The Meaning of Hebrews 12:11 Explained

Hebrews 12:11

KJV: Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

YLT: and all chastening for the present, indeed, doth not seem to be of joy, but of sorrow, yet afterward the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those exercised through it -- it doth yield.

Darby: But no chastening at the time seems to be matter of joy, but of grief; but afterwards yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it.

ASV: All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  no  chastening  for  the present  seemeth  to be  joyous,  but  grievous:  nevertheless  afterward  it yieldeth  the peaceable  fruit  of righteousness  unto them which are exercised  thereby. 

What does Hebrews 12:11 Mean?

Study Notes

righteousness
.
"Righteousness" here, and in the passages having marginal references to this, means the righteous life which is the result of salvation through Christ. The righteous man under law became righteous by doing righteously; under grace he does righteously because he has been made righteous Romans 3:22 .
(See Scofield " Romans 10:3 ")

Context Summary

Hebrews 12:9-17 - Endure Chastening Seek Holiness
If we are God's children, we will not look on suffering as a punishment. Chastening it may be, but not the penalty of sin. It is administered by our Father. Don't look at the intermediary links in the chain, but remember that Satan could not go beyond the Father's limit in the case of Balaam or Job. See Numbers 22:31; Job 2:6. It is only for the present; it will soon be over; it is intended to free us of dross and is therefore to profit; it will yield peace, and righteousness, and true holiness. Look on and up-the harvest will repay.
We are bidden, Hebrews 12:14-17, to watch each other's interests and to stay the first speck of corruption in the fruit, lest it spread. The corrupt soul infects all in its neighborhood. There are irrevocable acts in life. We cannot undo them, but we may be forgiven. Esau received all that this world could give and became a prince, but he never got back his spiritual leadership. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 12

1  An exhortation to constant faith, patience, and godliness by Christ's example
22  A commendation of the new covenant

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 12:11

For the present [προς το παρον]
A classical phrase (Thucydides), προς — pros with the accusative neuter singular articular participle of παρειμι — pareimi to be beside. Not joyous, but grievous Predicate ablative (springing from) or predicate genitive (marked by). Either makes sense, but note predicate ablative in 2 Corinthians 4:7 (καρπον ειρηνικον — kai tou theou kai mē ex hēmōn). Peaceable fruit (ειρηνη — karpon eirēnikon). Old adjective from δι αυτης γεγυμνασμενοις — eirēnē (peace), in N.T. only here and James 3:17. Peaceable after the chastening is over. Exercised thereby (γυμναζω — di' autēs gegumnasmenois). Perfect passive participle (dative case) of gumnazō state of completion, picturing the discipline as a gymnasium like Hebrews 5:14; 1 Timothy 4:7. [source]
Not joyous, but grievous [ου χαρασ αλλα λυπης]
Predicate ablative (springing from) or predicate genitive (marked by). Either makes sense, but note predicate ablative in 2 Corinthians 4:7 (καρπον ειρηνικον — kai tou theou kai mē ex hēmōn). Peaceable fruit (ειρηνη — karpon eirēnikon). Old adjective from δι αυτης γεγυμνασμενοις — eirēnē (peace), in N.T. only here and James 3:17. Peaceable after the chastening is over. Exercised thereby (γυμναζω — di' autēs gegumnasmenois). Perfect passive participle (dative case) of gumnazō state of completion, picturing the discipline as a gymnasium like Hebrews 5:14; 1 Timothy 4:7. [source]
No chastening for the present seemeth [πᾶσα μὲν παιδεία πρὸς μὲν τὸ παρὸν οὐ δοκεῖ]
Lit. all chastening - doth not seem. Πᾶσα ofall sorts, divine and human. The A.V., by joining οὐ notto πᾶσα alland rendering no chastisement, weakens the emphasis on the idea every kind of chastisement. Πρὸς μὲν τὸ παρὸν forthe present. For the force of πρὸς see on Hebrews 12:10. Not merely during the present, but for the present regarded as the time in which its application is necessary and salutary. Μὲν indicates that the suffering present is to be offset by a fruitful future - but ( δὲ ) afterward. [source]
To be joyous but grievous [χαρᾶς εἶναι ἀλλὰ λύπης]
Lit. to be of joy but of grief. [source]
It yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness [καρπὸν εἰρηνικὸν ἀποδίδωσιν δικαιοσύνης]
Perhaps with a suggestion of recompense for the long-suffering and waiting, since ἀποδιδόναι often signifies “to give back.” The phrase ἀποδιδόναι καρπὸν only here and Revelation 22:2. Καρπὸν fruitwith διδόναι togive, Matthew 13:8; Mark 4:8: with ποιεῖν tomake or produce, often in Synoptic Gospels, as Matthew 3:8, Matthew 3:10; Matthew 7:17; Luke 3:8; Luke 6:43, etc.: with φέρειν tobear, always and only in John, John 12:24; John 15:2, John 15:4, John 15:5, John 15:8, John 15:16: with βλαστάνειν tobring forth, James 5:18. Ἑιρηνικός peaceablein N.T. Only here and James 3:17, as an epithet of wisdom. Quite often in lxx of men, the heart, especially of words and sacrifices. The phrase καρπός εἰρηνικός peaceablefruit (omit the ), N.T.oolxx. The phrase fruit of righteousness, Philemon 1:11; James 3:18, and lxx, Proverbs 3:9; Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:2; Amos 6:13: comp. Psalm 1:3; Psalm 57:11. The genitive of righteousness is explicative or appositional; fruit which consists in righteousness or is righteousness. [source]
Unto them which are exercised thereby [τοῖς δἰ αὐτῆς γεγυμνασμένοις]
Who have been subjected to the severe discipline of suffering, and have patiently undergone it. For the verb see on 1 Timothy 4:7. Rend. “it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.” This preserves the Greek order, and puts righteousness in its proper, emphatic position. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 12:11

Ephesians 6:4 In the chastening and admonition of the Lord [εν παιδειαι και νουτεσιαι του κυριου]
Εν — En is the sphere in which it all takes place. There are only three examples in the N.T. of παιδεια — paideia old Greek for training a παις — pais (boy or girl) and so for the general education and culture of the child. Both papyri and inscriptions give examples of this original and wider sense (Moulton and Milligan, Vocabulary). It is possible, as Thayer gives it, that this is the meaning here in Ephesians 6:4. In 2 Timothy 3:16 adults are included also in the use. In Hebrews 12:5, Hebrews 12:7, Hebrews 12:11 the narrower sense of “chastening” appears which some argue for here. At any rate νουτεσια — nouthesia (from νουσ τιτημι — noustithēmi), common from Aristophanes on, does have the idea of correction. In N.T. only here and 1 Corinthians 10:11; Titus 3:10. [source]
1 Timothy 4:7 Exercise [γύμναζε]
oP. Only here in Pastorals. Hebrews 5:14; Hebrews 12:11; 2 Peter 2:14. From γυμνός nakedIn Class. Of training naked in gymnastic exercises; also, metaphorically, of training for or practicing an art or profession. [source]
1 Timothy 4:7 Profane [βεβηλους]
See note on 2 Timothy 1:9. Old wives‘ fables (γραωδεις μυτους — graōdeis muthous). On μυτος — muthos see note on 2 Timothy 1:4. Γραωδεις — Graōdeis late word (Strabo, Galen) from γραυς — graus old woman, and ειδος — eidos (look, appearance). Such as old women tell to children like the Gnostic aeons. Exercise thyself Present active imperative of γυμναζω — gumnazō originally to exercise naked Old and common verb, but in N.T. only here and Hebrews 5:14; Hebrews 12:11. [source]
1 Timothy 4:7 Exercise thyself [γυμναζε σεαυτον]
Present active imperative of γυμναζω — gumnazō originally to exercise naked Old and common verb, but in N.T. only here and Hebrews 5:14; Hebrews 12:11. [source]
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back [ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐκ ἐσμὲν ὑποστολῆς]
Lit. we are not of shrinking back. Ὑποστολὴ N.T.oolxx, oClass. Ἒιναι with genitive marks the quality or peculiarity of a person or thing. Comp. Hebrews 12:11 χαρᾶς εἶναι tobe of joy, joyful. We do not partake of drawing back, which is characteristic of recreants. [source]
Hebrews 10:39 But we [ημεις δε]
In contrast to renegades who do flicker and turn back from Christ. Of them that shrink back unto perdition Predicate genitive of υποστολη — hupostolē as in Hebrews 12:11, from υποστελλω — hupostellō with same sense here, stealthy retreat in Plutarch, dissimulation in Josephus. Here alone in the N.T. Unto the saving of the soul Old word from περιποιεω — peripoieō to reserve, to preserve (Luke 17:33) to purchase (Acts 20:28). So here preserving or saving one‘s life as in Plato, but possession in Ephesians 1:14, obtaining in 1 Thessalonians 4:9. Papyri have it in sense of preservation. [source]
James 3:17 Then peaceable [επειτα ειρηνικη]
Old adjective from ειρηνη — eirēnē (peace), loving peace here, bringing peace in Hebrews 12:11 (only N.T. examples). But clearly great as peace is, purity (righteousness) comes before peace and peace at any price is not worth the having. Hence Jesus spurned the devil‘s peace of surrender.Gentle (επιεικης — epieikēs). Old adjective (from εικος — eikos reasonable, fair), equitable (Philemon 4:5; 1 Peter 2:18). No English word renders it clearly.Easy to be entreated Old adjective Practical help (James 2:13, James 2:16).Good fruits αδιακριτος — Kaloi karpoi in Matthew 7:17. Good deeds the fruit of righteousness (Philemon 1:11).Without variance (διακρινω — adiakritos). Late verbal adjective (from alpha privative and διακρινομενος — diakrinō to distinguish). “Unhesitating,” not doubting (ανυποκριτος — diakrinomenos) like the man in James 1:6. Here only in N.T. This wisdom does not put a premium on doubt.Without hypocrisy Late and rare verbal adjective (alpha privative and hupokrinō). Not hypocritical, sincere, unfeigned (Romans 12:9). [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 12:11 mean?

