Teks -- Hebrews 3:12 (NET)

3:12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Heb 3:12 - Take heed

Take heed ( blepete ).

Present active imperative as in Phi 3:2 (three times) of blepō in place of the more usual horate . Solemn warning to the Jewish Christians from the experience of the Israelites as told in Psa 95:1-11.

Robertson: Heb 3:12 - Lest haply there shall be

Lest haply there shall be ( mē pote estai ).

Negative purpose with mē pote and the future indicative as in Mar 14:2. But we have in Col 2:8 mē tis estai as in Heb 12:25; mē occurs with the aorist subjunctive, and mē pote with present subjunctive (Heb 4:1) or aorist subjunctive (Act 5:39).

Robertson: Heb 3:12 - In any one of you

In any one of you ( en tini humōn ).

The application is personal and pointed.

Robertson: Heb 3:12 - An evil heart of unbelief

An evil heart of unbelief ( kardia ponēra apistias ).

A remarkable combination.

Robertson: Heb 3:12 - Heart

Heart ( kardia )

is common in the lxx (about 1,000 times), but "evil heart"only twice in the O.T. (Jer 16:12; Jer 18:12). Apistias is more than mere unbelief, here rather disbelief, refusal to believe, genitive case describing the evil heart marked by disbelief which is no mark of intelligence then or now.

Robertson: Heb 3:12 - In falling away from the living God

In falling away from the living God ( en tōi apostēnai apo theou zōntos ).

"In the falling away"(locative case with en of the second aorist active (intransitive) infinitive of aphistēmi , to stand off from, to step aside from (apo with the ablative case theou ) the living God (common phrase in the O.T. and the N.T. for God as opposed to lifeless idols)). "Remember that to apostatize from Christ in whom you have found God is to apostatize from God"(Dods). That is true today. See Eze 20:8 for this use of the verb.

Vincent: Heb 3:12 - Lest there be

Note how the following exhortation is colored by the O.T. citation: evil heart ; the to-day ; be hardened ; take heed (βλέπετε ). See to it. Often in warnings or admonitions: sometimes with ἀπὸ from , with genitive of that against which the warning is given, as Mar 8:15; Mar 12:38; but so only in the Gospels. In construction connect with διὸ Heb 3:7; therefore beware .

Lest there be ( μήποτε ἔσται )

The indicative with μὴ lest shows that with the fear that the event may occur, there is blended a suspicion that it will occur.

Vincent: Heb 3:12 - In any of you

In any of you ( ἔν τινι ὑμῶν )

They are appealed to individually.

Vincent: Heb 3:12 - An evil head of unbelief

An evil head of unbelief ( καρδία πονηρὰ ἀπιστίας )

The whole phrase N.T.o . Neither do the combinations evil heart or heart of unbelief occur elsewhere. In lxx, among nearly a thousand instances of καρδία heart , καρδία πονηρὰ evil heart appears only five times, and in three of the five in apocryphal books. See Sir. 9:1; Bar. 1:22; 2:8. In lxx proper, Jer 16:12; Jer 18:12. Ἀπιστίας of unbelief , specifies that in which the more general πονηρὰ evil consists. An evil heart is an unbelieving heart.

Vincent: Heb 3:12 - In departing from the living God

In departing from the living God ( ἐν τῷ ἀποστῆναι ἀπὸ θεοῦ ζῶντος )

The characteristic of unbelief. Faith is personal union with God. Unbelief separates from God. The phrase living God is common to both Testaments. For the bearing of the words upon the question of the Gentile destination of the Epistle, see Introduction.

Wesley: Heb 3:12 - Take heed, lest there be in any of you

As there was in them.

Wesley: Heb 3:12 - An evil heart of unbelief

Unbelief is the parent of all evil, and the very essence of unbelief lies in departing from God, as the living God - The fountain of all our life, holiness, happiness.

JFB: Heb 3:12 - Take heed

To be joined with "wherefore," Heb 3:7.

JFB: Heb 3:12 - lest there be

Greek (indicative), "lest there shall be"; lest there be, as I fear there is; implying that it is not merely a possible contingency, but that there is ground for thinking it will be so.

JFB: Heb 3:12 - in any

"in any one of you." Not merely ought all in general be on their guard, but they ought to be so concerned for the safety of each one member, as not to suffer any one to perish through their negligence [CALVIN].

JFB: Heb 3:12 - heart

The heart is not to be trusted. Compare Heb 3:10, "They do always err in their heart."

