Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "entertained angels unawares" isn't just about a surprising encounter; it highlights how a simple act of hospitality, done without expecting a divine reward, can open doors to blessings beyond our immediate perception. This emphasizes that God's presence and messengers can be found in the most ordinary human interactions, often when we're simply being kind to those we don't know.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author of Hebrews is urging believers to live out their faith in practical ways, moving from general exhortations like brotherly love and contentment to specific commands. This verse directly follows the call to "continue to love one another" and precedes the instruction to remember prisoners and the marginalized, highlighting hospitality as a vital expression of Christian community and care.
In a world that often feels closed off, this verse calls us to open our doors. But why is hospitality so crucial for followers of Jesus?
More Than Just Being Nice
This isn't just about being a good host; it's a core Christian practice. The original Greek word for hospitality means 'love of strangers.' In the early church, with fewer inns and often facing persecution, offering a safe place to stay and a meal was vital for fellow believers on their journeys. It was a tangible way to live out the 'love of the brothers and sisters' that the New Testament emphasizes.
A Sacred Duty
The Bible consistently calls for hospitality. From the Old Testament laws protecting strangers to Jesus' own words about welcoming his followers, it's clear God values this act of selfless care. It's not just for the wealthy or those with big homes; it’s a call to offer what we can, when we can, to those in need of shelter and welcome.
Imagine opening your door to someone ordinary, only to discover you've hosted heaven itself. This verse hints at a profound reality: God can show up in the most unexpected guests.
Unveiling the Unseen
The verse's powerful closing, 'for thereby some have entertained angels unawares,' isn't just a quaint story. It’s a reminder that our actions have eternal weight. The original language suggests that people were unaware, their eyes didn't recognize the divine presence they were welcoming.
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Echoes in Scripture
This echoes the stories of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18) and Lot (Genesis 19), who welcomed visitors who turned out to be heavenly messengers. These encounters weren't just random events; they were pivotal moments where God brought crucial messages and interventions through seemingly ordinary hospitality. The commentators even point out that welcoming a believer in need is, in God's eyes, the same as welcoming an angel, or even Christ himself.
Understand the original words
philoxenia · Greek Noun
The act of providing care, shelter, and fellowship to those outside one's immediate circle, often to those in need or travelers; it is considered a mark of Christian character and obedience.
angeloi · Greek Noun
Celestial beings created by God who act as His messengers and agents; they sometimes appear in human form to carry out divine purposes or test the faithfulness of God's people.
This verse reminds us that hospitality isn't just about being nice; it's a sacred duty with deep historical roots. The early Christians, often facing hardship and displacement themselves, saw welcoming strangers as a way to serve God, remembering biblical heroes and even potentially encountering Christ or His messengers in disguise.
c. 2000 BC
Abraham Entertains Visitors
Abraham famously welcomes three visitors at the oaks of Mamre, unknowingly entertaining angels, one of whom is the Lord. This event is a foundational example of radical hospitality.
c. 2000 BC
Lot Entertains Angels in Sodom
Lot, Abraham's nephew, offers hospitality to two angels who come to warn him about the destruction of Sodom. His willingness to protect his guests, even from the townspeople, highlights the virtue of hospitality.
c. 1400 BC
Israel's Sojourn in Egypt
Many Israelites lived as foreigners in Egypt for generations, experiencing both hospitality and harsh oppression. This history shaped their understanding of the stranger's plight.
c. 13th - 9th Century BC
The Law of Moses
The Torah repeatedly commands Israelites to love and protect the stranger living among them, reflecting their own past experiences as sojourners.
c. 6th Century BC
The Babylonian Exile
Jews were exiled from their homeland, becoming strangers in a foreign land. This experience reinforced the importance of community support and hospitality when displaced.
c. AD 30-60— this verse
Early Church Growth and Persecution
The spread of Christianity led to frequent travel for apostles and believers. Persecution often forced Christians to flee their homes, making hospitality for fellow believers an essential act of solidarity and survival.
c. AD 95
Clement of Rome Writes
In his letter to the Corinthians, Clement appeals to the examples of Abraham, Lot, and Rahab to encourage hospitality among believers, showing the ongoing relevance of this virtue.
This passage directly illustrates the verse, showing Abraham unknowingly entertaining visitors who turn out to be heavenly messengers, highlighting the potential divine encounters hidden in acts of hospitality.
Genesis 19:1-3Similar to Abraham, Lot's willingness to shelter strangers, even in the face of danger, demonstrates the practice of hospitality, and these guests were later revealed to be angels.
Matthew 25:35-40Jesus expands on this concept, teaching that welcoming those in need, even strangers, is equivalent to welcoming Him, underscoring the profound spiritual significance of hospitality.
1 Peter 4:9This verse directly echoes the exhortation in Hebrews, commanding believers to practice hospitality 'without grumbling,' emphasizing its importance within the Christian community.
Romans 12:13This passage links hospitality directly to 'pursuing' and 'practicing' it, showing it's not a passive virtue but an active commitment that believers should strive for.
ellicottHebrews 13:2: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
(2) To entertain strangers. —Hospitality to Christian brethren at a distance from their homes is especially intended ( 1Peter 4:9 ): this was one manifestation of the “love of the brethren” ( Hebrews 13:1 ). The prominence assigned to this duty in the exhortations of the Epistles of the New Testament was faithfully reflected in the practice of the early Church. Thereby some have entertain…
meyerHebrews 13:2: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
Hebrews 13:2 . Exhortation to hospitality. Comp. Romans 12:13 ; 1 Peter 4:9 ; 1 Timothy 3:2 ; Titus 1:8 . Owing to the hatred of the Jews towards the Christians, and the almost entire absence of public places of entertainment, hospitality towards fellow-Christians on their journeys became, for the Palestinians also, an urgent necessity. διὰ ταύτης γὰρ ἔκαθόν τινες ξενίσαντες ἀγγέλους ] En…
The phrase "entertained angels unawares" isn't just about a surprising encounter; it highlights how a simple act of hospitality, done without expecting a divine reward, can open doors to blessings beyond our immediate perception. This emphasizes that God's presence and messengers can be found in the most ordinary human interactions, often when we're simply being kind to those we don't know.
The author of Hebrews is urging believers to live out their faith in practical ways, moving from general exhortations like brotherly love and contentment to specific commands. This verse directly follows the call to "continue to love one another" and precedes the instruction to remember prisoners and the marginalized, highlighting hospitality as a vital expression of Christian community and care.
The author of Hebrews is urging believers to live out their faith in practical ways, moving from general exhortations like brotherly love and contentment to specific commands. This verse directly follows the call to "continue to love one another" and precedes the instruction to remember prisoners and the marginalized, highlighting hospitality as a vital expression of Christian community and care.
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." — The phrase "entertained angels unawares" isn't just about a surprising encounter; it highlights how a simple act of hospitality, done without expecting a divine reward, can open doors to blessings be…
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Last reviewed October 2026