KJV: Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
YLT: honourable is the marriage in all, and the bed undefiled, and whoremongers and adulterers God shall judge.
Darby: Let marriage be held every way in honour, and the bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers will God judge.
ASV: Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
| Τίμιος | Honorable [let] |
|
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: τίμιος Sense: as of great price, precious. |
|
| ὁ | - |
|
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
|
| γάμος | marriage [be] |
|
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: γάμος Sense: a wedding or marriage festival, a wedding banquet, a wedding feast. |
|
| κοίτη | marriage bed |
|
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: κοίτη Sense: a place for laying down, resting, sleeping in. |
|
| ἀμίαντος | undefiled |
|
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ἀμίαντος Sense: not defiled, unsoiled. |
|
| πόρνους | the sexually immoral |
|
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: πόρνος Sense: a man who prostitutes his body to another’s lust for hire. |
|
| μοιχοὺς | adulterers |
|
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: μοιχός Sense: an adulterer. |
|
| κρινεῖ | will judge |
|
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: κρίνω Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose. |
|
| Θεός | God |
|
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. |
|
Greek Commentary for Hebrews 13:4
No verb in the Greek. The copula can be supplied either εστιν estin (is) or εστω estō (let be, imperative). Had in honour Old adjective from τιμη timē (honour) as in Acts 5:34. Γαμος Gamos elsewhere in the N.T., means the wedding or wedding feast (Matthew 22:29; John 2:1). Undefiled Old compound word (alpha privative and verbal of μιαινω miainō to defile), already in Hebrews 7:26. Μιαινω την κοιτην Miainō tēn koitēn is a common expression for adultery. Fornicators Unmarried and impure. Adulterers Impure married persons. God will judge both classes whether men do or not. [source]
Γάμος everywhere else in N.T. a wedding or wedding feast, often in the plural, as Matthew 22:2, Matthew 22:3, Matthew 22:4; Luke 12:36. Τίμιος honorableor held in honor. Often in N.T. precious, of gold, stones, etc., as 1 Corinthians 3:12; Revelation 17:4; Revelation 18:12; of life, Acts 20:24; the fruits of the earth, James 5:7; the blood of Christ, 1 Peter 1:19; the divine promises, 2 Peter 1:4. Rend. “let marriage be had in honor.” The statement is hortatory, as suiting the character of the entire context, and especially the γὰρ for“for whoremongers,” etc. Ἑν πᾶσιν in all respects,” as 1 Timothy 3:11; 2 Timothy 4:5; Titus 2:9; Colossians 1:18; Philemon 4:12. If as A.V., the more natural expression would be παρὰ πᾶσιν as Matthew 19:26; Acts 26:8; Romans 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:6; James 1:27. Ἑν πᾶσιν inall things appears in this chapter, Hebrews 13:18. There are many points in which marriage is to be honored besides the avoidance of illicit connections. See on 1 Thessalonians 4:6. [source]
Note the emphatic position of ὁ θεός . He will judge and condemn infractions of the marriage-bond, however social sentiment may condone them. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 13:4
The antithesis shall perish suggests a condemnatory judgment. There is no doubt that the simple κρίνω is used in the New Testament in the sense of condemning. See John 3:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:12; Hebrews 13:4. The change from perish to judge is suggested by by the law. “The Jews alone will be, strictly speaking, subjected to a detailed inquiry such as arises from applying the particular articles of a code” (Godet). Both classes of men shall be condemned; in both the result will be perishing, but the judgment by the law is confined to those who have the law. [source]
See on John 10:11. Not merely expedient, but morally salutary. The statement, however, is made in the light of circumstances, see 1 Corinthians 7:26, and is to be read with others, such as 2 Corinthians 11:2; Romans 7:4; Ephesians 5:28-33, in all which marriage is made the type of the union between Christ and His Church. See also Hebrews 13:4. [source]
The wife is mentioned first, but the equality of the sexes in marriage is clearly presented as the way to keep marriage undefiled (Hebrews 13:4). “In wedlock separate ownership of the person ceases” (Robertson and Plummer). [source]
Old compound adjective (alpha privative and πτειρω phtheirō to corrupt), imperishable. So many inheritances vanish away before they are obtained.Undefiled (αμιαντον amianton). Old verbal adjective (note alliteration) from alpha privative and μιαινω miainō to defile, without defect or flaw in the title, in N.T. only here, James 1:27; Hebrews 13:4.That fadeth not away Alliterative and verbal adjective again from alpha privative and μαραινω marainō (to dry up, to wither, as in James 1:11), late and rare word in several inscriptions on tombs, here only in N.T. These inscriptions will fade away, but not this inheritance in Christ. It will not be like a faded rose.Reserved (τετηρημενην tetērēmenēn). Perfect passive participle of τηρεω tēreō old verb, to take care of, to guard. No burglars or bandits can break through where this inheritance is kept (Matthew 6:19.; John 17:11.). Cf. Colossians 1:5, where laid away” (αποκειμενην apokeimenēn) occurs.For you More graphic than the mere dative. [source]
Old verbal adjective (note alliteration) from alpha privative and μιαινω miainō to defile, without defect or flaw in the title, in N.T. only here, James 1:27; Hebrews 13:4. [source]
Παρτενος Parthenos can be applied to men as well as women. Swete takes this language “metaphorically, as the symbolical character of the Book suggests.” Charles considers it an interpolation in the interest of celibacy for both men and women. If taken literally, the words can refer only to adultery or fornication (Beckwith). Jesus recognised abstinence only for those able to receive it (Matthew 19:12), as did Paul (1 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Corinthians 7:8, 1 Corinthians 7:32, 1 Corinthians 7:36). Marriage is approved by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:3 and by Hebrews 13:4. The New Testament exalts marriage and this passage should not be construed as degrading it.Whithersoever he goeth (οπου αν υπαγει hopou an hupagei). Indefinite local clause with modal αν an and the present active indicative of υπαγω hupagō The Christian life is following the Lamb of God as Jesus taught (Mark 2:14; Mark 10:21; Luke 9:59; John 1:43; John 21:19, etc.) and as Peter taught (1 Peter 2:21) and John (1 John 2:6).Were purchased from among men First aorist passive indicative of αγοραζω agorazō repeating the close of Revelation 14:3.First fruits (απαρχη aparchē). See for this word 1 Corinthians 16:15; Romans 11:16; Romans 16:5. This seems to mean that the 144,000 represent not the whole, but only a portion of the great harvest to come (Matthew 9:37), not only the first installment, but those marked by high spiritual service to God and the Lamb (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5). [source]