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.
- BSB 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 10:28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Luke 12:5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
- Heb 12:29For our God is a consuming fire.
- Isa 33:14The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
- Ps 76:7Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
- Ps 90:11Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
- Matt 16:16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
- Heb 10:27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
- Ps 50:22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
- Luke 21:11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be 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.