It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Parallel translations
- WEB It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- KJV It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- NKJV It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- NASB It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- NLT It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. God's judgment is to be taken with utmost seriousness.
Overview
This solemn statement caps the warning section. To face the living God in judgment, unprotected by Christ, is a terrifying prospect. The verse is not meant to drive believers to despair but to sober them against apostasy and drive them to Christ, the only refuge from such judgment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Luke 12:5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
- Heb 12:29“For our God is a consuming fire.”
- Isa 33:14The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the ungodly: “Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”
- Ps 76:7You alone are to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You?
- Ps 90:11Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due.
- Matt 16:16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- Heb 10:27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.
- Ps 50:22Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
- Luke 21:11There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 10:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.