Hebrews 13:5-6
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The verse doesn't just say to avoid loving money; it connects this to a deeper contentment rooted in God's unwavering presence. The promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," isn't just a comfort during hardship, but the very foundation that makes true contentment possible, freeing us from needing wealth to feel secure.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author of Hebrews is concluding his letter with practical exhortations for believers to live out their faith. Following calls to brotherly love, hospitality, and enduring hardship, this passage urges readers to reject the greedy pursuit of wealth and find contentment in God's provision. The reasoning is the ultimate security found in God's unbreakable promise to never abandon His people, a truth reinforced by Old Testament assurances.
The Bible talks a lot about money, but what does it mean to have a life 'free from love of money'? It’s about more than just not stealing. It's about the direction your heart is set.
Beyond Greed: A Life of Purpose
The word used for 'conversation' here doesn't just mean small talk; it refers to your whole way of life, your disposition, and your character. The call to be 'free from love of money' is a call to orient your entire being away from an excessive desire for wealth. It's not about rejecting money or material possessions altogether, but about rejecting the love of them – the grip they have on your heart and decision-making.
What happens when you're free from the grip of money-love? The verse says you'll be content. But where does that contentment come from, especially when life gets tough?
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Contentment Rooted in Presence
The command to 'be content with what you have' isn't a call to passive resignation or laziness. It's an active trust that rests on a profound promise: 'He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'
When you face trials, financial hardship, or loss, the temptation is to look at what you don't have. But this verse calls you to anchor your contentment in the One who will never leave or forsake you. His presence is your true security and sufficiency.
Understand the original words
argyriou · Greek Noun
The insatiable craving for wealth; it is biblically identified as a root of evil that leads to idolatry, dissatisfaction, and the abandonment of trust in God's provision.
arkoumenoi · Greek Adjective/Participle
A state of inward peace and sufficiency rooted in the trust that God provides everything necessary for life and godliness, regardless of external circumstances.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
Refers to the sovereign God of Israel, the covenant-keeping I AM who reveals Himself to His people as their protector and deliverer. In the New Testament, this title is frequently applied to Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
phobēthēsomai · Greek Verb
A state of alarm or dread; in a biblical context, it often refers to the paralyzing fear of humanity or circumstances that contradicts trust in God's providence. The prohibition of fear is rooted in the assurance of God’s presence and sovereignty.
The promise 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' is an ancient assurance, repeated and adapted throughout Scripture. For the original audience of Hebrews, facing intense pressure and potential loss, this wasn't just a theological statement but a lifeline, deeply rooted in God's historical faithfulness to His people through immense trials.
c. 1400 BC
Promise to Jacob
God promises Jacob, "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
c. 1400 BC
Promise to Joshua
God tells Joshua, "No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you."
c. 700 BC
Isaiah's Promise
The prophet Isaiah records God's assurance: "I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I tell you, ‘Do not be afraid; I will help you.’"
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Jerusalem is destroyed and the temple is burned by the Babylonians, leading to the exile of many Judeans. This event tested the people's faith and their trust in God's presence during hardship.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Ascension
Jesus teaches extensively about contentment, the dangers of wealth, and assures his followers, 'I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' His ascension leaves the disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit.
c. AD 60-65— this verse
Writing of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to a community of Jewish Christians facing persecution, pressure to revert to Judaism, and potential loss of property. This context makes the call to contentment and trust in God's unfailing presence particularly relevant.
This passage is the primary source for the promise God makes, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you,' highlighting the faithfulness of God in the face of daunting challenges and new beginnings.
Joshua 1:5Echoing the promise to Moses, God assures Joshua of His presence and support as he leads the Israelites into the Promised Land, directly connecting divine faithfulness with human leadership and transition.
Psalm 37:25This psalm speaks to the righteous being never forsaken nor their children begging for bread, showing that God's provision and presence extend to maintaining the well-being of those who trust Him.
Matthew 6:25-34Jesus directly addresses the futility of anxiety about material needs and the dangers of serving both God and money, underscoring the spiritual freedom that comes from trusting God's provision over worldly wealth.
Philippians 4:11-13Paul shares his personal testimony of learning to be content in all circumstances, attributing his strength and sufficiency not to his own resources, but to Christ who empowers him, mirroring the Hebrews passage's call to contentment grounded in Christ.
ellicottHebrews 13:5: "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
(5) In these two verses ( Hebrews 13:4-5 ) we have the same connection of thought as in Hebrews 12:16 ; Colossians 3:5 ; Ephesians 5:3 . “Impurity and covetousness may be said to divide between them nearly the whole domain of human selfishness and vice” (Lightfoot on Colossians 3:5 ). Conversation.—Literally, way of thought and l…
vincentHebrews 13:5: "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Let your conversation be without covetousness (ἀφιλάργυρος ὁ τρόπος)Τρόπος originally turn or direction. Hence ways manner, fashion; way or manner of life. In this sense N.T.o. Elsewhere often in the phrase ὅν τρόπον or καθ' ὅν τρόπον in or according to the way in which. See Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34; Acts 1:11; Acts 1…
The verse doesn't just say to avoid loving money; it connects this to a deeper contentment rooted in God's unwavering presence. The promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," isn't just a comfort during hardship, but the very foundation that makes true contentment possible, freeing us from needing wealth to feel secure.
The author of Hebrews is concluding his letter with practical exhortations for believers to live out their faith. Following calls to brotherly love, hospitality, and enduring hardship, this passage urges readers to reject the greedy pursuit of wealth and find contentment in God's provision. The reasoning is the ultimate security found in God's unbreakable promise to never abandon His people, a truth reinforced by Old Testament assurances.
The author of Hebrews is concluding his letter with practical exhortations for believers to live out their faith. Following calls to brotherly love, hospitality, and enduring hardship, this passage urges readers to reject the greedy pursuit of wealth and find contentment in God's provision. The reasoning is the ultimate security found in God's unbreakable promise to never abandon His people, a truth reinforced by Old Testament assurances.
"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to m…" — The verse doesn't just say to avoid loving money; it connects this to a deeper contentment rooted in God's unwavering presence. The promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," isn't just a com…
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Last reviewed October 2026