Hebrews 6:12 - A Call to Maturity (2024)

New International Version
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.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.English Standard Version
so that you may not be sluggish, 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.Berean Literal Bible
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those inheriting the promises through faith and patience.King James Bible
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience 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 American Standard Bible
so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises.NASB 1995
so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.NASB 1977
that you may 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.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.Christian Standard Bible
so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.Holman Christian Standard Bible
so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance. American Standard Version
that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And that you should not lose heart, but that you would be imitators of those who by faith and patience have become heirs of The Promise.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. Douay-Rheims Bible
That you become not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises. English Revised Version
that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are receiving the promises through faith and patience.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. International Standard Version
Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.Literal Standard Version
that you may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patient endurance are inheriting the promises.Majority Standard Bible
Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.New American Bible
so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises. NET Bible
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises. New Revised Standard Version
so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.New Heart English Bible
that you won't be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.Webster's Bible Translation
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.Weymouth 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.World English Bible
that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises. Young's Literal Translation
that ye may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patient endurance are inheriting the promises.Additional Translations ...

(12) That ye be not slothful.--Rather, that ye become not sluggish. The same word is used as in Hebrews 5:11, there applied to apprehension of truth, here to the Christian hope and life; if the truth be not welcomed, there will be no vigour in the life.

Followers.--Better, imitators. (Comp. Hebrews 13:7; 1Corinthians 11:1, et al.). They are not the first to whom "hope" has been given, and who have needed zeal that they might not fail of their hope. As in Hebrews 11 the writer appeals to precursors of faith, so here of hope; to men who, having lived in hope, passed to the actual possession of the promised blessings by means of faith (which accepted and clung to the promise) and patience. The last word is not that which occurs in the similar exhortation in Hebrews 10:36. That is a brave endurance; this is the word usually rendered "long-suffering," which here and in James 5:7 signifies patient waiting. . . .

Verse 12. - That ye become not slothful (νωθροὶ, the same word as was used in Hebrews 5:11, νωθροὶ ταῖς ἀκοαῖς. There, with regard to intelligence, they were accused of having already become so; here, n here a hopeful view is taken of their prospects, the writer delicately avoids implying that they were so yet in regard to their desire of making progress), but followers (i.e. following the example - surely a better English word than imitators) of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. The present participle κληρονομούντων does not confine the sense of the expression to those who are now so inheriting. Abraham being presently adduced as an example, it refits to all who at any time so inherit, equivalent to, "the inheritors of." The drift is - Faith and patience are ever required in order that the Divine promises, however assured, may be inherited: these qualifications (in opposition to your being νωθροὶ) are what you want for securing your own inheritance. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

Then
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

you will not be sluggish,
νωθροὶ (nōthroi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3576: Blunt, dull, hence spiritually; sluggish, remiss, slack. From a derivative of nothos; sluggish, i.e. lazy, or stupid.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

will imitate
μιμηταὶ (mimētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3402: An imitator, follower. From mimeomai; an imitator.

those who
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

through
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

faith
πίστεως (pisteōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

patience
μακροθυμίας (makrothymias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3115: Patience, forbearance, longsuffering. From the same as makrothumos; longanimity, i.e. forbearance or fortitude.

inherit
κληρονομούντων (klēronomountōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2816: To inherit, obtain (possess) by inheritance, acquire. From kleronomos; to be an heir to.

what has been promised.
ἐπαγγελίας (epangelias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1860: A promise. From epaggello; an announcement.

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Hebrews 6:12 Catholic BibleNT Letters: Hebrews 6:12 That you won't be sluggish but imitators (Heb. He. Hb)