Hebrews 12 · Verse 7

Hebrews 12:7

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:7, King James Version

Hebrews 12:7 in other translations

BSBEndure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
WEBIt is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline?
ASVIt is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?
YLTif chastening ye endure, as to sons God beareth Himself to you, for who is a son whom a father doth not chasten?
DARBYYe endure for chastening,God conducts himself towards you as towards sons; for who is the son that the father chastens not?
BBEIt is for your training that you undergo these things; God is acting to you as a father does to his sons; for what son does not have punishment from his father?
WebsterIf ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons: for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

What does Hebrews 12:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. In He 12:7, 8 the need of "chastening" or "discipline" is inculcated; in He 12:9, the duty of those to whom it is administered. If--The oldest manuscripts read, "With a view to chastening (that is, since God's chastisement is with a view to your chastening, that is, disciplinary amelioration) endure patiently"; so Vulgate. Alford translates it as indicative, not so well, "It is for chastisement that ye are enduring." dealeth with you--"beareth Himself toward you" in the very act of chastening. what son is he--"What son is there" even in ordinary life? Much more God as to His sons (Is 48:10; Ac 14:22). The most eminent of God's saints were the most afflicted. God leads them by a way they know not (Is 42:16). We too much look at each trial by itself, instead of taking it in connection with the whole plan of our salvation, as if a traveller were to complain of the steepness and roughness of one turn in the path, without considering that it led him into green pastures, on the direct road to the city of habitation. The New Testament alone uses the Greek term for education (paideia), to express "discipline" or correction, as of a child by a wise father.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. If ye endure chastening. That is, if you undergo, or are called to experience correction. It does not mean here, "if you endure it patiently, or if you bear up under it," but if you are chastised or corrected by God." The affirmation does not relate to the manner of bearing it, but to the fact that we are disciplined.

God dealeth with you as with sons. He does not cast you off, and regard you as if you were in no way related to him.

For what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? That is, he evinces towards his son the care which shows that he sustains the relation of a father. If he deserves correction, he corrects him; and he aims, by all proper means, to exhibit the appropriate care and character of a father. And as we receive such attention from an earthly parent, we ought to expect to receive similar notice from our Father in heaven.

(c) "son" Prov 13:24

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 If ye endure chastening - If ye submit to his authority, humble yourselves under his hand, and pray for his blessing, you will find that he deals with you as beloved children, correcting you that he may make you partakers of his holiness. God dealeth with you as with sons - He acknowledges by this that you belong to the family, and that he, as your Father, has you under proper discipline. It is a maxim among the Jewish rabbins that "the love which is not conjoined with reproof is not genuine."

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 12:7 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.

εἰςeisAsG1519
παιδείανpaideiandisciplineG3809
ὑπομένετε,hupomeneteendure,G5278
ὡςhōsasG5613
υἱοῖςhuioissonsG5207
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
προσφέρεταιprospheretaiis treatingG4374
ὁho<the>G3588
θεός·theosGod;G2316
τίςtiswhatG5101
γὰρgarforG1063
υἱὸςhuiosson [is there]G5207
ὃνhonwhomG3739
οὐounotG3756
παιδεύειpaideueidisciplinesG3811
πατήρ;patēr[his] father?G3962

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

Cross references for Hebrews 12:7

  • Proverbs 19:18

    Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

  • Deuteronomy 8:5

    Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.

  • Proverbs 13:24

    He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

  • Proverbs 29:15

    The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

  • Proverbs 29:17

    Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

  • Proverbs 23:13-14

    Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

  • 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:

  • Job 34:31-32

    Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

  • 1 Kings 2:24-25

    Now therefore, as the Lord liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day. And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

  • 1 Samuel 3:13

    For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

  • Proverbs 22:15

    Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

  • 1 Kings 1:6

    And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
endure.
Job 34:31,32; Pr 19:18; 22:15; 23:13,14; 29:15,17; Ac 14:22
for what.
1Sa 2:29,34; 3:13; 1Ki 1:6; 2:24,25; Pr 13:24; 29:15

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

Context

  • 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?

  • Hebrews 12:8

    But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Read all of Hebrews 12

Hebrews 12:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si sufrís el castigo, Dios se os presenta como á hijos; porque ¿qué hijo es aquel á quien el padre no castiga?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Vous endurez des peines comme discipline: Dieu agit envers vous comme envers des fils, car qui est le fils que le père ne discipline pas?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Was ihr erduldet, ist zur Züchtigung: Gott handelt mit euch als mit Söhnen; denn wer ist ein Sohn, den der Vater nicht züchtigt?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In disciplina perseverate. Tamquam filiis vobis offert se Deus: quis enim filius, quem non corripit pater?