Hebrews 12:14-17

Do Not Reject God’s Warning

12:14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, ¹  for without it no one will see the Lord. 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up ²  and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled. 12:16 And see to it that no one becomes ³  an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. ⁴  12:17 For you know that ⁵  later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing ⁶  with tears.

[12:14]  ¹ sn The references to peace and holiness show the close connection between this paragraph and the previous one. The pathway toward “holiness” and the need for it is cited in Heb 12:10 and 14. More importantly Prov 4:26-27 sets up the transition from one paragraph to the next: It urges people to stay on godly paths (Prov 4:26, quoted here in v. 13) and promises that God will lead them in peace if they do so (Prov 4:27 [LXX], quoted in v. 14).

[12:15]  ² tn Grk “that there not be any root of bitterness,” but referring figuratively to a person who causes trouble (as in Deut 29:17 [LXX] from which this is quoted).

[12:16]  ³ tn Grk “that there not be any,” continuing from v. 15.

[12:16]  ⁴ sn An allusion to Gen 27:34-41.

[12:17]  ⁵ tn Or a command: “for understand that.”

[12:17]  ⁶ tn Grk “it,” referring either to the repentance or the blessing. But the account in Gen 27:34-41 (which the author appeals to here) makes it clear that the blessing is what Esau sought. Thus in the translation the referent (the blessing) is specified for clarity.