Hebrews 6 · Verse 7

Hebrews 6:7

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

Hebrews 6:7, King James Version

Hebrews 6:7 in other translations

BSB	For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.
WEB	For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;
ASV	For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God:
YLT	For earth, that is drinking in the rain many times coming upon it, and is bringing forth herbs fit for those because of whom also it is dressed, doth partake of blessing from God,
DARBY	For ground which drinks the rain which comes often upon it, and produces useful herbs for those for whose sakes also it is tilled, partakes of blessing from God;
BBE	For a land, drinking in the frequent rain and producing good plants for those for whom it is worked, has a blessing from God:
Webster	For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs fit for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

What does Hebrews 6:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

7. the earth--rather as Greek (no article), "land." which drinketh in--Greek, "which has drunk in"; not merely receiving it on the surface. Answering to those who have enjoyed the privilege of Christian experiences, being in some sense renewed by the Holy Ghost; true alike of those who persevere and those who "fall away." the rain that cometh oft upon it--not merely failing over it, or towards it, but falling and resting upon it so as to cover it (the Greek genitive, not the accusative). The "oft" implies, on God's part, the riches of His abounding grace ("coming" spontaneously, and often); and, on the apostate's part, the wilful perversity whereby he has done continual despite to the oft-repeated motions of the Spirit. Compare "How often," Mt 23:37. The rain of heaven falls both on the elect and the apostates. bringeth forth--as the natural result of "having drunk in the rain." See above. herbs--provender. meet--fit. Such as the master of the soil wishes. The opposite of "rejected," He 6:8. by whom--rather as Greek, "for (that is, on account of) whom," namely, the lords of the soil; not the laborers, as English Version, namely, God and His Christ (1Co 3:9). The heart of man is the earth; man is the dresser; herbs are brought forth meet, not for the dresser, by whom, but for God, the owner of the soil, for whom it is dressed. The plural is general, the owners whoever they may be; here God. receiveth--"partaketh of." blessing--fruitfulness. Contrast God's curse causing unfruitfulness (Ge 3:17, 18); also spiritually (Jr 17:5-8). from God--Man's use of means is vain unless God bless (1Co 3:6, 7).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 7. For the earth. The design of the apostle by this comparison is apparent. It is to show the consequences of not making a proper use of all the privileges which Christians have, and the effect which would follow should those privileges fail to be improved. He says, it is like the earth. If that absorbs the rain, and produces an abundant harvest, it receives the Divine blessing. If not, it is cursed, or is worthless. The design is to show that if Christians should become like the barren earth, they would be cast away and lost.

Which drinketh in the rain. A comparison of the earth as if it were "thirsty"--a comparison that is common in all languages.

That cometh oft upon it. The frequent showers that fall. The object is, to describe fertile land which is often watered with the rains of heaven. The comparison of "drinking in" the rain is designed to distinguish a mellow soil which receives the rain, from hard or rocky rand where it runs off.

And bringeth forth herbs. The word herbs we now limit, in common discourse, to the small vegetables which die every year, and which are used as articles of food, or to such in general as have not ligneous or hard woody stems. The word here means anything which is cultivated in the earth as an article of food, and includes all kinds of grains.

Meet for them. Useful or appropriate to them.

By whom it is dressed. Marg. "for whom." The meaning is, on account of whom it is cultivated. The word "dressed" here means cultivated. Comp. Gen 2:15.

Receiveth blessing from God. Receives the Divine approbation. It is in accordance with his wishes and plans, and he stories upon it and blesses it. He does not curse it, as he does the desolate and barren soil. The language is figurative, and must be used to denote that which is an object of the Divine favour. God delights in the harvests which the earth brings forth; in the effects of dews and rains and suns, in causing beauty and abundance; and on much fields of beauty and plenty he looks down with pleasure. This does not mean, as I suppose, that he renders it more fertile and abundant, for

(1.) it cannot be shown that it is true that God thus rewards the earth for its fertility; and

(2.) such an interpretation would not accord well with the scope of the passage. The design is to show that a Christian who makes proper use of the means of growing in grace which God bestows upon him, and who does not apostatize, meets with the Divine favour and approbation. His course accords with the Divine intention and wishes, and he is a man on whom God will smile--as he seems to on the fertile earth.

(++) "earth" "land" (*) "meet" "useful" (1) "by" "for" (+) "dressed" "belong to" (a) "blessing" Ps 65:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain - As much as if he had said: In giving up such apostates as utterly incurable, we act as men do in cultivating their fields; for as the ground, which drinketh in the rain by which the providence of God waters it, brings forth fruit to compensate the toil of the tiller, and continues to be cultivated, God granting his blessing to the labors of the husbandman; so,

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 6:1-8

Every part of the truth and will of God should be set before all who profess the gospel, and be urged on their hearts and consciences. We should not be always speaking about outward things; these have their places and use, but often take up too much attention and time, which might be better employed. The humbled sinner who pleads guilty, and cries for mercy, can have no ground from this passage to be discouraged…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 6:1-8 →

Hebrews 6:7 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.

ΓῆGēLandG1093

γὰρgarforG1063

ἡhē<the>G3588

πιοῦσαpiousahaving drunk inG4095

τὸνtontheG3588

ἐπ᾽ep᾽uponG1909

αὐτῆςautēsitG846

ἐρχόμενονerchomenoncomingG2064

πολλάκιςpollakisoftenG4178

ὑετὸνhu'etonrainG5205

καὶkaiandG2532

τίκτουσαtiktousaproducingG5088

βοτάνηνbotanēnvegetationG1008

εὔθετονeuthetonusefulG2111

ἐκείνοιςekeinoisfor thoseG1565

δι᾽di᾽for the sake ofG1223

οὓςhouswhomG3739

καὶkaialsoG2532

γεωργεῖται,geōrgeitaiit is tilled,G1090

μεταλαμβάνειmetalambaneipartakesG3335

εὐλογίαςeulogiasof blessingG2129

ἀπὸapofromG575

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦ·theouGod;G2316

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

Cross references for Hebrews 6:7

Hosea 10:12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Psalms 65:9-13
Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. …
Isaiah 55:10-13
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Joel 2:21-26
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. …
Psalms 126:6
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Ezekiel 34:26
And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
Leviticus 25:21
Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.
James 5:7
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Psalms 24:5
He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Psalms 104:11-13
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
Malachi 3:10
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the earth.
De 28:11,12; Ps 65:9-13; 104:11-13; Isa 55:10-13; Joe 2:21-26
Jas 5:7
by. or, for. receiveth.
Ge 27:27; Le 25:21; Ps 24:5; 65:10; 126:6; Isa 44:3; Eze 34:26
Ho 10:12; Mal 3:10

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

Context

Hebrews 6:6
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hebrews 6:7
For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
Hebrews 6:8
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Read all of Hebrews 6

Hebrews 6:7 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque la tierra que embebe el agua que muchas veces vino sobre ella, y produce hierba provechosa á aquellos de los cuales es labrada, recibe bendición de Dios:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car la terre qui boit la pluie qui vient souvent sur elle, et qui produit des herbes utiles pour ceux pour qui elle est aussi labourée, reçoit de Dieu de la bénédiction;
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn das Land, welches den häufig über dasselbe kommenden Regen trinkt und nützliches Kraut hervorbringt für diejenigen, um derentwillen es auch bebaut wird, empfängt Segen von Gott;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Terra enim sæpe venientem super se bibens imbrem, et generans herbam opportunam illis, a quibus colitur, accipit benedictionem a Deo: