See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:
See {G991} that ye refuse {G3868} not {G3361} him that speaketh {G2980}. For {G1063} if {G1487} they {G1565} escaped {G5343} not {G3756} who refused him {G3868} that spake {G5537} on {G1909} earth {G1093}, much {G4183} more {G3123} shall not we {G2249} escape, if we turn away from him {G654} that speaketh from {G575} heaven {G3772}:
See that you don’t reject the One speaking! For if those did not escape who rejected him when he gave divine warning on earth, think how much less we will escape if we turn away from him when he warns from heaven.
See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:
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Hebrews 8:5
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. -
Hebrews 2:1
¶ Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. -
Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him]; -
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. -
Exodus 20:22
¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. -
Zechariah 7:11
But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. -
Deuteronomy 30:17
But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
Hebrews 12:25 issues a solemn warning, urging believers to heed the voice of God, contrasting the revelation of the Old Covenant with that of the New. It emphasizes the severe consequences of rejecting divine communication, particularly as God now speaks through His Son from heaven.
Context
This verse is a pivotal point in the book of Hebrews, following a powerful exhortation to perseverance and a vivid contrast between the two covenants. The author has just described the terrifying scene at Mount Sinai (Hebrews 12:18-21), where God's voice thundered, causing fear and trembling, even prompting Moses to say, "I exceedingly fear and quake." This represents the giving of the Law under the Old Covenant. In stark contrast, the author then describes the joyful and gracious approach to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-24), where believers come to God through Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant. Verse 25 serves as a direct warning stemming from this comparison: if rejecting the earthly manifestation of God's voice brought judgment, how much more serious is it to ignore the heavenly, ultimate revelation?
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV uses the word "speaketh" twice in the latter part of the verse, translated from the Greek present participle lalounti (λαλοῦντι), which emphasizes an ongoing action. While God "spake on earth" (past tense, a specific event like at Mount Sinai), He "speaketh from heaven" (present tense), signifying that His communication through Christ is continuous, authoritative, and final. The phrase "refuse not" (Greek: me paraitethesthe, μὴ παραιτήσησθε) implies not merely a passive rejection but an active turning away or an attempt to excuse oneself from responsibility. This highlights the deliberate nature of rejecting God's call.
Practical Application
This verse carries profound implications for believers today. We are living in the dispensation of the New Covenant, where God has spoken definitively through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). Therefore, our responsibility to listen and obey is even greater than that of those under the Old Covenant. To "turn away from him that speaketh from heaven" can mean:
- Ignoring the gospel message of salvation.
- Disregarding the teachings of Jesus and His apostles.
- Neglecting the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
- Becoming spiritually apathetic or complacent.
The warning serves as a sober reminder that our response to God's word has eternal consequences. It encourages us to draw near to God with confidence through Christ and to diligently apply ourselves to His truth, ensuring we do not neglect so great salvation.