Hebrews 13:4
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about respecting marriage; it's a powerful call to honor it "in all respects." The emphasis is on a comprehensive reverence for marriage, not just a passive acknowledgement, directly countering any idea that it's less holy or a lesser calling than celibacy.
The author is concluding his letter with a series of practical exhortations for believers to live a life worthy of their calling. Following warnings against greed and contentment with their current circumstances, he now turns to issues of sexual purity and faithfulness. This verse directly addresses the sanctity of marriage and warns against sexual immorality, underscoring that God will hold people accountable for these actions.
Why does the Bible elevate marriage so highly? It's not just a social contract, but a foundation laid by God Himself.
The verse commands, "Let marriage be held in honor among all." This isn't just a suggestion; it's a divine imperative. The original Greek word for 'honor' here implies something precious and highly valued.
God's Design
Scripture consistently portrays marriage as God's idea, established from the very beginning. It's meant to be a reflection of His own faithfulness and love. This honor extends to everyone, regardless of status or calling – it's not a lesser state but a universally valid and precious union.
Countering False Ideals
This teaching stands in direct opposition to any idea that marriage is somehow impure or less holy than celibacy. Throughout history, some groups have promoted ascetic lifestyles, looking down on marriage. The Bible, however, affirms its honor for all people.
What does it mean to keep the 'marriage bed undefiled'? It's more than just avoiding adultery; it's about the sanctity of intimacy.
The second part of the verse, "and let the marriage bed be undefiled," speaks directly to the sexual intimacy within marriage. This isn't merely about fidelity, but about the purity and sanctity of that union.
A Sacred Space
The marriage bed represents the intimate, exclusive physical union between a husband and wife. To keep it 'undefiled' means to preserve it from any sexual impurity, whether that be adultery, fornication, or other forms of sexual sin.
Exclusive and Pure
This command calls for exclusivity and faithfulness within the marriage covenant. It's a call to cherish and protect the sacred space God has designed for intimacy, ensuring it remains a pure reflection of His design.
Understand the original words
gamos · Greek Noun
The divinely instituted union between a man and a woman, regarded as a sacred covenant that mirrors the relationship between Christ and His church and must be maintained with sanctity.
amiantos · Greek Adjective
Free from pollution, corruption, or moral stain; it refers to the state of being kept pure and holy in accordance with God's commandments.
krinei · Greek Verb
The judicial act of God where He evaluates the thoughts, words, and actions of humanity, upholding His righteousness and bringing consequences for sin.
pornous · Greek Noun
Those who engage in sexual relations outside the bounds of the marriage covenant, which is defined by God as the exclusive union of one man and one woman.
The letter to the Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were under immense pressure to either revert to Judaism or compromise their faith. This verse, therefore, isn't just a general moral teaching but a specific call to uphold the sanctity of marriage and sexual purity in the face of societal pressures and potential temptations that threatened to undermine their distinct Christian identity.
c. 50 AD
Council of Jerusalem
The early church debated requirements for Gentile believers, including abstaining from sexual immorality. This indicates early concerns about maintaining moral purity within the new faith community.
c. 50-60 AD
Paul's Letters to Corinth
Paul directly addresses rampant sexual immorality in Corinth, a major port city known for its lax morals and the temple of Aphrodite. He strongly condemns fornication and adultery, underscoring the pervasive nature of these sins.
c. 60-65 AD— this verse
Writing of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to a community of Jewish Christians, likely facing internal pressures and external persecution. The letter offers encouragement to persevere in faith, often addressing practical matters of Christian living.
c. 64 AD
Great Fire of Rome
This passage from creation highlights God's foundational design for marriage, showing it as honorable and essential from the very beginning, setting the stage for the author's exhortation in Hebrews.
1 Corinthians 7:2Paul directly addresses the issue of sexual purity and marriage, echoing the sentiment that 'each man should have sexual relations with his own wife,' underscoring the importance of fidelity within marriage as a remedy against immorality.
1 Thessalonians 4:3This passage speaks directly to God's will for believers, stating that 'your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God,' reinforcing the warning against impurity found in Hebrews.
Proverbs 6:32The stark warning that 'an adulterer has no sense; he is one who destroys himself by such action' powerfully illustrates the severe consequences and self-destructive nature of sexual immorality that God will ultimately judge, as stated in Hebrews.
Matthew 5:27-28Jesus broadens the understanding of sexual sin, stating that 'anyone who looks at a woman so as to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart,' which aligns with the call in Hebrews to keep the 'marriage bed undefiled' by guarding even one's thoughts and desires.
ellicottHebrews 13:4: "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."
(4) Marriage is honourable in all. —Rather, Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. The precept is directed against impurity ( Hebrews 12:16 ), and also against the false asceticism of men “forbidding to marry” ( 1Timothy 4:3 ). The laxity of morals among Gentiles (Note on Acts 15:20 ) and the prevale…
barnesHebrews 13:4: "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."
Marriage is honorable in all - The object here is to state that "honor" is to be shown to the marriage relation. It is not to be undervalued by the pretence of the superior purity of a state of celibacy, as if marriage were improper for any class of people or any condition of life; and it should not be dishonored by any violation of the marriage contract. The course of things ha…
This verse isn't just about respecting marriage; it's a powerful call to honor it "in all respects." The emphasis is on a comprehensive reverence for marriage, not just a passive acknowledgement, directly countering any idea that it's less holy or a lesser calling than celibacy.
The author is concluding his letter with a series of practical exhortations for believers to live a life worthy of their calling. Following warnings against greed and contentment with their current circumstances, he now turns to issues of sexual purity and faithfulness. This verse directly addresses the sanctity of marriage and warns against sexual immorality, underscoring that God will hold people accountable for these actions.
The author is concluding his letter with a series of practical exhortations for believers to live a life worthy of their calling. Following warnings against greed and contentment with their current circumstances, he now turns to issues of sexual purity and faithfulness. This verse directly addresses the sanctity of marriage and warns against sexual immorality, underscoring that God will hold people accountable for these actions.
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The verse ends with a stark reminder: God sees all. What does this judgment mean for sexual immorality?
The final clause delivers a powerful consequence: "for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous." This isn't a casual threat; it's a foundational truth about God's justice.
Divine Accountability
While human systems might overlook or fail to punish sexual sin, God's gaze is all-seeing. He is the ultimate judge, and He holds individuals accountable for their actions, especially concerning the sanctity of marriage and sexual purity.
A Serious Matter
The "for" (or "but" in some translations) connects this judgment directly to the previous commands. God's judgment underscores why marriage and the marriage bed must be honored and kept undefiled. These are not minor offenses in His eyes; they incur His righteous judgment.
moichous · Greek Noun
Someone who engages in sexual relations with a person other than their spouse, thereby breaking the marriage covenant and acting in violation of God's holiness.
This event, and the subsequent persecution of Christians under Nero, intensified the pressure and potential for moral compromise within the church. Warnings against immorality could be seen as reinforcing steadfastness under duress.
"Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous." — This verse isn't just about respecting marriage; it's a powerful call to honor it "in all respects." The emphasis is on a comprehensive reverence for marriage, not just a passive acknowledgement, dir…
