Hebrews 12 · Verse 6

Hebrews 12:6

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Hebrews 12:6, King James Version

Hebrews 12:6 in other translations

BSB	For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”
WEB	for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
ASV	For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
YLT	for whom the Lord doth love He doth chasten, and He scourgeth every son whom He receiveth;'
DARBY	for whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.
BBE	For the Lord sends punishment on his loved ones; everyone whom he takes as his son has experience of his rod.
Webster	For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

What does Hebrews 12:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

6. (Re 3:19.) and--Greek, "yea and," "and moreover"; bringing out an additional circumstance. scourgeth--which draws forth "blood" (He 12:4). receiveth--accepts. Takes to Himself as a son "in whom He delighteth" (Pr 3:12).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. This is also a quotation from Prov. 3. It means that it is a universal rule that God sends trials on those whom he truly loves. It does not, of course, mean that he sends chastisement which is not deserved; or that he sends it for the mere purpose of inflicting pain. That cannot be. But it means that, by his chastisements, he shows that he has a paternal care for us. He does not treat us with neglect and unconcern, as a father often does his illegitimate child. The very fact that he corrects us shows that he has towards us a father's feelings, and exercises towards us a paternal care. If he did not, he would let us go on without any attention, and leave us to pursue a course of sin that would involve us in ruin. To restrain and govern a child; to correct him when he errs, shows that there is a parental solicitude for him, and that he is not an outcast. And as there is in the life of every child of God something that deserves correction, it happens that it is universally true that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth."

And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Whom he receives or acknowledges as his child. This is not quoted literally from the Hebrew, but from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is, "even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." The general sense of the passage is retained, as is often the case in the quotations from the Old Testament. The meaning is the same as in the former part of the verse, that every one who becomes a child of God is treated by him with that watchful care which shows that he sustains towards him the paternal relation.

(b) "whom" Revv 3:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth - Here is the reason why we should neither neglect correction, nor faint under it: it is a proof of the fatherly love of God Almighty, and shows his most gracious designs towards us; from which we may be fully convinced that the affliction will prove the means of good to our souls, if we make a proper use of it. And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth - Μαστιγοι δε παντα υἱον, ὁν παραδεχεται. This is a quotation, literatim from the Septuagint, of Pro 3:12, of which place our version is: Even as the father the son in whom he delighteth. But, howsoever near this may appear to be the Hebrew, it bears scarcely any affinity to the apostle's words. The Hebrew text is as follows: וכאב את־בן ירצה uchab eth-ben yirtseh. Now, וכאב may be a noun, compounded of the conjunction ו vau, "and," the comparative particle כ ke, "as" or "like;" and אב ab, "a father:" or it may be the third person preterite kal of כאב caab, "he spoiled, wasted, marred, ulcerated," compounded with the conjunction ו vau, "and." And in this sense the Septuagint most evidently understood it; and it is so understood by the Arabic; and both readings seem to be combined by the Syriac and Chaldee versions. And as to רצה ratsah, one of its prime meanings is to accept, to receive graciously, to take into favor; the translation, therefore, of the Septuagint and apostle is perfectly consonant to the Hebrew text, and our version of Pro 3:12 is wrong.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 12:1-11

Chapter Outline An exhortation to be constant and persevere, The example of Christ is set forth, and the gracious design of God in all the sufferings believers endured. (1-11) Peace and holiness are recommended, with cautions against despising spiritual blessings. (12-17) The New Testament dispensation shown to be much more excellent than the Old. (18-29) Verses 1-11 The persevering obedience of faith in Christ, was…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 12:1-11 →

Hebrews 12:6 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὃνhonWhomG3739

γὰρgarforG1063

ἀγαπᾷagapaHe lovesG25

κύριος,kurios[the] LordG2962

παιδεύει,paideueidisciplines,G3811

μαστιγοῖmastigoiHe scourgesG3146

δὲdenowG1161

πάνταpantaeveryG3956

υἱὸνhuionsonG5207

ὃνhonwhomG3739

παραδέχεται.paradechetaiHe receives.G3858

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hebrews 12:6

Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Proverbs 3:12
For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Psalms 119:75
I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Proverbs 13:24
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Psalms 94:12
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;
Jeremiah 10:24
O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
Deuteronomy 8:5
Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.
Hebrews 12:7-8
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
2 Samuel 7:14
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
Psalms 32:1-5
A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. …
James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Psalms 119:71
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

whom.
De 8:5; Ps 32:1-5; 73:14,15; 89:30-34; 119:71,75; Pr 3:12; 13:24
Isa 27:9; Jer 10:24; Jas 1:12; 5:11; Re 3:19
and scourgeth.
7,8; 2Sa 7:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Hebrews 12:5
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Hebrews 12:6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Hebrews 12:7
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Read all of Hebrews 12

Hebrews 12:6 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque el Señor al que ama castiga, y azota á cualquiera que recibe por hijo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	car celui que le ✶Seigneur aime, il le discipline, et il fouette tout fils qu’il agrée ».
German Elberfelder 1871	denn wen der Herr liebt, den züchtigt er; er geißelt aber jeden Sohn, den er aufnimmt".
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quem enim diligit Dominus, castigat: flagellat autem omnem filium, quem recipit.