Hebrews 3 13

Hebrews 3:13 kjv

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:13 nkjv

but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:13 niv

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Hebrews 3:13 esv

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:13 nlt

You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

Hebrews 3 verses

Hebrews 3 13 Meaning

Hebrews 3:13 urges believers to continuously encourage and admonish each other while there is still time, preventing anyone from becoming spiritually unresponsive or disobedient due to the misleading nature of sin. It highlights the present as the crucial moment for faithful response to God's voice and warns against the subtle, dangerous path of neglecting one's faith which leads to hardening of the heart and falling away from the living God.

Hebrews 3 13 Context

Hebrews Chapter 3 presents a profound comparison between Jesus and Moses, highlighting Christ's supreme authority as God's Son and builder of His house, contrasted with Moses' role as a faithful servant in God's house. Following this theological foundation, the author pivots to a crucial warning in verses 7-19, drawing directly from Psalm 95:7-11. This Psalm recounts Israel's forty years of rebellion and unbelief in the wilderness, which led to God's sworn judgment that they would not enter His rest. Hebrews 3:13, therefore, serves as a solemn exhortation and a preventive command for the New Covenant community. It's a call to proactive spiritual vigilance, reminding the readers—Jewish believers facing persecution or temptation to drift—that they are not immune to the same spiritual hardening that befell their ancestors. The historical context indicates that these Jewish Christians might have been considering abandoning their faith in Christ and reverting to the perceived safety and familiarity of Old Covenant Judaism. The verse warns against allowing such a spiritual decline by emphasizing the necessity of ongoing mutual support and accountability within the Christian fellowship, guarding against sin's subtle corruption before it leads to irreversible apostasy.

Hebrews 3 13 Word analysis

• But (ἀλλὰ - alla): Introduces a strong contrast or shift in emphasis. Here, it transitions from the warning against having an evil, unbelieving heart (v.12) to the proactive spiritual discipline required to prevent it. It signals the imperative action that believers must take.
• exhort (παρακαλεῖτε - parakaleite): Present active imperative verb meaning "to call alongside," "to urge," "to encourage," "to admonish," or "to console." This is a continuous command for mutual support and warning against spiritual complacency. It implies a loving but firm call to obedience and steadfastness, much like the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
• one another (ἀλλήλους - allēlous): A reciprocal pronoun, highlighting that this responsibility is shared among all believers. It's not limited to church leaders but is a duty of every member of the body of Christ.
• daily (καθ’ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν - kath' hekastēn hēmeran): Literally "through each day" or "every day." This emphasizes the relentless, unceasing nature of the task. Spiritual vigilance and mutual care are not occasional activities but a constant discipline, counteracting the insidious, gradual hardening that sin can induce.
• while it is called Today (ἄχρις οὗ τὸ Σήμερον καλεῖται - achris hou to Sēmeron kaleitai): This phrase echoes Psalm 95, referring to the present season of grace and opportunity given by God to respond to His voice. "Today" is a divinely appointed period before judgment or a closing of the door of opportunity, underscoring the urgency and finite nature of the time to obey and endure.
• lest (ἵνα μὴ - hina mē): A conjunction that introduces a negative purpose clause. It indicates the grave consequence that the preceding action aims to prevent, emphasizing the danger to be avoided.
• any of you (τις ἐξ ὑμῶν - tis ex hymōn): "Any one of you" includes every individual in the community, regardless of their current spiritual standing. This shows the universality of the danger within the fellowship; no one is above the need for exhortation and no one is immune to potential falling away.
• be hardened (σκληρυνθῇ - sklērynthē): Aorist passive subjunctive verb, meaning "to become stiff," "obstinate," "unresponsive," or "calloused." This spiritual state makes it increasingly difficult to hear God's voice, repent, or believe. It describes a progression where an initially soft heart becomes insensitive and resistant to divine truth, leading to unbelief.
• through the deceitfulness (ἀπάτῃ - apatē): Dative singular noun, referring to trickery, delusion, fraud, or enticement. Sin's danger lies in its alluring, subtle, and deceptive nature. It doesn't appear as destructive initially; instead, it promises satisfaction, pleasure, or gain, concealing its true outcome of spiritual death and separation from God.
• of sin (τῆς ἁμαρτίας - tēs hamartias): Refers not just to individual acts of wrongdoing but to the inherent principle or power of sin that corrupts and alienates from God. It's a pervasive force seeking to enslave and lead hearts away from the living God.
• Group of words: "exhort one another daily": This phrase stresses the communal responsibility for ongoing spiritual maintenance. It’s a dynamic, mutual ministry within the body, essential for collective perseverance.
• Group of words: "while it is called Today": This phrase highlights the critical and fleeting nature of the present moment for faithful living and obedience. It contrasts with an uncertain or lost future where the opportunity may no longer exist.
• Group of words: "lest any of you be hardened": This emphasizes the potential for apostasy within the community, reinforcing the personal stake and dire consequences of neglecting the call to vigilance and perseverance.
• Group of words: "through the deceitfulness of sin": This identifies sin's primary method of attack—not brute force, but cunning and misleading allurements that blind individuals to its destructive end.

Hebrews 3 13 Bonus section

• The emphasis on "daily" reinforces that spiritual life is not stagnant but a constant journey, requiring continuous vigilance against spiritual drift. This combats the common tendency to defer spiritual responsibilities.
• The Greek word parakaleō for "exhort" carries connotations of encouraging in trials and also urging toward a right course of action. It's a robust concept that involves both comfort and challenge, empowering resilience in the face of temptation.
• The warning against "hardening" implies a process, not an instantaneous event. It's a slow erosion of spiritual sensitivity, often imperceptible to the one affected until it reaches a critical state. Mutual exhortation acts as an early warning system.
• This verse highlights the corporate nature of faith; believers are not isolated units but are interdependent, each playing a role in the spiritual well-being and perseverance of the whole body.
• The contrast between "Today" and potential future hardening mirrors the Old Testament warning to Israel, where delay and disobedience ultimately led to a generation missing out on God's promised rest. For New Testament believers, this implies missing out on God's eternal rest.

Hebrews 3 13 Commentary

Hebrews 3:13 delivers a powerful and urgent command to the Christian community: to constantly engage in mutual exhortation. This directive is born out of the sobering warning derived from Israel's history of unbelief in the wilderness. The command to "exhort one another daily" is a continuous imperative, signifying that vigilance against spiritual apathy is not a periodic check-up but an ongoing lifestyle of discipleship. This "daily" activity combats the gradual, subtle nature of sin, which does not announce itself as evil but entices through "deceitfulness," masking its true destructive potential until the heart becomes impervious to God's truth. "While it is called Today" underscores the brevity of this time of grace; the window of opportunity to respond to God's voice and avert a hardened heart is finite and urgent. Believers must leverage the present to reinforce one another’s faith, recognizing that individual spiritual fortitude is deeply intertwined with communal support and accountability. This collective watchfulness is the safeguard against succumbing to sin's alluring lies, which can lead to spiritual numbness and ultimate falling away from the living God. For practical application, this means fostering environments where genuine, compassionate spiritual conversations are common, where believers feel safe to share struggles, receive loving rebuke, and are reminded of God's unchanging truth and the need for daily obedience. It encourages regular attendance and active participation in corporate worship and fellowship.