Hebrews 6:12

New Living Translation

Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

King James Version (1611)
That yee be not slothfull, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherite the promises.

King James Version
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

English Standard Version
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

New American Standard Bible
so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises.

New Century Version
We do not want you to become lazy. Be like those who through faith and patience will receive what God has promised.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Legacy Standard Bible
so that you may not become dull, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Berean Standard Bible
Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Contemporary English Version
Then you would never be lazy. You would be following the example of those who had faith and were patient until God kept his promise to them.

Complete Jewish Bible
so that you will not become sluggish, but will be imitators of those who by their trust and patience are receiving what has been promised.

Darby Translation
that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience have been inheritors of the promises.

Easy-to-Read Version
We don't want you to be lazy. We want you to be like those who, because of their faith and patience, will get what God has promised.

Geneva Bible (1587)
That ye be not slouthfull, but followers of them, which through faith and patience, inherite the promises.

George Lamsa Translation
And that you be not slothful, but be followers of those who through faith and patience have become heirs of the promise.

Good News Translation
We do not want you to become lazy, but to be like those who believe and are patient, and so receive what God has promised.

Lexham English Bible
in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience.

Literal Translation
that you not become dull, but imitators of those who through faith and longsuffering are inheriting the promises.

Amplified Bible
so that you will not be [spiritually] sluggish, but [will instead be] imitators of those who through faith [lean on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in His power] and by patient endurance [even when suffering] are [now] inheriting the promises.

American Standard Version
that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Bible in Basic English
So that you may not be slow in heart, but may take as your example those to whom God has given their heritage, because of their faith and their long waiting.

Hebrew Names Version
that you won't be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.

International Standard Version
Then, instead of being lazy, you will become imitators of those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.Hebrews 6:36;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
and that it be not cut off from you [fn] , but that ye be imitators of them who by fidelity and patience [fn] have become heirs of the promise.

Murdock Translation
and that ye faint not; but that ye be emulators of them who by faith and patience have become heirs of the promise.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
That ye faynt not, but be folowers of them which through fayth and pacience inherite the promises.

English Revised Version
that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

World English Bible
that you won't be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and long suffering inherited the promises.

Weymouth's New Testament
so that you may not become half-hearted, but be imitators of those who through faith and patient endurance are now heirs to the promises.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that ye be not maad slowe, but also sueris of hem, whiche bi feith and pacience schulen enherite the biheestis.

Update Bible Version
that you are not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Webster's Bible Translation
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

New English Translation
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

New King James Version
that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

New Life Bible
Do not be lazy. Be like those who have faith and have not given up. They will receive what God has promised them.

New Revised Standard
so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
In order that, not slothful, ye may become, but imitators of them who, through faith and patience, were becoming heirs of the promises.

Douay-Rheims Bible
That you become not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises.

Revised Standard Version
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
that ye faynt not but folowe them which thorow fayth and pacience inheret the promyses.

Young's Literal Translation
that ye may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patient endurance are inheriting the promises.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that ye faynte not, but folowe them which thorow faith and paciece inheret the promyses.

Mace New Testament (1729)
but imitate the example of those who by faith and patience have obtain'd the inheritance that was promis'd to them.

Simplified Cowboy Version
If you do, you'll avoid the canyons that lead to indifference and thick-headedness. Instead, you'll follow the trail of those who have gone on before you. They've reached the end and have received the promises of God, just like you can. You just got to keep going and never give up or give in.

Contextual Overview

⁹ Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. ¹¹ Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. ¹² Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance. ¹³ For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: ¹⁴ "I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number." ¹⁵ Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. ¹⁶ Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. ¹⁷ God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. ¹⁸ So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ye: Hebrews 5:11,*Gr: Proverbs 12:24, Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 15:19, Proverbs 18:9, Proverbs 24:30-34, Matthew 25:26, Romans 12:11, 2 Peter 1:10

but: Hebrews 12:1, Hebrews 13:7, Song of Solomon 1:8, Jeremiah 6:16, Romans 4:12, James 5:10, James 5:11, 1 Peter 3:5, 1 Peter 3:6

faith: Hebrews 6:15, Hebrews 10:36, Hebrews 11:8-16, Luke 8:15, Romans 2:7, Romans 8:25, Romans 8:26, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, Revelation 13:10, Revelation 14:12

inherit: Hebrews 1:14, Hebrews 10:36, Hebrews 11:9, Hebrews 11:17, Hebrews 11:33, Matthew 22:32, Luke 16:22, Luke 20:37, Luke 20:38, 1 John 2:25, Revelation 14:13

