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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hebrews/10-31.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/58_Heb_10_31.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hebrews 10:31 - A Call to Persevere" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad11.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/hebrews/10-30.htm" title="Hebrews 10:30">◄</a> Hebrews 10:31 <a href="/hebrews/10-32.htm" title="Hebrews 10:32">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/hebrews/10.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/hebrews/10.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/hebrews/10.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/hebrews/10.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/hebrews/10.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/hebrews/10.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br /><i>it is</i> a fearful thing to fall into <i>the</i> hands of <i>the</i> living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/hebrews/10.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br /><i>It is</i> a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/hebrews/10.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/hebrews/10.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/hebrews/10.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/hebrews/10.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/hebrews/10.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/hebrews/10.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />It is a fearful <i>and</i> terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/hebrews/10.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/hebrews/10.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/hebrews/10.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/hebrews/10.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/hebrews/10.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/hebrews/10.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Falling into the hands of the living God is a terrifying thing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/hebrews/10.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/hebrews/10.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/hebrews/10.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/hebrews/10.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/hebrews/10.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/hebrews/10.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/hebrews/10.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />It is an awful thing to fall into the hands of the ever-living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/hebrews/10.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/hebrews/10.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />[It is] fearful to fall into [the] hands of [the] living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/hebrews/10.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br /><i>it is</i> a fearful thing to fall into <i>the</i> hands of <i>the</i> living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/hebrews/10.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> fearful is the falling into the hands of a living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/hebrews/10.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Terrible to fall into the hands of the living God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/hebrews/10.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/hebrews/10.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />It is dreadful to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/hebrews/10.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/hebrews/10.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/hebrews/10.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/hebrews/10.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />It is very terrible to fall into the hands of THE LIVING GOD.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/hebrews/10.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/hebrews/10.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/hebrews/10.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/hebrews/10.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/hebrews/10.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />It is an awful thing to fall into the hands of the ever-living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/hebrews/10.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of <i>the</i> living God!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/hebrews/10.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><i>It is</i> a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/hebrews/10-31.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x-IAXXp5zcA?start=1987" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/hebrews/10.htm">A Call to Persevere</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">30</span>For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.” <span class="reftext">31</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/5398.htm" title="5398: phoberon (Adj-NNS) -- Fearful, dreadful, terrible. From phobos; frightful, i.e. formidable.">It is a fearful thing</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-NNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1706.htm" title="1706: empesein (V-ANA) -- To fall in, be cast in, be involved in. From en and pipto; to fall on, i.e. to be entrapped by, or be overwhelmed with.">to fall</a> <a href="/greek/1519.htm" title="1519: eis (Prep) -- A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.">into</a> <a href="/greek/5495.htm" title="5495: cheiras (N-AFP) -- A hand. ">the hands</a> <a href="/greek/2198.htm" title="2198: zōntos (V-PPA-GMS) -- To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live.">of the living</a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theou (N-GMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">God.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">32</span>Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-35.htm">Deuteronomy 32:35-36</a></span><br />Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.” / For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone and no one remains, slave or free.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-19.htm">Romans 12:19</a></span><br />Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_thessalonians/1-6.htm">2 Thessalonians 1:6-9</a></span><br />After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, / and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels / in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/10-28.htm">Matthew 10:28</a></span><br />Do 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/12-5.htm">Luke 12:5</a></span><br />But 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!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-16.htm">Revelation 6:16-17</a></span><br />And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. / For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/33-14.htm">Isaiah 33:14</a></span><br />The 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?