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Hebrews 12

Heb. 12:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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Wherefore
toigaroun (Greek #5105)
truly for then, i.e. consequently
KJV usage: there-(where-)fore.
Pronounce: toy-gar-oon'
Origin: from 5104 and 1063 and 3767
seeing
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
we
hemeis (Greek #2249)
we (only used when emphatic)
KJV usage: us, we (ourselves).
Pronounce: hay-mice'
Origin: nominative plural of 1473
also
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
are compassed about with
perikeimai (Greek #4029)
to lie all around, i.e. inclose, encircle, hamper (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: be bound (compassed) with, hang about.
Pronounce: per-ik'-i-mahee
Origin: from 4012 and 2749
so great
hemin (Greek #2254)
to (or for, with, by) us
KJV usage: our, (for) us, we.
Pronounce: hay-meen'
Origin: dative case plural of 1473
tosoutos (Greek #5118)
so vast as this, i.e. such (in quantity, amount, number of space)
KJV usage: as large, so great (long, many, much), these many.
Pronounce: tos-oo'-tos
Origin: from τόσος (so much; apparently from 3588 and 3739) and 3778 (including its variations)
a cloud
nephos (Greek #3509)
a cloud
KJV usage: cloud.
Pronounce: nef'-os
Origin: apparently a primary word
of witnesses
martus (Greek #3144)
a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a "martyr"
KJV usage: martyr, record, witness.
Pronounce: mar'-toos
Origin: of uncertain affinity
, let us lay aside
apotithemi (Greek #659)
to put away (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: cast off, lay apart (aside, down), put away (off).
Pronounce: ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee
Origin: from 575 and 5087
g every
pas (Greek #3956)
apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole
KJV usage: all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
Pronounce: pas
Origin: including all the forms of declension
weight
ogkos (Greek #3591)
a mass (as bending or bulging by its load), i.e. burden (hindrance)
KJV usage: weight.
Pronounce: ong'-kos
Origin: probably from the same as 43
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
the sin
hamartia (Greek #266)
a sin (properly abstract)
KJV usage: offence, sin(-ful).
Pronounce: ham-ar-tee'-ah
Origin: from 264
which doth so easily beset
euperistatos (Greek #2139)
well standing around, i.e. (a competitor) thwarting (a racer) in every direction (figuratively, of sin in genitive case)
KJV usage: which doth so easily beset.
Pronounce: yoo-per-is'-tat-os
Origin: from 2095 and a derivative of a presumed compound of 4012 and 2476
us, and let us run
trecho (Greek #5143)
which uses δρέμω (drem'-o) (the base of 1408) as alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: have course, run.
Pronounce: trekh'-o
Origin: apparently a primary verb (properly, τρέχω; compare 2359)
with
dia (Greek #1223)
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
KJV usage: after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
Pronounce: dee-ah'
Origin: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act
patience
hupomone (Greek #5281)
cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy
KJV usage: enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
Pronounce: hoop-om-on-ay'
Origin: from 5278
the race
agon (Greek #73)
properly, a place of assembly (as if led), i.e. (by implication) a contest (held there); figuratively, an effort or anxiety
KJV usage: conflict, contention, fight, race.
Pronounce: ag-one'
Origin: from 71
that is set before
prokeimai (Greek #4295)
to lie before the view, i.e. (figuratively) to be present (to the mind), to stand forth (as an example or reward)
KJV usage: be first, set before (forth).
Pronounce: prok'-i-mahee
Origin: from 4253 and 2749
us
hemin (Greek #2254)
to (or for, with, by) us
KJV usage: our, (for) us, we.
Pronounce: hay-meen'
Origin: dative case plural of 1473
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ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections

More on:

