A thoughtful guide for your walk of faith Read with context, practice with grace.
General Letters · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Hebrews 13

Jesus' superior priesthood and covenant ground endurance, worship, and confident approach to God.

New Testament

Hebrews 13

1Let brotherly love continue.

2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.

3Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.

4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

5Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”

6So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

7Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.

8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

9Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

10We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat.

11For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp.

12Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate.

13Let’s therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach.

14For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.

15Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.

16But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.

18Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.

19I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner.

20Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus,

21make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

22But I exhort you, brothers, endure the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.

23Know that our brother Timothy has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.

24Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. The Italians greet you.

25Grace be with you all. Amen.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Jesus' superior priesthood and covenant ground endurance, worship, and confident approach to God. Read Hebrews 13 within the complete Hebrews overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13 contains 25 verses and about 503 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Let brotherly love continue.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 25 closes: “Grace be with you all. Amen.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, good, don’t, leaders, blood, outside. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Hebrews 13

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Hebrews 13:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer