Hebrews 3 4

Hebrews 3:4 kjv

For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Hebrews 3:4 nkjv

For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.

Hebrews 3:4 niv

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

Hebrews 3:4 esv

(For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)

Hebrews 3:4 nlt

For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.

Hebrews 3 verses

Hebrews 3 4 Meaning

Hebrews 3:4 presents an axiomatic truth: just as every physical structure has an architect or builder, so too, the entire universe, with its inherent order and design, must have a supreme Builder. This ultimate Creator of "all things" is identified unequivocally as God. The verse serves as a foundational premise within the Epistle to the Hebrews, establishing the preeminence of God's creative work before highlighting Christ's superior position over the "house" that God built. It's a statement of ultimate causation, positing divine creation as the source of all existence.

Hebrews 3 4 Context

Hebrews 3 focuses on comparing the faithfulness of Moses with that of Christ, ultimately asserting Christ's greater glory and preeminence. The author is addressing Jewish Christians, who would naturally revere Moses as the foundational figure of the old covenant and Israel's deliverer. Verse 4 serves as a pivotal, logical axiom within this comparison. Having established in Hebrews 3:3 that Jesus has been found worthy of greater glory than Moses, precisely because the builder has more honor than the house, verse 4 lays down the universal principle that supports this: every house (a physical dwelling, a family, a community) must have a builder, implying that nothing comes into existence by itself. The profound implication, then, is that the ultimate "house" – the cosmos, the people of God, the entire created order – must therefore have God as its sole and supreme Builder. This sets the stage for Moses' role in the house versus Christ's superior role over God's house, which is ultimately God's creation. Historically, this aligns with Jewish understanding of YHWH as Creator and sustained by God as their foundation.

Hebrews 3 4 Word analysis

• For (γαρ - gar): This conjunction connects the verse to the preceding one (Heb 3:3), indicating that it provides the reason or explanation for the statement about the builder having more honor than the house. It signals an underlying logical principle that will support the author's argument for Christ's supremacy.

• every house (πας οικος - pas oikos): "Pas" means "every" or "all," signifying a universal principle, leaving no exceptions. "Oikos" has a rich semantic range in Greek. While literally meaning a physical "house" or "dwelling," in broader biblical usage, especially in Hebrews, it also signifies a "household," "family," "people," or even the "temple" or "spiritual community." Here, it first evokes the common understanding of a built structure, but contextually, it soon expands to encompass the "house of God" (God's people, the spiritual Israel).

• is built (κατασκευαζεται - kataskeuazetai): This is in the present passive indicative, meaning "is constructed," "is prepared," or "is furnished." The passive voice implies an external agent doing the building. It speaks to the action of bringing something into existence through design and construction, signifying deliberate planning.

• by someone (υπο τινος - hypo tinos): "Hypo" indicates agency, "tinos" means "someone" or "anyone." This emphasizes that something is the cause or agent behind the construction. It reinforces the universal law that creation necessitates a creator.

• but (δε - de): This adversative conjunction introduces a sharp contrast or a logical progression. It shifts the focus from the general principle of any house needing a builder to the specific, grand reality concerning the ultimate "house."

• the builder (ο κατασκευασας - ho kataskeuasas): This is an aorist active participle, meaning "the one who built" or "the one who constructed." The definite article "ho" points to a specific, unique Builder. The use of the active voice emphasizes the deliberate and volitional action of the Creator.

• of all things (τα παντα - ta panta): "Ta panta" means "all things," "the whole," or "the universe." This expands the scope from a simple "house" to the entirety of creation. It implies comprehensive control, design, and origination of everything that exists. It distinguishes the singular, ultimate Creator from any mere human builder.

• is God (θεος - theos): This is the clear identification of the supreme Builder. "Theos" (God) here refers to the one, true God, the Yahweh of the Old Testament. This declaration firmly roots the argument in a foundational biblical and theological truth – that the existence and intricate order of the universe testify to an intelligent, powerful, divine Creator.

• "For every house is built by someone...": This phrase introduces an observable, universally accepted principle from human experience. It's a statement of self-evident truth that even simple human structures don't just appear but are designed and built. It sets up an a fortiori argument (from the lesser to the greater), a common rhetorical device in ancient writings.

• "...but the builder of all things is God.": This is the profound conclusion derived from the initial axiom. If a small house requires a builder, then the vast, intricate, and awe-inspiring universe (comprising "all things") absolutely demands a Builder infinitely greater than any human architect, and that ultimate Builder is God. This implicitly contrasts the true God with any pagan deities or with the idea of a universe arising by chance.

Hebrews 3 4 Bonus section

The underlying logic of Hebrews 3:4 reflects an argument for the existence of God that closely aligns with what is often termed the "cosmological argument" or the "argument from design." It posits that the existence of the universe (the "all things") implies a first cause or a grand designer. The clarity and simplicity of the statement—"every house... but the builder of all things"—make it an undeniable point of departure for any discussion about ultimate reality. The "house" imagery, deeply significant for the original audience familiar with the Tabernacle and Temple, links physical dwelling to a spiritual reality, further implying God's active involvement in establishing both physical laws and spiritual communities.

Hebrews 3 4 Commentary

Hebrews 3:4 is a concise theological axiom that grounds the author's argument in the absolute sovereignty of God as Creator. It establishes a non-negotiable principle: no complex structure or ordered system comes into existence without a prior intelligence and intentional action. The initial part, "For every house is built by someone," serves as a universally understood truth, even for those with no particular religious belief; we see order and infer design, which necessitates a designer. The "house" initially refers to any dwelling, but within the larger context of Hebrews 3, where Moses is described as being "faithful in all God's house," it extends to mean the spiritual household or people of God, as well as the entire cosmos.

The climax of the verse, "but the builder of all things is God," directly applies this axiom to the greatest possible "house"—the universe itself ("all things"). This affirms monotheism and the biblical doctrine of creatio ex nihilo (creation out of nothing), emphasizing God's unique and unassisted role as the Prime Mover. This statement sets a crucial backdrop for the ensuing discussion about Moses's faithful servantship within God's house, contrasting it with Christ's ultimate faithfulness over God's house as the divine Son. Moses built within the structure; God (and through Him, Christ) built the very structure itself. The logic ensures that God alone receives ultimate honor as the Author and Sustainer of all existence, providing the framework for understanding Christ's supreme glory.