Hebrews 13:17

Authorized King James Version (1611)

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Πείθεσθε τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ὑμῶν, καὶ ὑπείκετε: αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀγρυπνοῦσιν ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν, ὡς λόγον ἀποδώσοντες, ἵνα μετὰ χαρᾶς τοῦτο ποιῶσιν, καὶ μὴ στενάζοντες: ἀλυσιτελὲς γὰρ ὑμῖν τοῦτο.

Transliteration

Peithesthe the hēgoumenois of you, kai hypeikete: autoi gar agrypnousin over the psychōn of you, hōs logon apodōsontes, in order that with charas this they poiōsin, kai mē stenazontes: alysiteles gar to you this.

Grammar Details

• *peithesthe*: imperative, present, middle/passive, 2nd person, plural - obey/be persuaded by
• *hēgoumenois*: present, middle/passive, participle, dative, masculine, plural - leaders/rulers
• *kai*: conjunction - and
• *hypeikete*: imperative, present, active, 2nd person, plural - submit/yield to
• *autoi*: intensive pronoun, nominative, masculine, plural - they themselves
• *gar*: postpositive conjunction - for/because
• *agrypnousin*: present, active, indicative, 3rd person, plural - they keep watch/stay awake
• *psychōn*: genitive, feminine, plural - souls
• *hōs*: comparative particle - as
• *logon*: accusative, masculine, singular - account
• *apodōsontes*: future, active, participle, nominative, masculine, plural - about to give/render
• *charas*: genitive, feminine, singular - joy
• *poiōsin*: present, active, subjunctive, 3rd person, plural - they may do
• *mē*: negative particle - not
• *stenazontes*: present, active, participle, nominative, masculine, plural - groaning/sighing
• *alysiteles*: nominative, neuter, singular, adjective - unprofitable

Word Meanings

• *peithesthe*: obey/be persuaded by/trust/comply with
• *hēgoumenois*: leaders/rulers/guides
• *hypeikete*: submit/yield to/give way to
• *agrypnousin*: keep watch/stay awake/are vigilant/alert
• *psychōn*: souls/lives
• *logon*: account/word/report
• *apodōsontes*: about to give/render/return/pay back
• *stenazontes*: groaning/sighing/lamenting
• *alysiteles*: unprofitable/disadvantageous/harmful

Referenced Verses

• Acts 20:28 : 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
• Heb 13:7 : 7 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.
• 1 Tim 5:17 : 17 ¶ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
• 1 Pet 5:2-3 : 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
• 1 Thess 5:12-13 : 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves.
• Heb 13:24 : 24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
• 1 Pet 5:5 : 5 ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
• 1 Sam 15:19-20 : 19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? 20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
• Exod 32:31 : 31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
• Ezek 33:7-9 : 7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked [man], thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
• 1 Cor 4:1-2 : 1 ¶ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
• 1 Cor 16:16 : 16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with [us], and laboureth.
• 2 Cor 5:10-11 : 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
• Eph 5:21 : 21 ¶ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
• Phil 1:4 : 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
• Phil 2:12 : 12 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
• Phil 2:16 : 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
• Phil 2:29 : 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
• Phil 3:18 : 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
• Phil 4:1 : 1 ¶ Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, [my] dearly beloved.
• 1 Thess 2:19-20 : 19 For what [is] our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? [Are] not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy.
• 1 Thess 3:9-9 : 9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
• Luke 16:2 : 2 ‹And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.›
• Acts 20:24-26 : 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I [am] pure from the blood of all [men].
• 1 Sam 8:19 : 19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
• Prov 5:13 : 13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
• Isa 62:6 : 6 ¶ I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
• Jer 13:17 : 17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for [your] pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.
• Ezek 3:17-21 : 17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20 Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous [man], that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
• Ezek 33:2 : 2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
• Jas 4:7 : 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• Gen 16:9 : 9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
• 2 Thess 3:14 : 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
• Rom 14:12 : 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.