Hebrews 12:14
New International Version
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

New Living Translation
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

English Standard Version
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Berean Standard Bible
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Berean Literal Bible
Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord,

King James Bible
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

New King James Version
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

New American Standard Bible
Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

NASB 1995
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

NASB 1977
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

Legacy Standard Bible
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord,

Amplified Bible
Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.

Christian Standard Bible
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness —without it no one will see the Lord.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.

American Standard Version
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:

Contemporary English Version
Try to live at peace with everyone! Live a clean life. If you don't, you will never see the Lord.

English Revised Version
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Try to live peacefully with everyone, and try to live holy lives, because if you don't, you will not see the Lord.

Good News Translation
Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it.

International Standard Version
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Majority Standard Bible
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

NET Bible
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.

New Heart English Bible
Pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord,

Webster's Bible Translation
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Weymouth New Testament
but may rather be restored. Persistently strive for peace with all men, and for that growth in holiness apart from which no one will see the Lord.

World English Bible
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
pursue peace with all, and the separation, apart from which no one will see the LORD,

Berean Literal Bible
Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord,

Young's Literal Translation
peace pursue with all, and the separation, apart from which no one shall see the Lord,

Smith's Literal Translation
Follow peace with all, and consecration, without which none shall see the Lord:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Follow peace with all men, and holiness: without which no man shall see God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Pursue peace with everyone. Pursue sanctity, without which no one shall see God.

New American Bible
Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

New Revised Standard Version
Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see our LORD.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Run after peace with every man, and after holiness, without which no one shall see Our Lord.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord;

Godbey New Testament
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification, without which no one shall see the Lord:

Haweis New Testament
Earnestly seek peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Mace New Testament
seek peace with all men, and sanctity of life, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Weymouth New Testament
but may rather be restored. Persistently strive for peace with all men, and for that growth in holiness apart from which no one will see the Lord.

Worrell New Testament
Pursue peace with all, and the holiness without which no one shall see the Lord;

Worsley New Testament
Follow peace with all men; and holiness, without which none shall see the Lord:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Call to Holiness
13Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

1 Peter 1:15-16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

1 Peter 3:11
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

Romans 14:19
So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Ephesians 4:3
and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Psalm 34:14
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Isaiah 57:21
“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

James 3:17-18
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. / Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, / gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.


Treasury of Scripture

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Follow.

Genesis 13:7-9
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land…

Psalm 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 38:20
They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

and holiness.

Hebrews 12:10
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Psalm 94:15
But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

Isaiah 51:1
Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

no man.

Genesis 32:30
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Job 19:26
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Job 33:26
He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

Jump to Previous
Apart Desire Effort Follow Growth Holiness Holy Live Peace Persistently Pursue Rather Restored Sanctification Separation Strive
Jump to Next
Apart Desire Effort Follow Growth Holiness Holy Live Peace Persistently Pursue Rather Restored Sanctification Separation Strive
Hebrews 12
1. An exhortation to constant faith, patience, and godliness by Christ's example
22. A commendation of the new covenant.














Pursue peace with everyone
The word "pursue" in Greek is "diōkō," which implies an active, determined effort. It is not a passive or half-hearted attempt but a vigorous pursuit. In the context of the early Christian community, this would have been a radical call, as believers were often in conflict with both Jewish and Roman authorities. The call to pursue peace "with everyone" underscores the universal nature of this command. It is not limited to fellow believers but extends to all people, reflecting Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount to love one's enemies (Matthew 5:44). This pursuit of peace is a reflection of the peace that Christ Himself embodies and offers to the world.

and holiness
The Greek word for "holiness" is "hagiasmos," which refers to sanctification or being set apart for God. Holiness is a central theme in the Bible, reflecting God's own nature and His call for His people to be distinct from the world. In the historical context of Hebrews, the Jewish Christians were being reminded of their identity as God's holy people, set apart through Christ. Holiness involves both moral purity and a dedication to God's service. It is not merely an external adherence to rules but an internal transformation that aligns one's character with God's will.

without which no one will see the Lord
This phrase emphasizes the necessity of holiness in the believer's life. The Greek word for "see" is "optanomai," which can mean to perceive or to experience. In a spiritual sense, seeing the Lord implies a relationship with Him, both now and in eternity. The author of Hebrews is stressing that without holiness, which is evidenced by a life of peace and righteousness, one cannot truly know or experience God. This echoes Jesus' beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). The call to holiness is not just about personal piety but about preparing to be in the presence of a holy God.

(14) Follow peace.--More clearly (as our word "follow" is somewhat ambiguous), follow after peace. There is a manifest allusion to Psalm 34:14 (quoted also in 1Peter 3:11). This charge is general (Romans 12:18), and must not be limited to peace with fellow Christians (Romans 14:19). The two admonitions of this verse were admirably suited to a period of persecution. Let all make peace their aim, yet not so as to sacrifice purity. (Comp. James 3:17.)

And holiness.--Better, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord. In Hebrews 9:28 we have the promise that "Christ . . . shall be seen" by them that wait for Him: hence it might be supposed (especially as in the next verse we read of "the grace of God") that "the Lord" is here, as in Hebrews 2:3, a designation of our Saviour. As, however, this Epistle especially brings Him before us as the Sanctifier (Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 13:12), who leads us into the presence of God (Hebrews 10:19), we must rather look on these words as akin to Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Revelation 22:4). . . .

Verse 14. - Follow peace with all (i.e. as required by the context, with all the brethren; cf. Romans 14:19), and holiness (more properly, sanctification), without which no man shall see the Lord. Here the figure is dropped, and two cautions given, peculiarly needed, we may suppose, by the community addressed. The exhortation to "peace with all" reminds of the tone of St. Paul's admonitions both in Romans and in 1 Corinthians, where he so strongly warns against dissensions and party spirit, and enjoins tolerance and mutual allowance with regard to the weaker brethren. The word ἁγιασμὸς ("sanctification") need not be limited (as by Chrysostom) to the idea of chastity; the general thought implied may be (as expressed by Limborch, quoted by Alford), "No, dum pact studeat, nimis slits obsequendi studio quidquam contra sanctimonism Christianam delinquat;" but the special allusion to πορνεία in ver. 16 (as also in Hebrews 13:4) is evidence that chastity was especially in the writer's mind, with definite reference to which the word ἁγιασμὸς is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:3. The frequent and earnest warnings against fornication in St. Paul's Epistles are enough to show how slow even some in the Church were to recognize the strict code of Christian morality, unknown to the heathen world, and by the Jews very imperfectly recognized, in this regard; and the case of 1 Corinthians 5. illustrates how easily such vice might creep into and infect a Christian community without general reprobation. Hence probably the special warning here.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Pursue
διώκετε (diōkete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

peace
Εἰρήνην (Eirēnēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1515: Probably from a primary verb eiro; peace; by implication, prosperity.

with
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

all [men],
πάντων (pantōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

as well as
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

holiness,
ἁγιασμόν (hagiasmon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 38: From hagiazo; properly, purification, i.e. purity; concretely a purifier.

without
χωρὶς (chōris)
Preposition
Strong's 5565: Apart from, separately from; without. Adverb from chora; at a space, i.e. Separately or apart from.

which
οὗ (hou)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

no one
οὐδεὶς (oudeis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

will see
ὄψεται (opsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord.
Κύριον (Kyrion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 12:14 Follow after peace with all men (Heb. He. Hb)
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