Hebrews 13 · Verse 5

Hebrews 13:5

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5, King James Version

Hebrews 13:5 in other translations

BSBKeep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
WEBBe free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”
ASVBe ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.
YLTWithout covetousness the behaviour, being content with the things present, for He hath said, ‘No, I will not leave, no, nor forsake thee,'
DARBYLet your conversation be without love of money, satisfied with your present circumstances; for he has said, I will not leave thee, neither will I forsake thee.
BBEBe free from the love of money and pleased with the things which you have; for he himself has said, I will be with you at all times.
WebsterLet your manner of life be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

What does Hebrews 13:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. conversation--"manner of life." The love of filthy lust and the love of filthy lucre follow one another as closely akin, both alienating the heart from the Creator to the creature. such things as ye have--literally, "present things" (Php 4:11). I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee--A promise tantamount to this was given to Jacob (Ge 28:15), to Israel (De 31:6, 8), to Joshua (Jos 1:5), to Solomon (1Ch 28:20). It is therefore like a divine adage. What was said to them, extends also to us. He will neither withdraw His presence ("never leave thee") nor His help ("nor forsake thee") [Bengel].

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. Let your conversation. Your conduct--for so the word conversation is used in the Scriptures. Php 1:27.

Be without covetousness. Eph 5:3; Col 3:5.

And be to content with such things as ye have. Php 4:11,12; Mt 6:25, seq. The particular reason here given for contentment is, that God has promised never to leave his people. Compare with this the beautiful argument of the Saviour in Mt 6:25, seq.

For he hath said. That is, God has said.

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. See De 31:6, Josh 1:5; 1Chr 28:20. Substantially the same expression is found in each of those places, and all of them contain the principle on which the apostle here relies, that God will not forsake his people.

(*) "conversation" "conduct" (d) "content" Mt 6:25,34 (e) "hath said" Gen 28:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Let your conversation - That is, the whole tenor of your conduct, τροπος, the manner of your life, or rather the disposition of your hearts in reference to all your secular transactions; for in this sense the original is used by the best Greek writers. Be without covetousness - Desire nothing more than what God has given you; and especially covet nothing which the Divine Providence has given to another man, for this is the very spirit of robbery. Content with such things as ye have - Αρκουμενοι τοις παρουσιν· Being satisfied with present things. In one of the sentences of Phocylides we have a sentiment in nearly the same words as that of the apostle: Αρκεισθαι παρεουσι, και αλλοτριων απεχεσθαι· Be content with present things, and abstain from others. The covetous man is ever running out into futurity with insatiable desires after secular good; and, if this disposition be not checked, it increases as the subject of it increases in years. Covetousness is the vice of old age. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee - These words were, in sum, spoken to Joshua, Jos 1:5 : "As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." They were spoken also by David to Solomon, 1Chr 28:20 : "David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." The apostle, in referring to the same promises, feels authorized to strengthen the expressions, as the Christian dispensation affords more consolation and confidence in matters of this kind than the old covenant did. The words are peculiarly emphatic: Ου μη σε ανω, ουδ' ου μη σε εγκαταλιπω. There are no less than five negatives in this short sentence, and these connected with two verbs and one pronoun twice repeated. To give a literal translation is scarcely possible; it would run in this way: "No, I will not leave thee; no, neither will I not utterly forsake thee." Those who understand the genius of the Greek language, and look at the manner in which these negatives are placed in the sentence, will perceive at once how much the meaning is strengthened by them, and to what an emphatic and energetic affirmative they amount. This promise is made to those who are patiently bearing affliction or persecution for Christ's sake; and may be applied to any faithful soul in affliction, temptation, or adversity of any kind. Trust in the Lord with thy whole heart, and never lean to thy own understanding; for he hath said, "No, I will never leave thee; not I: I will never, never cast thee off."

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…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 13:1-6 →

Hebrews 13:5 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.

ἈφιλάργυροςAphilarguros[Let be] without covetousnessG866
ὁho<the>G3588
τρόπος·tropos[your] manner of life;G5158
ἀρκούμενοιarkoumenoibeing satisfiedG714
τοῖςtoiswith theG3588
παροῦσιν·parousinpresent;G3918
αὐτὸςautosHe HimselfG846
γὰρgarforG1063
εἴρηκεν·eirēkenhas said:G2046
οὐouCertainlyG3756
μήmēnotG3361
σεseyouG4771
ἀνῶ,anōshall I leave,G447
οὐδ᾽oud᾽norG3761
οὐoucertainlyG3756
μήmēnotG3361
σεseyouG4771
ἐγκαταλίπω·egkatalipōshall I forsake;G1459

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

Cross references for Hebrews 13:5

  • Deuteronomy 31:8

    And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

  • Joshua 1:5

    There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

  • Deuteronomy 31:6

    Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

  • 1 Samuel 12:22

    For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.

  • Isaiah 41:17

    When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

  • Psalms 37:25

    I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

  • Isaiah 41:10

    Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

  • 1 Chronicles 28:20

    And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

  • Matthew 6:25

    Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

  • Genesis 28:15

    And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

  • Matthew 6:34

    Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

  • Psalms 37:28

    For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
conversation.
Ex 20:17; Jos 7:21; Ps 10:3; 119:36; Jer 6:13; Eze 33:31; Mr 7:22
Lu 8:14; 12:15-21; 16:13,14; Ro 1:29; 1Co 5:11; 6:10; Eph 5:3,5
Col 3:5; 1Ti 3:3; 6:9,10; 2Pe 2:3,14; Jude 1:11
and be.
Ex 2:21; Mt 6:25,34; Lu 3:14; Php 4:11,12; 1Ti 6:6-8
I will.
Ge 28:15; De 31:6,8; Jos 1:5; 1Sa 12:22; 1Ch 28:20; Ps 37:25,28
Isa 41:10,17

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

Context

  • Hebrews 13:4

    Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

  • Hebrews 13:5

    Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

  • Hebrews 13:6

    So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Read all of Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sean las costumbres vuestras sin avaricia; contentos de lo presente; porque él dijo: No te desampararé, ni te dejaré.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que votre conduite soit sans avarice, étant contents de ce que vous avez présentement; car lui-même a dit: « Je ne te laisserai point et je ne t’abandonnerai point »;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Wandel sei ohne Geldliebe; begnüget euch mit dem, was vorhanden ist, denn er hat gesagt: "Ich will dich nicht versäumen, noch dich verlassen";
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sint mores sine avaritia, contenti præsentibus: ipse enim dixit: Non te deseram, neque derelinquam: