Hebrews 13:20-21
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This isn't just a mention of Jesus' resurrection; it connects His resurrection directly to His role as the Great Shepherd. It's through the power of His shed blood, which ratified an eternal covenant, that He was raised and thus uniquely qualified to be our ultimate caregiver.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prayer comes at the very end of the letter, as the author offers a final blessing to the recipients. It follows a section where the author addresses potential internal strife and disobedience among the community, and it concludes the author's arguments about Christ's superiority and the importance of persevering faith. This verse specifically focuses on the powerful attributes of God that enable Him to bring peace and perfection to His people.
Ever feel like life is pulling you in a million directions? This verse starts with a powerful title for God that speaks directly to that chaos.
This verse opens with "Now may the God of peace..." This isn't just a nice sentiment; it's a theological declaration. The God of peace is the One who is the ultimate source and author of peace. In the context of Hebrews, where the writer has been addressing divisions and unrest among the believers, calling God the "God of peace" is a direct appeal for Him to bring harmony and wholeness. This peace isn't just the absence of conflict, but a deep, inner tranquility that comes from right relationship with Him.
How does God bring about peace? This verse points to a monumental event that proves His power and His plan.
The verse highlights God's action: 'who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus'. This is the resurrection! It's the ultimate demonstration of God's power over sin and death. For Jesus to be raised signifies that His sacrifice was accepted, and His work on the cross is complete. This resurrection is the foundation of our peace with God and the assurance of our future hope. It's the powerful act that validates Jesus as the Great Shepherd.
What makes Jesus the 'Great Shepherd'? It's not just a title; it's an authority established by a profound act.
Jesus is called 'the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.' His shepherding is intrinsically linked to His sacrificial death. The 'blood of the everlasting covenant' refers to the New Covenant ratified by Jesus' blood. This covenant is 'everlasting' because it's an eternal plan of God, and its benefits are permanent. Through this blood, Jesus purchased us, gained authority over us, and established the basis for His care and protection of His flock. It’s through this sacrifice that He becomes our ultimate Provider, Protector, and Guide.
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Understand the original words
eirēnē · Greek Noun
The title given to God because He is the source of inner harmony, reconciliation, and the cessation of hostility between God and humanity through Jesus Christ.
poimēn · Greek Noun
The One who cares for, guides, and protects His people; an image used for Jesus to describe His sacrificial love and authority over His church.
haima · Greek Noun
The sacrificial death of Jesus, which serves as the formal foundation for the New Covenant, ensuring its validity and its everlasting nature before God.
diathēkē · Greek Noun
A solemn, binding agreement between God and His people, which is 'eternal' because it is based on the finished, unchangeable work of Christ and cannot be revoked.
katartisai · Greek Verb
In a biblical context, to equip means to prepare, mend, or furnish someone completely for a specific task or purpose, implying both readiness and capability.
thelēma · Greek Noun
The sovereign purpose, desire, or command of God for His creation, which believers are called to obey and align their lives with.
doxa · Greek Noun
The praise, honor, and manifestation of the divine splendor of God; in the New Testament, it is frequently ascribed to Christ as an expression of His deity and lordship.
This closing benediction grounds the hope for peace and perfection in God's decisive act of raising Jesus from the dead. This resurrection was not arbitrary but was the ultimate confirmation of the 'everlasting covenant,' ratified by Jesus' blood, fulfilling ancient prophecies and establishing Him as the Great Shepherd who leads His flock into eternal life.
c. 1440 BC
Covenant at Sinai
God establishes the Mosaic covenant with Israel, sealed by the blood of animal sacrifices, outlining laws and promises for the nation.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroying the Temple and exiling much of the population, marking a crisis for the covenant people.
c. 520 BC
Rebuilding of the Temple
Following the return from exile, the Jewish people rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, symbolizing a restoration of their covenant relationship with God.
c. 5th Century BC
Prophetic Visions of a New Covenant
Prophets like Jeremiah and Zechariah speak of a future, 'everlasting covenant' that will be inwardly established and bring lasting peace and forgiveness.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah and 'great shepherd,' is crucified, and God raises Him from the dead, sealing the new and everlasting covenant with His blood.
c. AD 64-68
Authorship of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to a community facing trials, encouraging them to persevere in faith and highlighting Christ's ultimate sufficiency as mediator of a superior covenant.
This passage directly calls Jesus the 'good shepherd,' reinforcing the title 'great shepherd' used in Hebrews 13:20 and highlighting His care and sacrifice for His sheep.
1 Peter 2:25This verse refers to believers as 'sheep' and Jesus as the 'Shepherd and Overseer of your souls,' emphasizing His role in guiding and protecting His flock.
Zechariah 9:11This Old Testament prophecy, alluded to in Hebrews 13:20, speaks of prisoners being released 'by the blood of your covenant,' connecting the concept of a covenant sealed by blood to deliverance and redemption.
Hebrews 9:14This verse explains that the blood of Christ 'purifies our conscience' through the eternal Spirit, directly linking the 'blood of the eternal covenant' to purification and spiritual cleansing, a foundational aspect of peace with God.
Isaiah 63:11This passage speaks of God raising up 'the shepherd of His flock,' a concept that directly parallels the idea of God raising up Jesus, the great Shepherd, from the dead.
vincentHebrews 13:20: "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"
The God of peaceNot an O.T. phrase, and found only in Paul and Hebrews. See Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:16. The phrase signifies God who is the author and giver of peace.Who brought again from the dead (ὁ ἀναγαγὼν ἐκ νεκρῶν)The only direct referen…
barnesHebrews 13:20: "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"
Now the God of peace - God who is the Author, or the source of peace; notes, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 . The word "peace" in the New Testament is used to denote every kind of blessing or happiness. It is opposed to all that would disturb or trouble the mind, and may refer, therefore, to reconciliation with God; to a quiet conscience;…
This isn't just a mention of Jesus' resurrection; it connects His resurrection directly to His role as the Great Shepherd. It's through the power of His shed blood, which ratified an eternal covenant, that He was raised and thus uniquely qualified to be our ultimate caregiver.
This prayer comes at the very end of the letter, as the author offers a final blessing to the recipients. It follows a section where the author addresses potential internal strife and disobedience among the community, and it concludes the author's arguments about Christ's superiority and the importance of persevering faith. This verse specifically focuses on the powerful attributes of God that enable Him to bring peace and perfection to His people.
This prayer comes at the very end of the letter, as the author offers a final blessing to the recipients. It follows a section where the author addresses potential internal strife and disobedience among the community, and it concludes the author's arguments about Christ's superiority and the importance of persevering faith. This verse specifically focuses on the powerful attributes of God that enable Him to bring peace and perfection to His people.
"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing i…" — This isn't just a mention of Jesus' resurrection; it connects His resurrection directly to His role as the Great Shepherd. It's through the power of His shed blood, which ratified an eternal covenant…
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Last reviewed October 2026