All now discipline for indeed those being present not seems of joy to be but of grief afterward however [the] fruit peaceable to those by it having been trained it yields of righteousness
πᾶσα δὲ παιδεία πρὸς μὲν τὸ παρὸν οὐ δοκεῖ χαρᾶς εἶναι ἀλλὰ λύπης ὕστερον δὲ καρπὸν εἰρηνικὸν τοῖς δι’ αὐτῆς γεγυμνασμένοις ἀποδίδωσιν δικαιοσύνης

δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
παιδεία  discipline 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: παιδεία  
Sense: the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body.
μὲν  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέν  
Sense: truly, certainly, surely, indeed.
τὸ  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παρὸν  being  present 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πάρειμι  
Sense: to be by, be at hand, to have arrived, to be present.
δοκεῖ  seems 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δοκέω  
Sense: to be of opinion, think, suppose.
χαρᾶς  of  joy 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: χαρά  
Sense: joy, gladness.
εἶναι  to  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
λύπης  of  grief 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: λύπη  
Sense: sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, affliction.
ὕστερον  afterward 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὕστερος  
Sense: latter, later, coming after, the second.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
καρπὸν  [the]  fruit 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: καρπός  
Sense: fruit.
εἰρηνικὸν  peaceable 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: εἰρηνικός  
Sense: relating to peace.
τοῖς  to  those 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
γεγυμνασμένοις  having  been  trained 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: γυμνάζω  
Sense: to exercise naked (in a palaestra or school of athletics).
ἀποδίδωσιν  it  yields 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποδίδωμι  
Sense: to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell.
δικαιοσύνης  of  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: δικαιοσύνη  
Sense: in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God.