Hebrews 12:4-11

Context
12:4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed¹ in your struggle against sin. 12:5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons?

“My son, do not scorn² the Lord’s discipline

or give up when he corrects³ you.

12:6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”⁴

12:7 Endure your suffering⁵ as discipline;⁶ God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 12:8 But if you do not experience discipline,⁷ something all sons⁸ have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 12:9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from⁹ our earthly fathers¹⁰ and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?¹¹ 12:10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 12:11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.¹² But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness¹³ for those trained by it.

[12:4] ¹tn Grk “until blood.”

[12:5] ²tn Or “disregard,” “think little of.”

[12:5] ³tn Or “reproves,” “rebukes.” The Greek verb ἐλέγχω (elencw) implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.

[12:6] ⁴sn A quotation from Prov 3:11-12.

[12:7] ⁵tn Grk “endure,” with the object (“your suffering”) understood from the context.

[12:7] ⁶tn Or “in order to become disciplined.”

[12:8] ⁷tn Grk “you are without discipline.”

[12:8] ⁸tn Grk “all”; “sons” is implied by the context.

[12:9] ⁹tn Grk “we had our earthly fathers as discipliners.”

[12:9] ¹⁰tn Grk “the fathers of our flesh.” In Hebrews, “flesh” is a characteristic way of speaking about outward, physical, earthly life (cf. Heb 5:7; 9:10, 13), as opposed to the inward or spiritual dimensions of life.

[12:9] ¹¹tn Grk “and live.”

[12:11] ¹²tn Grk “all discipline at the time does not seem to be of joy, but of sorrow.”

[12:11] ¹³tn Grk “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”