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Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-21:  An exhortation to constant faith, patience, and godliness.
22-29:  A commendation of the new testament above the old.
seeing.
Heb. 11:2‑38• 2For in [virtue of] this the elders were witnessed of.
3By faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by God's word, so that the [things] beheld have not derived their being out of [things] apparent.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by which it was witnessed that he was righteous, God witnessing in respect of his gifts; and through it he, having died, yet speaketh.
5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and was not found because God translated him; for before the translation, it hath been witnessed that he had pleased God.
6But apart from faith [it is] impossible to please [him], for he that approacheth to God must believe that he is, and becometh a rewarder of those that seek him out.
7By faith Noah, oracularly warned of things not yet beheld, moved with fear, constructed an ark for saving his house, by which he condemned the world and became heir of righteousness that is according to faith.
8By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and went out not knowing where he was going.
9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as not his own, dwelling as he did in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint-heirs of the same promise;
10for he waited for the city that hath the foundations, of which God is architect and master-builder.
11By faith also Sarah herself received power for deposition of seed even beyond season of age, since she counted faithful him that promised.
12Wherefore also there were born from one, and that one become dead, even as the stars of the heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand that is by the sea-shore.
13All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and greeted, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
14For they that say such things make plain that they seek out a country.
15And if indeed they called to mind that from which they went out, they might have had opportunity to return;
16but now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he prepared for them a city.
17By faith Abraham when tried offered up Isaac, and he that received to himself the promises was offering his only-begotten
18as to whom it was spoken, In Isaac shall thy seed be called;
19accounting that God [is] able to raise even from out of dead [men], whence also he received him back in parable.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob when dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped on the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph when ending life called to mind the going forth of the sons of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23By faith Moses when born was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child beautiful; and they did not fear the order of the king.
24By faith Moses when become great refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to have temporary pleasure of sin,
26counting the Christ's reproach greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked off unto the recompense.
27By faith he left Egypt, not afraid of the wrath of the king; for he persevered as seeing the Invisible.
28By faith he hath celebrated the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as through dry land, of which the Egyptians made trial and were swallowed up.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled seven days.
31By faith Rahab the harlot perished not along with the disobedient, having received the spies with peace.
32And what more do I say? For the time would fail me telling of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets;
33who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped lions' mouths,
34quenched fire's power, escaped sword's edge, were strengthened from weakness, became mighty in war, put to flight armies of aliens.
35Women received their dead again by resurrection; and others were tortured, not having accepted their deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection;
36and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea and of bonds and imprisonment.
37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they died by slaughter of sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
38(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and the chinks of the earth.
(Heb. 11:2‑38)
a cloud.
witnesses.
let us lay.
Matt. 10:37‑38• 37{i}He who loves father or mother above me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter above me is not worthy of me.{/i}
38{i}And he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.{/i}
(Matt. 10:37‑38)
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Luke 8:14• 14{i}But that that fell where the thorns were, these are they who{/i} having heard, go away, and are choked under the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection. (Luke 8:14)
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Luke 9:59‑62• 59{i}And{/i} he said to another, Follow me. {i}But he said,{/i} Lord, allow me to go first and bury my father.
60{i}But Jesus said to him,{/i} Suffer the dead to bury their own dead, but do thou go and announce the kingdom of God.
61{i}And another also said,{/i} I will follow thee, Lord; but first allow me to bid adieu to those at my house.
62{i}But Jesus said to him,{/i} No one, having laid his hand on [the] plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.
(Luke 9:59‑62)
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Luke 12:15• 15{i}And{/i} he said to them, Take heed and keep yourselves from all covetousness, for [it is] not because a man is in abundance [that] his life is in his possessions. (Luke 12:15)
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Luke 14:26‑33• 26If any man come to me, and shall not hate his own father, and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters; yea and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple;
27{i}and{/i} whoever doth not carry his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28{i}For which of you, desirous of building a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, if he have what [is needed] to complete it;{/i}
29{i}in order that, having laid the foundation of it, and not being able to finish it, all who see it do not begin to mock at him,{/i}
30{i}saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish?{/i}
31{i}Or what king, going on his way to engage in war with another king, does not, sitting down first, take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him coming against him with twenty thousand?{/i}
32{i}and if not, while he is yet far off, having sent an embassy, he asks for terms of peace.{/i}
33Thus, then, every one of you who forsaketh not all his own possessions cannot be my disciple.
(Luke 14:26‑33)
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Luke 18:22‑25• 22And Jesus on hearing [this] said to him, One thing is lacking to thee yet: sell all that thou hast and distribute to poor [men], and thou shalt have treasure in the heavens; and come, follow me.
23But he on hearing these things became very sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich.
24And Jesus having seen him [become very sorrowful] said, How difficult shall those who have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25For it is easier for a camel to enter through a needle's eye than for a rich [man] to enter into the kingdom of God.
(Luke 18:22‑25)
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Luke 21:34• 34But take heed to yourselves lest possibly your hearts be weighed down with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of life, and that day come upon you suddenly unawares, (Luke 21:34)
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Rom. 13:11‑14• 11And this, knowing the time, that [it is] already time that we should awake from sleep; for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12The night is far spent, and the day is near: let us therefore put off the deeds of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13As in daylight, let us walk becomingly, not in revels and drunkenness, not in chambering and indecency, not in strife and envy;
