Hebrews 13:4

Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Marriage {G1062} is honourable {G5093} in {G1722} all {G3956}, and {G2532} the bed {G2845} undefiled {G283}: but {G1161} whoremongers {G4205} and {G2532} adulterers {G3432} God {G2316} will judge {G2919}.

Marriage is honorable in every respect; and, in particular, sex within marriage is pure. But God will indeed punish fornicators and adulterers.

Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Hebrews 13:4 (KJV) Commentary

This verse is part of a section in the letter to the Hebrews giving practical instructions for Christian living, following the deep theological arguments about Christ's superiority.

Meaning and Context

The verse addresses the sanctity and importance of marriage and sexual purity.

  • "Marriage [is] honourable in all": The author asserts that marriage is to be held in high esteem and respected by everyone. The word "honourable" (timios) means precious, valuable, or highly esteemed. This stands in contrast to philosophies or practices that might devalue marriage or elevate celibacy above it in a way that diminishes its God-ordained status. "In all" can mean "among all people" or "in all respects."
  • "and the bed undefiled": This refers to the sexual relationship within the bounds of marriage. The marital "bed" is declared to be pure and not sinful. This emphasizes that sexual intimacy is a good and holy thing when experienced within the covenant of marriage, as designed by God.
  • "but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.": This is a strong warning. "Whoremongers" (pornos) refers to those who engage in porneia, a broad term for sexual immorality, including fornication, prostitution, and other illicit sexual acts. "Adulterers" (moichos) specifically refers to those who commit adultery (sexual relations with someone married to another). The statement declares that God Himself will judge those who practice these sins. This highlights the seriousness with which God views sexual sin outside of marriage.

Key Themes

The central themes are the high value God places on marriage, the purity of sexual relations within marriage, and the certainty of divine judgment on sexual immorality outside of marriage. It calls believers to respect and uphold the institution of marriage and to live lives of sexual purity.

Cross-references

Similar warnings against sexual immorality and affirmations of marriage's value are found elsewhere in scripture:

Practical Application

This verse calls believers to:

  • Hold marriage in high regard and honor marital commitments.
  • Understand and cherish the purity and goodness of sexual intimacy within marriage.
  • Flee from sexual immorality in all its forms, recognizing that it is offensive to God and will be judged by Him.
  • Live lives that reflect God's design for relationships and sexuality.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Genesis 2:24

    Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

  • Proverbs 5:15

    ¶ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

  • Proverbs 5:23

    He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

  • Galatians 5:19

    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

  • 1 Corinthians 7:2

    Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:16

    For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save [thy] husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save [thy] wife?

  • Galatians 5:21

    Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

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