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/1-6.htm">Nahum 1:6</a></span><br />Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/76-7.htm">Psalm 76:7</a></span><br />You alone are to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/90-11.htm">Psalm 90:11</a></span><br />Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/5-11.htm">2 Corinthians 5:11</a></span><br />Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/4-17.htm">1 Peter 4:17-18</a></span><br />For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? / And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/14-10.htm">Revelation 14:10-11</a></span><br />he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. / And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/1-26.htm">Proverbs 1:26-27</a></span><br />in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you, / when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/2-19.htm">Isaiah 2:19-21</a></span><br />Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth. / In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship. / They will flee to caverns in the rocks and crevices in the cliffs, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.</p><p class="hdg">a fearful.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/10-27.htm">Hebrews 10:27</a></b></br> But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/33-14.htm">Isaiah 33:14</a></b></br> The 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?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/21-11.htm">Luke 21:11</a></b></br> And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.</p><p class="hdg">to fall.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/12-29.htm">Hebrews 12:29</a></b></br> For our God <i>is</i> a consuming fire.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/50-22.htm">Psalm 50:22</a></b></br> Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear <i>you</i> in pieces, and <i>there be</i> none to deliver.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/76-7.htm">Psalm 76:7</a></b></br> Thou, <i>even</i> thou, <i>art</i> to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hebrews/10-27.htm">Awful</a> <a href="/luke/21-23.htm">Dreadful</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-20.htm">Ever-Living</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-6.htm">Fall</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-7.htm">Falling</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-27.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-27.htm">Fearful</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-24.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-27.htm">Terrifying</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/revelation/9-5.htm">Awful</a> <a href="/revelation/16-18.htm">Dreadful</a> <a href="/hebrews/12-22.htm">Ever-Living</a> <a href="/hebrews/11-30.htm">Fall</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-8.htm">Falling</a> <a href="/hebrews/11-7.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/hebrews/12-21.htm">Fearful</a> <a href="/hebrews/12-12.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/hebrews/12-21.htm">Terrifying</a><div class="vheading2">Hebrews 10</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hebrews/10-1.htm">The weakness of the law sacrifices.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hebrews/10-10.htm">The sacrifice of Christ's body once offered,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hebrews/10-14.htm">for ever has taken away sins.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hebrews/10-19.htm">An exhortation to hold fast the faith with patience and thanksgiving.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hebrews/10.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hebrews/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/hebrews/10.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>It is a fearful thing</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the seriousness and gravity of the situation being described. The fear mentioned here is not merely an emotional response but a recognition of the awe-inspiring power and holiness of God. In biblical context, fear often denotes reverence and respect for God's authority and justice. This aligns with <a href="/proverbs/9-10.htm">Proverbs 9:10</a>, which states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." The fear is rooted in understanding God's righteous judgment and the consequences of falling short of His standards.<p><b>to fall into the hands</b><br>The imagery of falling into someone's hands suggests being under their control or judgment. In ancient times, being in someone's hands could mean being at their mercy, whether for protection or punishment. This phrase implies a lack of escape or defense, highlighting the inevitability of facing God's judgment. The concept of God's hands is also seen in passages like <a href="/psalms/31-5.htm">Psalm 31:5</a>, where it signifies trust and surrender, but here it underscores accountability and the certainty of divine justice.<p><b>of the living God.</b><br>The term "living God" contrasts with idols or false gods, emphasizing that God is active, present, and sovereign. This designation is used throughout Scripture to affirm God's eternal nature and His involvement in the world (e.g., <a href="/joshua/3-10.htm">Joshua 3:10</a>, <a href="/1_samuel/17-26.htm">1 Samuel 17:26</a>). The living God is not distant or passive but is intimately aware of human actions and is the ultimate judge. This phrase serves as a reminder of God's dynamic presence and the reality of His judgment, as seen in passages like <a href="/deuteronomy/32-40.htm">Deuteronomy 32:40-41</a>, where God declares His power to judge and avenge.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_author_of_hebrews.htm">The Author of Hebrews</a></b><br>Traditionally attributed to Paul, though the exact authorship is uncertain. The author writes to Jewish Christians who are facing persecution and are tempted to revert to Judaism.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jewish_christians.htm">Jewish Christians</a></b><br>The primary audience of the letter, who are encouraged to remain steadfast in their faith in Christ despite external pressures.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_living_god.htm">The Living God</a></b><br>A term used to emphasize God's active and dynamic presence, contrasting with lifeless idols. It underscores God's power and authority.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_early_church.htm">The Early Church</a></b><br>The context in which the letter was written, a time of growth, persecution, and doctrinal formation.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/persecution_and_apostasy.htm">Persecution and Apostasy</a></b><br>The backdrop of the letter, where believers are warned against falling away from their faith due to external pressures.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_fear_of_the_lord.htm">The Fear of the Lord</a></b><br>Understanding the fear of the Lord is crucial for a healthy relationship with God. It is not about being terrified but having a deep respect and reverence for His holiness and justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_god's_judgment.htm">The Reality of God's Judgment</a></b><br>God's judgment is real and should not be taken lightly. This serves as a warning to remain faithful and not to fall away from the truth of the Gospel.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_assurance_of_god's_sovereignty.htm">The Assurance of God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Recognizing God as the "living God" assures us of His active involvement in the world and our lives. This should encourage us to trust in His plans and purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_perseverance.htm">The Call to Perseverance</a></b><br>In the face of trials and temptations, believers are called to persevere in their faith, knowing that God is just and will reward those who remain faithful.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_community.htm">The Importance of Community</a></b><br>Encouragement and accountability within the Christian community are vital to help each other remain steadfast in faith and avoid falling away.