HEB 13:5-14

Christʼs Unchanging Nature

5Keep your entire manner of life free from the love of money, being content with present circumstances; for he himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor will I ever abandon you,' [13:6] so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What will man do to me?' [13:7] Remember those who led you — those who spoke God's word to you — and, considering the outcome of their way of life, imitate their faith. [13:8] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. [13:9] Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace, not by foods — in which those who walked in them were not benefited. [13:10] We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. [13:11] For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Places by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. [13:12] Therefore Jesus also, in order to set apart the people through his own blood, suffered outside the gate. [13:13] Therefore let us go out to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach; [13:14] for here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is to come.

In the world it was spoken into

The exhortation to avoid covetousness and be content reflects the Greco-Roman philosophical ideal of self-sufficiency , particularly emphasized by Stoics, but here grounded in divine promise. The citation of Deuteronomy 31:6, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you,' reassures listeners of God’s enduring presence, countering the instability of Roman patronage systems. The call to remember leaders who spoke God’s word points to the role of synagogue or early Christian community leaders, whose lives were to be emulated for their faithfulness. The assertion that Jesus Christ is 'the same yesterday and today and forever' contrasts with the mutable nature of Roman emperors and deities, emphasizing Christ’s unchanging reliability. The warning against 'strange teachings' likely addresses competing Jewish or pagan influences, particularly those promoting ritual purity through food laws, which were a point of contention in early Christian communities. The mention of the 'Holy of Holies' shifts focus from the physical temple to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, redefining sacred space.

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How other translations render this

HEB 13:5

KJV: 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.
BSB: Keep 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.”
Koinōnos: Keep your entire manner of life free from the love of money, being content with present circumstances; for he himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor will I ever abandon you,

HEB 13:6

KJV: So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
BSB: So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Koinōnos: so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What will man do to me?

HEB 13:7

KJV: Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
BSB: Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Koinōnos: Remember those who led you — those who spoke God's word to you — and, considering the outcome of their way of life, imitate their faith.

HEB 13:8

KJV: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
BSB: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Koinōnos: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

HEB 13:9

KJV: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
BSB: Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.
Koinōnos: Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace, not by foods — in which those who walked in them were not benefited.

HEB 13:10

KJV: We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
BSB: We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
Koinōnos: We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

HEB 13:11

KJV: For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
BSB: Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp.
Koinōnos: For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Places by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.

HEB 13:12

KJV: Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
BSB: And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood.
Koinōnos: Therefore Jesus also, in order to set apart the people through his own blood, suffered outside the gate.

HEB 13:13

KJV: Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
BSB: Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.
Koinōnos: Therefore let us go out to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach;

HEB 13:14

KJV: For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
BSB: For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
Koinōnos: for here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is to come.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

HEB 13:5

[your] manner of life;:The word translated 'manner of life' refers to one's entire disposition, character, and way of living, encompassing both internal attitudes and external actions.

HEB 13:7

leading:The word translated 'leading' here implies not just guiding, but also ruling or governing, indicating a position of authority and responsibility.
way of life,:The term translated 'way of life' refers to one's conduct and behavior, often with an emphasis on how one interacts with others and lives in the world.

HEB 13:11

Holy [Places]:The phrase 'Holy Places' refers to specific, consecrated areas within the temple or tabernacle, set apart for sacred use and divine presence.