Hebrews 13:6

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) We may boldly say.—Rather, so that we say with courage. The words of the quotation (Psalm 118:6) should be arranged thus: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: what shall man do unto me?”

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:1-6 The design of Christ in giving himself for us, is, that he may purchase to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; and true religion is the strongest bond of friendship. Here are earnest exhortations to several Christian duties, especially contentment. The sin opposed to this grace and duty is covetousness, an over-eager desire for the wealth of this world, with envy of those who have more than ourselves. Having treasures in heaven, we may be content with mean things here. Those who cannot be so, would not be content though God raised their condition. Adam was in paradise, yet not contented; some angels in heaven were not contented; but the apostle Paul, though abased and empty, had learned in every state, in any state, to be content. Christians have reason to be contented with their present lot. This promise contains the sum and substance of all the promises; I will never, no, never leave thee, no, never forsake thee. In the original there are no less than five negatives put together, to confirm the promise: the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him, in life, at death, and for ever. Men can do nothing against God, and God can make all that men do against his people, to turn to their good.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

So that we may boldly say - Without any hesitation or doubt, In all times of perplexity and threatening want; in all times when we scarcely know whence the supplies for our necessities are to come, we may put our trust in God, and be assured that he will not leave us to suffer. In the facts which occur under the providential dealings, there is a ground for confidence on this subject which is not always exercised even by good people. It remains yet to be shown that they who exercise simple trust in God for the supply of their wants are ever forsaken; compare Psalm 37:25.

The Lord is my helper - Substantially this sentiment is found in Psalm 27:1, and Psalm 118:6. The apostle does not adduce it as a quotation, but as language which a true Christian may employ. The sentiment is beautiful and full of consolation. What can we fear if we have the assurance that the Lord is on our side, and that he will help us? Man can do no more to us than he permits, and of course no more than will be for our own good; and under whatever trials we may be placed, we need be under no painful apprehensions, for God will be our protector and our friend.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. may—rather as Greek, expressing confidence actually realized, "So that we boldly (confidently) say" (Ps 56:4, 11; 118:6). Punctuate as both the Hebrew and the Greek require, "And (so) I will not fear: what (then) shall man do unto me?"

Matthew Poole's Commentary

So that we may boldly say; upon the account of which promise of God all the true subjects of Christ’s kingdom, together with the apostle, may with an undaunted boldness of heart, above all fears and doubtings, and with a daring confidence, professing that which they believe, nor staggering, nor shrinking, nor being ashamed of their faith, but openly owning it to all the world, own that

The Lord is my helper; the Lord in the infiniteness of his power, wisdom, and goodness, is a real, present, universal, and permanent help against all trouble, and for all supplies in all cases, and at all times, to every one of them. They may say as Moses, Exodus 18:4; as David, Psalm 27:9 40:17 56:4,11 118:6.

And I will not fear what man shall do unto me: and therefore faith expelleth fearfulness of, and introduceth fearlessness of, any created evils incident to a believer; and of which man may be an instrument inflicting, Psalm 46:2,3. Implying in it an unshaken settledness of mind, judgment, and thoughts on God’s help, a fixed frame of heart, without tumultuous passions or perturbations, with an unmovable resolution to keep close to God and his word both in word and deed, amidst all oppositions and persecutions of men for it.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

So that we may boldly say,.... Or confidently assert; for nothing is more true than this,

the Lord is my helper; he is able to help, and does help, when none else can; he has promised to be the helper of his people; he has laid help for them on Christ, who is mighty; and he has helped him as man, that he might help them; he has set up a throne of grace for them to come to, where they may find help; and experience confirms the truth of this assertion; every believer can set up an Ebenezer, and say, hitherto hath the Lord helped me: the people of God are of themselves helpless ones; there is no help for them in man; their help is only in the Lord; who helps them out of the pit of sin and misery; out of the hands of all their enemies; out of all their afflictions, and "out" of all the dangers they are exposed unto by Satan and his temptations, by reason of a body of sin and death, and no account of the world, and the men of it: he helps them "in" the exercise of grace, and in the discharge of duty; in bearing the cross; in fighting the Lord's battles; and in their journeying through the wilderness: he helps them "to" temporal blessings, and spiritual ones; to spiritual food and raiment, and to all needful supplies of grace, and, at last, to eternal glory and happiness: and the help he now affords is quick and present, suitable and seasonable, and is what is sufficient; and is sometimes with, and sometimes without means.

And I will not fear what man shall do unto me. There is a becoming fear and reverence which is due to men that are our superiors, whether in civil or religious affairs; but men are not to be feared, when opposed to God; not a single man only is not to be feared, but even all men; and not they only, but all that they can do; the utmost of which is to kill the body; the ground of this fearlessness in believers are the infinite power, grace, and goodness of God. The words seem to be taken out of Psalm 54:4.

Geneva Study Bible

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what {c} man shall do unto me.

(c) He contrasts man with God.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Hebrews 13:6. Ὥστε θαῤῥοῦντας ἡμᾶς λέγειν κ.τ.λ.] so that we boldly say (namely, in the words of Psalm 118:6): the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear; what can a man do to me?

τί ποιήσει μοι ἄνθρωπος;] is an independent direct question. Grammatically false is the construction of the Vulgate (so also Jac. Cappellus and others), which takes the words as dependent on οὐ φοβηθήσομαι: non timebo, quid faciat mihi homo.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. we may boldly say] Rather, “we boldly say.”

The Lord is my helper] Psalm 118:6.

I will not fear what man …] Rather, “I will not fear. What shall man do unto me?”

Bengel's Gnomen

Hebrews 13:6. Κύριος ἐμοὶ, κ.τ.λ.) So the LXX., Psalm 118:6, and so for the most part Psalm 56:5; Psalm 56:12.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me; rather, I will act fear: what shall man do unto me? The quotation is from Psalm 118:6. The memory of their former pastors who had finished their course is next urged upon the readers as an encouragement to perseverance in the life of faith. Hebrews 13:6

Vincent's Word Studies

So that we may boldly say (ὥστε θαρροῦντας ἡμᾶς λέγειν)

Lit. so that, being of good courage, we say. Θαρρεῖν to be confident or bold, only here in Hebrews. Elsewhere only in Paul. The kindred form θαρσεῖν is used in N.T. only in the imperative θάρσει or θαρσεῖτε take courage. See Matthew 9:2; Mark 6:50; John 16:33; Acts 23:11.

The Lord is my helper, etc.

From lxx, Psalm 107:6 with slight alteration. Here, what shall man do unto me is an independent clause. lxx inserts and: "my helper and I will not fear," and connects the last clause with "fear": "I will not fear what man will do."