14but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and take no forethought of the flesh with a view to lusts.
(Rom. 13:11‑14)
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2 Cor. 7:1• 1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in God's fear. (2 Cor. 7:1)
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Eph. 4:22‑24• 22that ye should put off, according to your former conversation, the old man that is corrupt according to the lusts of deceit,
23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24and put on the new man, that according to God was created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
(Eph. 4:22‑24)
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Col. 3:5‑8• 5Put to death therefore your members that [are] on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
6on account of which things cometh the wrath of God [upon the sons of disobedience]:
7in which ye also once walked when ye lived in these things.
8But now do ye also put off the whole: wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, vile language out of your mouth.
(Col. 3:5‑8)
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1 Tim. 6:9‑10• 9But those that wish to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many unwise and hurtful lusts, such as sink men into destruction and perdition.
10For a root of all evils is the love of money, which some eagerly seeking were led astray from the faith and pierced themselves through with many pains.
(1 Tim. 6:9‑10)
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2 Tim. 2:4• 4No one on service entangleth himself with the businesses of life, that he may please him that enlisted [him]. (2 Tim. 2:4)
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1 Peter 2:1• 1Putting away therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil-speakings, (1 Peter 2:1)
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1 Peter 4:2• 2no longer to live the rest of time in flesh to men's lusts but to God's will. (1 Peter 4:2)
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1 John 2:15‑16• 15Love not the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him:
16because all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
(1 John 2:15‑16)
and the sin.
and let us.
with patience.
Heb. 6:15• 15and thus after long-suffering he obtained the promise. (Heb. 6:15)
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Heb. 10:36• 36For ye have need of endurance, that having done the will of God ye may receive the promise. (Heb. 10:36)
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Matt. 10:22• 22{i}and ye shall be hated of all on account of my name. But he that has endured to [the] end, he shall be saved.{/i} (Matt. 10:22)
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Matt. 24:13• 13But he that endured to [the] end shall be saved. (Matt. 24:13)
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Luke 8:15• 15{i}But{/i} that in the good ground, these are they who in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)
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Rom. 2:7• 7to those that with patience in good work seek for glory and honour and incorruption, eternal life; (Rom. 2:7)
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Rom. 5:3‑5• 3And not only [so], but we also boast in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh out endurance;
4and endurance proof, and proof hope:
5and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that was given to us.
(Rom. 5:3‑5)
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Rom. 8:24‑25• 24For by hope were we saved; but hope seen is no hope; for what one seeth, why also doth he hope for [it]?
25But if we hope for what we do not see, in patience we await.
(Rom. 8:24‑25)
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Rom. 12:12• 12in hope rejoicing; in tribulation enduring, in prayer persevering; (Rom. 12:12)
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James 1:3• 3knowing that the proving of your faith worketh out endurance; (James 1:3)
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James 5:7‑11• 7Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it, until it receive early and latter rain.
8Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged. Behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10Take, brethren, [for] an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of [the] Lord.
11Behold, we call them blessed who endured. Ye heard of the endurance of Job, and saw [the] Lord's end; for the Lord is full of compassion, and merciful.
(James 5:7‑11)
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2 Peter 1:6• 6and in knowledge temperance, and in temperance endurance, and in endurance godliness, (2 Peter 1:6)
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Rev. 1:9• 9I, John, your brother and joint-partaker in tribulation and the kingdom and patience in Christ [Jesus], was in the isle that is called Patmos, because of the word of God and [because of] the testimony of Jesus [Christ]. (Rev. 1:9)
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Rev. 3:10• 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial that is about to come on all the habitable {i}world{/i}, to try those that dwell on the earth. (Rev. 3:10)
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Rev. 13:10• 10If Anyone {i}is{/i} for captivity, into captivity he goeth; if Anyone will kill with sword, with sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Rev. 13:10)
 Now and then, here and there, mainly of the chosen people, but carefully shown to have lived and suffered in faith before Abraham, they form a grand cloud, each characterized by some proved fidelity to God's will, a few by more than one, none more than "the friend of God." But what was he, variously tried and faithful, compared with "Jesus," as this Epistle often and with divine intent calls our Lord? (Hebrews 12:1-3 by W. Kelly)
 Surrounded with a cloud of witnesses like these of chapter 11, who all declared the advantages of a life of faith in promises still unfulfilled, they ought to feel themselves impelled to follow their steps. (Hebrews 12 by J.N. Darby)
 The flesh, the human heart, is occupied with cares and difficulties; and the more we think of them, the more we are burdened by them. It is enticed by the object of its desires, it does not free itself from them. The conflict is with a heart that loves the thing against which we strive; we do not separate ourselves from it in thought. (Hebrews 12 by J.N. Darby)
 It is not “a race” that we have to set before ourselves, but the race that lies before us.” Many appear to think that, while there is only one way of being saved, there are many ways of traveling through this world; and that each Christian is at liberty to choose the way that he prefers. (God's Means to Keep Us in the Path of Faith: Hebrews 12 by H. Smith)
 Weights are not things morally wrong. Anything that hinders the soul from accepting God’s path or running with patience when in the path is a weight….Things that would be no weight in the ordinary life would become a weight on the racetrack. (God's Means to Keep Us in the Path of Faith: Hebrews 12 by H. Smith)
 “Let us run with endurance.” Running supposes spiritual energy, and combined with this we need endurance. It is easy to make an energetic start; it is hard to endure day by day in the presence of difficulties and discouragement. (God's Means to Keep Us in the Path of Faith: Hebrews 12 by H. Smith)

J. N. Darby Translation

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Let *us* also therefore, having so great a cloud of witnessesa surrounding us, laying aside every weight, and sinb which so easily entanglesc us, run with endurance the race that lies before us,

JND Translation Notes

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a
Witness, in English, has two senses. "seeing, so as to bear witness," and "giving testimony to." The last only I apprehend is in the Greek here.
b
Or "the sin."
c
Or "besets." The one Greek word here represents the whole phrase, "which so easily entangles us."

W. Kelly Translation

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Therefore let us also, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the readily besetting sin, run witha endurance the race that is set before us,

WK Translation Notes

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a
Or, "through."