring hard situations for their faith. This participle also indicates an ongoing state of being mistreated.
• since you yourselves also are in the body (epei kai autoi en sōmati este - ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν σώματι ἐστέ): This provides the fundamental reason and motivation for the command.
  • Epei means "since" or "because."
  • Kai autoi means "you yourselves also."
  • En sōmati este means "you are in a body," "you exist in a physical body."This phrase grounds empathy in shared humanity and shared vulnerability. It reminds the audience that they are susceptible to the same physical suffering, limitations, and injustices. It highlights that no one is immune to pain or adversity in this earthly life, creating a shared sense of susceptibility that should foster identification and compassion. It can also imply being part of the larger 'body' of Christ, where interdependence necessitates shared suffering and care.

Words-group analysis:

• "Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them": This phrase moves beyond intellectual recall to a deeply active and personal identification. It's a call to inhabit, imaginatively and empathetically, the suffering of the imprisoned, spurring concrete action motivated by radical solidarity.
• "and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body": This expands the scope of required compassion to all who are suffering affliction for their faith. The rationale "since you yourselves also are in the body" grounds this empathy in the reality of human vulnerability and the shared condition of life in the physical realm, reinforcing that no believer is immune from such suffering, making compassion a duty borne of shared existence.

Hebrews 13 3 Bonus section

The active and continuous nature of the Greek verbs in this verse (Mnemoneuete – "keep remembering," syndedesmenoi – "having been bound together with," kakouchoumenoi – "those continuously being ill-treated") underscores that this is not a one-time act but an ongoing, active posture of care. It challenges any inclination towards self-preservation at the expense of others, common in times of persecution. By emphasizing solidarity, the author combats the potential for spiritual apathy or neglect that could arise when believers face daunting pressures. This communal responsibility of carrying burdens strengthens the body of Christ, echoing the interdependence highlighted earlier in Paul's writings regarding the Church as a unified organism (e.g., 1 Cor 12). This verse serves as a crucial ethical guideline for the believing community, illustrating that true faith expresses itself in costly love for those who suffer for righteousness' sake.

Hebrews 13 3 Commentary

Hebrews 13:3 is a powerful call to radical empathy and practical solidarity within the Christian community. It demands more than just pity or intellectual awareness of others' suffering; it requires a profound, imaginative, and active identification with those undergoing imprisonment or ill-treatment for their faith. The command "as though in prison with them" means to genuinely feel and internalize their plight, prompting compassionate action as if one were enduring it oneself. The motivation for this deep empathy is rooted in shared humanity and the shared experience of living in a physical body susceptible to pain, hardship, and persecution. No one is above suffering, and this common vulnerability should knit believers together in active mutual care. This verse stands as a testament to the church's enduring call to be a community where no one suffers alone, fostering tangible acts of love, support, and advocacy for those most afflicted. For example, it calls Christians today to advocate for religious freedom for persecuted minorities, provide legal or financial aid to those unjustly imprisoned, or offer tangible support to families whose loved ones are suffering for their faith in oppressive regimes. It means ensuring practical care, remembering prayers, sending communications (where permitted), or providing other forms of solace to those confined and oppressed, acknowledging that "their struggle is our struggle" because we are all united in Christ.