Hebrews 13 4

Hebrews 13:4 kjv

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Hebrews 13:4 nkjv

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Hebrews 13:4 niv

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Hebrews 13:4 esv

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Hebrews 13:4 nlt

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

Hebrews 13 verses

Hebrews 13 4 Meaning

Hebrews 13:4 declares the sacred institution of marriage to be held in high esteem by all, with the marital relationship remaining pure and unblemished. It strongly condemns all forms of sexual immorality, stating unequivocally that God Himself will judge those who engage in fornication (sexual relations outside of marriage) and adultery (marital infidelity). The verse asserts that purity within the divinely established bounds of marriage is blessed, while sexual sin incurs certain divine retribution.

Hebrews 13 4 Context

Hebrews 13 is the concluding chapter of an exhortation to perseverance and practical holiness, following profound theological discussions on the superiority of Christ's person and priesthood. The recipients of this letter were likely Jewish Christians, facing discouragement, persecution, and temptation to revert to elements of their former faith or cultural practices. Chapter 13 shifts to various ethical and communal instructions. Before verse 4, the author calls for brotherly love, hospitality, and remembering those in prison and suffering. This moral instruction regarding marriage and sexual purity follows as part of the broader call to live a life worthy of Christ and the new covenant, in contrast to the worldly standards that often diminished the sacredness of marital bonds or promoted sexual permissiveness. It implicitly counters both any asceticism that might condemn marriage and any libertinism that would disregard sexual purity.

Hebrews 13 4 Word analysis

• Marriage (Greek: ho gamos, ὁ γάμος): Refers specifically to the state or institution of matrimony. It emphasizes the sacred bond established by God from creation, signifying a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman. Its inclusion here underscores its fundamental importance within the Christian community.
• is honourable (Greek: timios, τίμιος): Means precious, valuable, highly esteemed, held in honor. This is a declarative statement, asserting the inherent dignity and value of marriage as established by God. It is not merely permissible but profoundly worthy of respect.
• in all (Greek: en pasin, ἐν πᾶσιν): This phrase carries a double nuance:
  • "Among all [people]": Marriage is to be esteemed by everyone, both within and outside the Christian faith, as a universal good ordained by God. It calls for the wider society to recognize its sacredness.
  • "In all [respects/things]": Marriage is honorable in every aspect—its origin, purpose, and practice—including the physical intimacy within it. This counters any notion that marriage or marital relations are inherently impure or second-class.The primary emphasis, especially given the second half of the verse, is likely that it should be held in high esteem by all people, urging a societal and communal respect for its sanctity.
• and the bed (Greek: kai he koitē, καὶ ἡ κοίτη): Refers to the marital bed, a euphemism for the act of sexual intercourse within marriage. The "bed" here signifies the most intimate expression of the marital bond.
• undefiled (Greek: amiantos, ἀμίαντος): Means unstained, unpolluted, pure, clean. This refers to the purity and fidelity that must characterize the sexual relationship exclusively within marriage. It must not be defiled by adultery, fornication, or any form of impurity. This pure physical union within marriage is viewed as holy and blessed.
• but whoremongers (Greek: pornoi, πόρνοι): This term refers to fornicators or sexually immoral people in a broad sense. It covers all forms of illicit sexual activity, including prostitution, premarital sex, and other practices outside the marital covenant. It signifies those who indulge in generalized sexual impurity.
• and adulterers (Greek: moichoi, μοιχοί): Specifically refers to those who commit adultery—sexual unfaithfulness within a marriage, where one or both parties are married to someone else. It highlights a violation of marital vows and the covenant relationship.
  • "Whoremongers and adulterers": This grouping encompasses the two main categories of sexual sin: fornication (illicit sex in general, often implying single persons) and adultery (illicit sex involving married persons). Together, they cover the entire spectrum of sexual activity outside of God's design for marriage.
• God will judge (Greek: Theos krinei, Θεὸς κρινεῖ): A solemn declaration of divine judgment. "Will judge" (κρινεῖ) is a strong future indicative, emphasizing the certainty and inevitability of God's action. This judgment is not a mere human disapproval but a direct, authoritative, and inescapable condemnation from the divine Judge of all creation. It implies exclusion from His presence, eternal condemnation, and facing His wrath for rebellion against His holy standards.

Hebrews 13 4 Bonus section

The strong declaration of divine judgment ("God will judge") in Hebrews 13:4 is rooted deeply in the Old Covenant Law and prophetic warnings, showing a continuity in God's moral standards from Sinai to the New Covenant. The holiness of God requires purity in His people, and sexual integrity is a core component of that holiness. This verse functions as a practical outworking of the faith exhorted throughout Hebrews, linking sound doctrine to ethical conduct. The divine judgment referred to is not merely earthly consequence but ultimate accountability before God for eternal standing, underscoring the serious nature of sexual sin as an affront to the Creator. It stands as a timeless challenge for believers to pursue a lifestyle marked by sexual purity, upholding marriage as a sacred covenant reflecting Christ's faithfulness to His Church.

Hebrews 13 4 Commentary

Hebrews 13:4 is a powerful two-part statement contrasting the divine institution of marriage with sexual immorality and its consequences. First, it elevates marriage to a place of universal honor and sanctity. It challenges any teaching that might devalue marital union or promote asceticism that despises the physical expression of love within it. The purity of the marital "bed" signifies that sexual intimacy within the God-ordained covenant of marriage is not just permissible but sacred and undefiled. This affirms the beauty and holiness of the conjugal bond. Second, the verse issues a severe warning. By clearly defining "whoremongers" and "adulterers," the author comprehensively addresses sexual sin beyond the marital bond, whether it is premarital, extramarital, or any other form of illicit sexual conduct. The absolute certainty of "God will judge" underscores that such actions are not minor transgressions but grave offenses against a holy God. This judgment is an expression of God's righteous character, asserting that He will not overlook or condone defiance of His moral law concerning sexual purity. For the struggling believers to whom Hebrews was written, this served as a stark reminder to live holy lives, honouring God's design for relationships, even amidst cultural pressures and temptations to compromise their faith.