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_hebrews_10.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Hebrews 10</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_did_jesus_mean_by_'many_mansions'.htm">Who accuses the brethren before God day and night?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'not_give_my_glory'_mean.htm">Is it terrifying to face the living God's judgment?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_facing_god's_judgment_terrifying.htm">Is it terrifying to face the living God's judgment?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_heb._10_26-27_conflict_with_grace.htm">Hebrews 10:26–27 implies a terrifying judgment for deliberate sin after knowing the truth; does this conflict with teachings on God’s mercy and grace elsewhere? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hebrews/10.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(31) <span class= "bld">The living God.</span>--As in <a href="/hebrews/3-12.htm" title="Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.">Hebrews 3:12</a>; <a href="/hebrews/9-14.htm" title="How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?">Hebrews 9:14</a> the exact meaning of the writer's words is "a Living God;" and a reference to the first of these passages (and to <a href="/hebrews/4-12.htm" title="For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.">Hebrews 4:12</a>) will show clearly what is their force in this place. There can be little doubt that Deuteronomy 32, from which he has been quoting, is still in his thought. See <a href="/deuteronomy/32-40.htm" title="For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.">Deuteronomy 32:40</a>--"I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hebrews/10.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 31.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.</span> David, when the option was given him, preferred falling into the hand of the LORD to falling into the hand of man (<a href="/2_samuel/24-14.htm">2 Samuel 24:14</a>), trusting in the greatness of his mercies. But the case contemplated here is that of its being "too late to cry for mercy, when it is the time of justice." Fearful (the writer would say) is the thought of being exposed, without possibility of escape or of atonement, to the wrath of the Eternal Righteousness. The inspired author of this Epistle had evidently an awful sense of the Divine wrath against sin, and of man's liability to it without atonement. He felt deeply the contradiction between humanity as it is and its ideal of perfection; and hence the wrath attributed to God in Holy Writ would appear to him as inseparable from a just conception of Divine holiness. For the more ardent the love in the human heart of moral good, by so much the keener is the indignation against moral evil, and the sense of the righteousness of retribution. The existence of such evil at all in the good God's universe is indeed a mystery; but, as long as it is there, we cannot but conceive the face of the holy God as set utterly against it; and so any revelation to us of the Divine nature would be imperfect did it not include the idea which is humanly expressed by such terms as "zeal," "jealousy," "wrath," "vengeance." Hence came the long-felt need of some atonement, to reconcile sinful man to the eternal holiness. This need was expressed of old by the institution of sacrifice, which, however - as is so clearly perceived in this Epistle - could never itself be really efficacious in the spiritual sphere of things. In the atonement of Christ (if rightly apprehended) is found at last a true satisfaction of this spiritual need. But, man's concurrence being still required, the idea of Divine wrath remains notwithstanding, as operative against such as, in deliberate perversity of free-will, after full knowledge, refuse to be thus reconciled. Hence the awful anticipations of future judgment on some, contained in this Epistle. The nature and duration of the doom to come, on such as remain subject to it, are in these passages left in obscurity. They speak only of <span class="greek">φοβερά τις ἐκδοχὴ</span>, an undefined expectation of something terrible. It may be observed, however, that, whatever be the force of other Scriptures in which the <span class="accented">fire</span> of that day is described as <span class="accented">eternal</span> and <span class="accented">unquenchable</span>, here at least the figure of a zeal of fire to <span class="accented">devour</span> the adversaries seems in itself to suggest rather utter destruction than perpetual pain. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/hebrews/10-31.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">[It is] a fearful thing</span><br /><span class="grk">φοβερὸν</span> <span class="translit">(phoberon)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5398.htm">Strong's 5398: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fearful, dreadful, terrible. From phobos; frightful, i.e. formidable.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to fall</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐμπεσεῖν</span> <span class="translit">(empesein)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1706.htm">Strong's 1706: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall in, be cast in, be involved in. From en and pipto; to fall on, i.e. to be entrapped by, or be overwhelmed with.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into</span><br /><span class="grk">εἰς</span> <span class="translit">(eis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1519.htm">Strong's 1519: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[the] hands</span><br /><span class="grk">χεῖρας</span> <span class="translit">(cheiras)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5495.htm">Strong's 5495: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hand. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">of [the] living</span><br /><span class="grk">ζῶντος</span> <span class="translit">(zōntos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2198.htm">Strong's 2198: </a> </span><span class="str2">To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">God.</span><br /><span class="grk">Θεοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(Theou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> </span><span class="str2">A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hebrews/10-31.htm">Hebrews 10:31 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hebrews/10-31.htm">Hebrews 10:31 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hebrews/10-31.htm">Hebrews 10:31 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hebrews/10-31.htm">Hebrews 10:31 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hebrews/10-31.htm">Hebrews 10:31 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/hebrews/10-31.htm">Hebrews 10:31 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hebrews/10-31.htm">Hebrews 10:31 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/hebrews/10-31.htm">Hebrews 10:31 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/hebrews/10-31.htm">Hebrews 10:31 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/hebrews/10-31.htm">Hebrews 10:31 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/hebrews/10-31.htm">NT Letters: Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall (Heb. He. Hb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hebrews/10-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hebrews 10:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hebrews 10:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hebrews/10-32.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hebrews 10:32"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hebrews 10:32" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>