Hebrews 12:8
New International Version
If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

New Living Translation
If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

English Standard Version
If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Berean Standard Bible
If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

Berean Literal Bible
But if you are without discipline, of which they have all become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

King James Bible
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

New King James Version
But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

New American Standard Bible
But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

NASB 1995
But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

NASB 1977
But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Amplified Bible
Now if you are exempt from correction and without discipline, in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [at all].

Christian Standard Bible
But if you are without discipline—which all receive —then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

American Standard Version
But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Contemporary English Version
God corrects all his children, and if he doesn't correct you, then you don't really belong to him.

English Revised Version
But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If you aren't disciplined like the other children, you aren't part of the family.

Good News Translation
If you are not punished, as all his children are, it means you are not real children, but bastards.

International Standard Version
Now if you are without any discipline, in which all sons share, then you are illegitimate and not God's sons.

Majority Standard Bible
If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

NET Bible
But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.

New Heart English Bible
But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not sons.

Webster's Bible Translation
But if ye are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons.

Weymouth New Testament
And if you are left without discipline, of which every true son has had a share, that shows that you are bastards, and not true sons.

World English Bible
But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if you are apart from discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are bastards, and not sons.

Berean Literal Bible
But if you are without discipline, of which they have all become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Young's Literal Translation
and if ye are apart from chastening, of which all have become partakers, then bastards are ye, and not sons.

Smith's Literal Translation
And if ye are without correction, of which all are partakers, then are ye spurious, not sons.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if you are without that discipline in which all have become sharers, then you are of adultery, and you are not sons.

New American Bible
If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards.

New Revised Standard Version
If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if you are without discipline, that very discipline by which every man is trained, then you are strangers and not sons.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if you are without the discipline by which every person is disciplined, you are strangers and not children.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.

Godbey New Testament
And if you are without chastisement, of which all have been partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.

Haweis New Testament
If then ye are without correction, of which all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not children.

Mace New Testament
but if you were exempted from that discipline which others are subject to, then are you bastards, and not sons.

Weymouth New Testament
And if you are left without discipline, of which every true son has had a share, that shows that you are bastards, and not true sons.

Worrell New Testament
But, if ye are without chastisement, of which all have become partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Worsley New Testament
But if ye be without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Disciplines His Sons
7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?…

Cross References
Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; / for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.

Revelation 3:19
Those I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

1 Corinthians 11:32
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Deuteronomy 8:5
So know in your heart that just as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.

Job 5:17-18
Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. / For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal.

Psalm 94:12
Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,

Psalm 119:67
Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word.

Psalm 119:71
It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.

Psalm 119:75
I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

2 Samuel 7:14
I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

Lamentations 3:39-40
Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins? / Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.

Isaiah 48:10
See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

Jeremiah 10:24
Correct me, O LORD, but only with justice—not in Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.

Jeremiah 30:11
For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have scattered you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.”


Treasury of Scripture

But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.

Hebrews 12:6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Psalm 73:1,14,15
A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart…

1 Peter 5:9,10
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world…

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Apart Chastening Chastisement Children Discipline Disciplined Illegitimate Partakers Participated Punishment Shame Share Shows True. Undergoes Whereof
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Apart Chastening Chastisement Children Discipline Disciplined Illegitimate Partakers Participated Punishment Shame Share Shows True. Undergoes Whereof
Hebrews 12
1. An exhortation to constant faith, patience, and godliness by Christ's example
22. A commendation of the new covenant.














If you do not experience discipline
The phrase "experience discipline" in the Greek is "παιδεία" (paideia), which refers to the training and education of children. In the ancient Greco-Roman world, this term encompassed the whole process of upbringing, including instruction, correction, and guidance. Theologically, it implies God's loving correction and guidance for spiritual growth. Discipline is not merely punitive but is intended for the development of character and faith. In the context of Hebrews, it underscores the necessity of enduring hardship as a form of divine training, aligning believers with God's will and purpose.

like everyone else
This phrase emphasizes the universality of God's discipline among His children. The Greek term "πάντες" (pantes) means "all" or "everyone," indicating that discipline is a common experience for all believers. Historically, this reflects the communal aspect of the early Christian church, where shared experiences of suffering and growth were seen as part of the collective journey of faith. It reassures believers that they are not alone in their trials and that such experiences are a normal part of the Christian life.

then you are illegitimate children
The term "illegitimate children" in Greek is "νόθοι" (nothos), which refers to those who are not legally recognized as heirs. In the ancient world, illegitimate children did not have the same rights or status as legitimate heirs. This metaphor highlights the seriousness of not undergoing divine discipline. Spiritually, it suggests that without God's corrective guidance, one cannot claim the full rights and privileges of being His child. It serves as a warning against complacency and a call to embrace God's formative work in one's life.

and not true sons
The phrase "true sons" contrasts with "illegitimate children" and uses the Greek word "υἱοί" (huioi), which signifies legitimate offspring with full rights of inheritance. In the biblical context, being a "true son" implies a deep, personal relationship with God, characterized by love, obedience, and trust. Historically, sonship was associated with identity and inheritance, and in the Christian faith, it signifies being co-heirs with Christ. This phrase encourages believers to embrace their identity as God's children, fully participating in the blessings and responsibilities that come with it.

(8) Whereof all are partakers.--Better, whereof all (God's children) have been made partakers. Were it possible that they have never known this fatherly "chastening," it must be that they are not sons whom a father acknowledges, and for whose training he has care.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

you do not experience
ἐστε (este)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

discipline
παιδείας (paideias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3809: From paideuo; tutorage, i.e. Education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction.

like
ἧς (hēs)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

everyone
πάντες (pantes)
Adjective - Nominative 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.

else,
μέτοχοι (metochoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3353: A sharer, partner, associate. From metecho; participant, i.e. a sharer; by implication, an associate.

then
ἄρα (ara)
Conjunction
Strong's 686: Then, therefore, since. Probably from airo; a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive.

you are
ἐστε (este)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

illegitimate children
νόθοι (nothoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3541: Illegitimate, base-born. Of uncertain affinity; a spurious or illegitimate son.

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

not true
οὐχ (ouch)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

sons.
υἱοί (huioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 12:8 But if you are without discipline (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 12:7
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