Reciprocal: Joshua 7:3 - about two Joshua 22:5 - take Judges 18:9 - be not Proverbs 2:20 - General Proverbs 6:6 - thou Proverbs 10:4 - becometh Proverbs 10:26 - so Proverbs 14:21 - he that hath Proverbs 26:14 - General Matthew 20:3 - standing Matthew 20:6 - Why Matthew 25:18 - and hid Acts 13:43 - persuaded Romans 12:12 - patient 1 Corinthians 11:1 - Be ye 2 Corinthians 1:20 - all Galatians 3:18 - but 2 Thessalonians 2:16 - good Hebrews 6:17 - the heirs Hebrews 13:22 - suffer 1 Peter 1:5 - through 2 Peter 1:6 - patience 2 Peter 1:8 - barren 3 John 1:11 - follow Revelation 2:3 - hast patience

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them.

Genesis 6:2
The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives.

Genesis 6:3
Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years."

Genesis 6:4
In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times.

Genesis 6:5
The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.

Genesis 6:8
But Noah found favor with the Lord .

Genesis 6:13
So God said to Noah, "I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!

Genesis 6:14
"Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior.

Genesis 6:15
Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.

Genesis 6:16
Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That ye be not slothful,.... With respect to hearing the word, and attendance on every ordinance; with respect to the use of means for the increase of knowledge, faith, and hope; and with respect to ministering to the saints; but on the contrary, should take every opportunity of improvement and doing good:

but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises; or things promised; not the land of Canaan, nor the coming of the Messiah; but either grace and salvation by Christ; or eternal Life, which is expressed by a promise, to show that it is not by any works, or merits of men; that it is wholly of grace, and shall certainly be enjoyed: and it is expressed in the plural number, "promises", because it is the grand promise, which is inclusive of all others; and because it has been given out at various times, and in different manners: and the possession of it being signified by "inheriting", it shows that this is their Father's gift and legacy, which they have as children; and which comes to them through the death of Christ, and of which the Spirit is the seal; and comes not by works of righteousness done by them: and the means through which saints that are gone before are come to the enjoyment of this happiness, are "faith and patience"; not that "faith" is the cause of, or what gives right to the inheritance, but it designs a course and walk of believing, at the end of which, saints come to glory; and faith is connected with salvation, and salvation with that; and through faith believers are preserved unto it: and "patience" is joined with faith, as a fruit and evidence of it; and supposes troubles which are patiently endured before men come to the possession of the inheritance: now the apostle exhorts these Hebrews to be followers and imitators of such, in diligence, faith, and patience, when they need not doubt of inheriting the same promised blessedness they do.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That ye be not slothful - Indolent; inactive. This was what he was especially desirous of guarding them against. By diligent and strenuous effort only could they secure themselves from the danger of apostasy.

But followers - Imitators - that you may live as they lived.

Of them who through faith and patience - By faith, or confidence in God, and by patience in suffering - referring to those who in times of trial had remained faithful to God, and had been admitted to heaven. In Hebrews 11:0, the apostle has given a long list of such persevering and faithful friends of God; see the notes on that chapter.

The promise - The promise of heaven.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hebrews 6:12. That ye be not slothful — This shows how the full assurance of hope is to be regulated and maintained. They must be diligent; slothfulness will deprive them both of hope and faith. That faith which worketh by love will maintain hope in its full and due exercise.

Followers of them — Μιμηται δε - κληρονομουντων τας επαγγελιας· That ye be mimics or imitators of them who are inheriting the promises. And they inherited these promises by faith in him who is invisible, and who, they knew, could not lie; and they patiently endured, through difficulties and adversities of every kind, and persevered unto death. "The promises made to Abraham and to his seed were,

1. That Abraham should have a numerous seed by faith as well as by natural descent.

2. That God would be a God to him and to his seed in their generations, by being the object of their worship and their protector.

3. That he would give them the possession of Canaan.

4. That he would bless all the nations of the earth in him.

5. That he would thus bless the nations through Christ, Abraham's seed.

6. That through Christ, likewise, he would bless the nations with the Gospel revelation. Four of these promises the believing Gentiles were inheriting at the time the apostle wrote this letter.

1. They were become Abraham's seed by faith.

2. God was become the object of their worship and their protector.

3. They were enjoying the knowledge of God in the Gospel Church, and the gifts of the Spirit. Galatians 3:4.

All these blessings were bestowed upon them through Christ. By observing that the believing Gentiles were actually inheriting the promises; i.e. the four promised blessings above mentioned, the apostle appealed to an undeniable fact, in proof that the believing Gentiles, equally with the believing Jews, were heirs of the promises made to Abraham and his seed." See Dr. Macknight. The promises may be considered as referring to the rest of faith here, and the rest of glory hereafter.