Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Hebrews 13:2 in other translations
| BSB | Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. |
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| WEB | Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. |
| ASV | Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. |
| YLT | of the hospitality be not forgetful, for through this unawares certain did entertain messengers; |
| DARBY | Be not forgetful of hospitality; for by it some have unawares entertained angels. |
| BBE | Take care to keep open house: because in this way some have had angels as their guests, without being conscious of it. |
| Webster | Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for by this some have entertained angels unawares. |
What does Hebrews 13:2 mean?
Barnes' Notes
For thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Without knowing that they were angels. As Abraham (Gen 18:2, seq.) and Lot did, Gen 19. The motive here urged for doing it is, that by entertaining the stranger we may perhaps be honoured with the presence of those whose society will be to us an honour and a blessing. It is not well for us to miss the opportunity of the presence, the conversation, and the prayers of the good. The influence of such guests in a family is worth more than it costs to entertain them. If there is danger that we may sometimes receive those of an opposite character, yet it is not wise, on account of such possible danger, to lose the opportunity of entertaining those whose presence would be a blessing. Many a parent owes the conversion of a child to the influence of a pious stranger in his family; and the hope that this may occur, or that our own souls may be blessed, should make us ready, at all proper times, to welcome the feet of the stranger to our doors. Many a man, if he had been accosted as Abraham was at the door of his tent by strangers, would have turned them rudely away; many a one in the situation of Lot would have sent the unknown guests rudely from his door; but who can estimate what would have been the results of such a course on the destiny of those good men and their families? For a great number of instances in which the heathen were supposed to have entertained the gods, though unknown to them, see Wetstein, in loc.
(c) "some" Gen 18:3, 14:2, 1Jn 4:7,20
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 13:1-6
The design of Christ in giving himself for us, is, that he may purchase to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; and true religion is the strongest bond of friendship. Here are earnest exhortations to several Christian duties, especially contentment. The sin opposed to this grace and duty is covetousness, an over-eager desire for the wealth of this world, with envy of those who have more than ourselves…
Hebrews 13:2 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Hebrews 13:2
- Matthew 25:35
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
- Genesis 18:1-19:3
And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: …
- 1 Peter 4:9
Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
- Romans 12:13
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
- Matthew 25:43
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
- Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- Leviticus 19:34
But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
- Deuteronomy 10:18-19
He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
- 1 Kings 17:10-16
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. …
- Titus 1:8
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
- Judges 13:15-25
And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the Lord. And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? …
- Job 31:32
The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Hebrews 13:1
Let brotherly love continue.
- Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
- Hebrews 13:3
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Hebrews 13:2 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | No olvidéis la hospitalidad, porque por ésta algunos, sin saberlo, hospedaron ángeles. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | N’oubliez pas l’hospitalité; car par elle quelques-uns, à leur insu, ont logé des anges. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Der Gastfreundschaft vergesset nicht, denn durch dieselbe haben etliche ohne ihr Wissen Engel beherbergt. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | et hospitalitatem nolite oblivisci: per hanc enim latuerunt quidam, angelis hospitio receptis. |