Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that our praise isn't just spoken words, but the "fruit" of lips that confess God's name. It's about actively acknowledging and testifying to who He is through our words, making our praise a living outcome of our faith.
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author has just argued that Christians no longer have a permanent city here on earth, pointing to Christ’s suffering outside the city gates and urging believers to follow him there, leaving behind the Levitical system and its sacrifices. This verse builds on that, explaining that through Christ, believers can now offer a new kind of spiritual sacrifice—thanksgiving and praise—which replaces the Old Testament animal offerings. This sacrifice is not a one-time event but a continuous expression of gratitude flowing from lips that acknowledge God’s name.
The Old Testament was filled with animal sacrifices. But in the New Covenant, something shifted. What kind of offering does God truly desire from us now?
In Hebrews 13:15, the author calls believers to offer a "sacrifice of praise." This isn't about bringing animals to an altar; those Old Testament sacrifices pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Now, through Him, we bring a spiritual offering.
The Shift from Ritual to Relationship
This "sacrifice of praise" is a deliberate act of our will, giving thanks and acknowledging God's goodness, even in difficult times.
The verse calls our praise the "fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." What does it mean for our words to bear fruit for God?
Our praise isn't just empty words; it's the "fruit" of our lips. This language is rich with Old Testament imagery. The prophets often spoke of lips as producing something, like the "calves of our lips" in Hosea 14:2, meaning sacrifices offered through words.
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What Does "Acknowledging His Name" Mean?
This fruitfulness comes from hearts that are actively connected to God, recognizing His name – His very being and authority – in all things.
The verse emphasizes offering this sacrifice 'continually.' What does a life of constant praise look like in the midst of everyday challenges?
The command to offer praise 'continually' isn't about singing worship songs 24/7, nor is it about never feeling sadness or pain. Instead, it speaks to a consistent orientation of the heart towards God.
The Rhythm of Continual Praise:
This ongoing sacrifice of praise is possible because the source of our blessings – God Himself – is constant. His faithfulness doesn't fluctuate, so our praise, rooted in His unchanging nature, can be continuous.
Understand the original words
homologeō · Greek Verb
To verbally admit, confess, or profess; it involves publicly acknowledging one's faith or agreement with God's truth, often in the face of opposition.
This verse calls believers to offer a 'sacrifice of praise,' a concept deeply rooted in Old Testament sacrificial language and prophetic interpretation. The author of Hebrews draws on the Septuagint translation of Hosea 14:2, which speaks of 'the fruit of our lips,' to highlight that Christian worship, unlike the animal sacrifices of Judaism (which were nearing their end with the Temple's destruction), is a continuous, spiritual offering of thanksgiving made possible through Christ's ultimate sacrifice.
c. 450 BC
Hosea's Prophecy Delivered
The prophet Hosea delivers his message of warning and hope to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, using vivid imagery of God's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness.
c. 400 BC
Septuagint Translation Begins
The translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek begins in Alexandria, Egypt. This translation, known as the Septuagint (LXX), becomes widely used.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus Christ is crucified and rises from the dead, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and establishing the new covenant.
c. AD 40-60— this verse
The Epistle to the Hebrews is Written
The author, whose identity is debated, writes to Jewish Christians who are facing persecution and temptation to revert to Mosaic Law practices.
c. AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman army destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple, marking the end of the sacrificial system central to Jewish worship.
This passage is directly alluded to, where the prophet speaks of rendering 'calves of our lips' as a sacrifice, paralleling the 'fruit of lips' that acknowledge God's name in Hebrews.
Psalm 50:23This psalm emphasizes that God is honored more by the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving than by animal sacrifices, a key theme echoed in Hebrews 13:15.
1 Peter 2:5This verse describes believers as being 'living stones' who offer 'spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ,' connecting to the idea of continuous praise as a sacrifice offered through Christ.
Romans 12:1Paul calls believers to present their bodies as a 'living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,' which is a spiritual worship that encompasses the heartfelt praise described in Hebrews.
ellicottHebrews 13:15: "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
(15) By him. —Better, through Him. Through His sacrifice, which has made atonement, we are hallowed ( Hebrews 13:12 ), and fitted for our priestly service ( 1Peter 2:5 ). Let us offer the sacrifice.—Rather, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise continually unto God, that is, fruit of lips making confession to His name. The sacrifice we may bring is…
meyerHebrews 13:15: "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
Hebrews 13:15 . Closing exhortation, through Christ, to offer to God sacrifices of praise. Deduced from Hebrews 13:8-14 . Διʼ αὐτοῦ ] is with great emphasis preposed: through HIM ( sc . Christ), but not through the intervention of the Jewish sacrificial institution. Through Him, inasmuch as by the all-sufficiency of His expiatory sacrifice once off…
This verse highlights that our praise isn't just spoken words, but the "fruit" of lips that confess God's name. It's about actively acknowledging and testifying to who He is through our words, making our praise a living outcome of our faith.
The author has just argued that Christians no longer have a permanent city here on earth, pointing to Christ’s suffering outside the city gates and urging believers to follow him there, leaving behind the Levitical system and its sacrifices. This verse builds on that, explaining that through Christ, believers can now offer a new kind of spiritual sacrifice—thanksgiving and praise—which replaces the Old Testament animal offerings. This sacrifice is not a one-time event but a continuous expression of gratitude flowing from lips that acknowledge God’s name.
The author has just argued that Christians no longer have a permanent city here on earth, pointing to Christ’s suffering outside the city gates and urging believers to follow him there, leaving behind the Levitical system and its sacrifices. This verse builds on that, explaining that through Christ, believers can now offer a new kind of spiritual sacrifice—thanksgiving and praise—which replaces the Old Testament animal offerings. This sacrifice is not a one-time event but a continuous expression of gratitude flowing from lips that acknowledge God’s name.
"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." — This verse highlights that our praise isn't just spoken words, but the "fruit" of lips that confess God's name. It's about actively acknowledging and testifying to who He is through our words, maki…
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Last reviewed October 2026