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Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:13 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
  • KJV Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
  • NKJV And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
  • NASB And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.
  • NLT Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

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

Nothing in creation is hidden from God; everything lies exposed before Him, to whom we must give account. We live before the all-seeing God who will judge us.

Overview

Complementing the previous verse, this one stresses God's complete knowledge of every creature. All things are 'naked and laid open' before Him, and we are accountable to Him. This sobering reality reinforces the warnings against unbelief and motivates sincere, persevering faith before the God who sees all.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 29

  • 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
  • Ps 33:13–15The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.
  • Prov 15:3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
  • Eccl 12:14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
  • Jer 17:10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
  • 1 Sam 16:7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
  • 2 Cor 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
  • Job 34:21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
  • Prov 15:11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men!
  • Ps 44:21would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?
  • Rom 2:16on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
  • Job 26:6Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.
  • Rev 2:23Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
  • 2 Chr 6:30be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of men—
  • Ps 90:8You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
  • Ps 7:9Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.
  • 1 Chr 28:9As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
  • Matt 25:31–32When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
  • Rom 14:9–12For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
  • 2 Chr 16:9For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
  • John 21:17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
  • John 2:24But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all.
  • Job 38:17Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
  • Jer 17:23–24Yet they would not listen or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and would not listen or receive My discipline.
  • John 5:22–29Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,
  • Rev 20:11–15Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.
  • Acts 17:31For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
  • Ps 139:11–12If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”—
  • Matt 7:21–22Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Hebrews videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Hebrews 4:13YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on HebrewsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 4:13 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.