JFB: Heb 3:12 - unbelief

Faithlessness. Christ is faithful; therefore, saith Paul to the Hebrews, we ought not to be faithless as our fathers were under Moses.

JFB: Heb 3:12 - departing

Apostatizing. The opposite of "come unto" Him (Heb 4:16). God punishes such apostates in kind. He departs from them--the worst of woes.

JFB: Heb 3:12 - the living God

Real: the distinctive characteristic of the God of Israel, not like the lifeless gods of the heathen; therefore One whose threats are awful realities. To apostatize from Christ is to apostatize from the living God (Heb 2:3).

Clarke: Heb 3:12 - Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you - Take warning by those disobedient Israelites; they were brought out of the house of bondage, and had the fullest promise of a land of prosperity and rest. By their disobedience they came short of it, and fell in the wilderness. Ye have been brought from the bondage of sin, and have a most gracious promise of an everlasting inheritance among the saints in light; through unbelief and disobedience they lost their rest, through the same ye may lose yours. An evil heart of unbelief will head away from the living God. What was possible in their case, is possible in yours. The apostle shows here five degrees of apostasy

1.    Consenting to sin, being deceived by its solicitations

2.    Hardness of heart, through giving way to sin

3.    Unbelief in consequence of this hardness which leads them to call even the truth of the Gospel in question

4.    This unbelief causing them to speak evil of the Gospel, and the provision God has made for the salvation of their souls

5.    Apostasy itself, or falling off from the living God; and thus extinguishing all the light that was in them, and finally grieving the Spirit of God, so that he takes his flight, and leaves them to a seared conscience and reprobate mind

See Leigh. He who begins to give the least way to sin is in danger of final apostasy; the best remedy against this is to get the evil heart removed, as one murderer in the house is more to be dreaded than ten without.

Calvin: Heb 3:12 - Take heed,

12.Take heed, (or See,) brethren, lest there be at any time in any of you a wicked heart of unbelief, etc. I have preferred to retain literally what the Apostle states, rather than to give a paraphrase as to the wicked or depraved heart of unbelief, by which he intimates that unbelief would be connected with depravity or wickedness, if after having received the knowledge of Christ they departed from his faith. For he addressed them who had been imbued with the elements of Christianity; hence he immediately added, By departing; for the sin of defection is accompanied with perfidy. ⁶²

Defender: Heb 3:12 - evil heart

Note that an "evil heart of unbelief" (Heb 3:12) is also an "erring heart" (Heb 3:10) and a "hardened heart" (Heb 3:8)."

TSK: Heb 3:12 - Take // an // in // the

Take : Heb 2:1-3, Heb 12:15; Mat 24:4; Mar 13:9, Mar 13:23, Mar 13:33; Luk 21:8; Rom 11:21; 1Co 10:12

an : Heb 3:10; Gen 8:21; Jer 2:13, Jer 3:17, Jer 7:24, Jer 11:8, Jer 16:12, Jer 17:9, Jer 18:12; Mar 7:21-23

in : Heb 10:38, Heb 12:25; Job 21:14, Job 22:17; Psa 18:21; Pro 1:32; Isa 59:13; Jer 17:5; Hos 1:2

the : 1Th 1:9

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Heb 3:12 - Take heed, brethren // Brethren // Lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief // Unbelief // In departing from the living God

Here the Spirit applieth the former dreadful example of sin and judgment to the Hebrews, to forewarn them how they sinned as these did, lest they partake of the like vengeance; and so enters his caution against unbelief.

Take heed, brethren: Blepete signifies not an act of sight, but of the mind, circumspection, watchfulness, and heed, taking exactest caution of the evil forbidden, Heb 12:15,25 1Co 8:9 .

Brethren they were to Paul in the flesh, and more so as true believers in Christ; he cautions them particularly, one by one, lest any root of bitterness should be amongst them, Heb 12:15 .

Lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief: the heart is the first, and proper, and chief subject, wherein all sin riseth, and from thence issueth into words and works, Mat 15:18,19 ; compare Jam 1:14,15 . This comprehendeth the mind, will, and affections, the whole inward man: and this heart in every man is naturally and habitually evil, continually forging and framing of it, Gen 6:5 ; compare Jer 17:9 . Almighty grace only can change this heart; yet it works by counsel, and makes the soul willing to use the means appointed to effect it.

Unbelief though but in itself, is but a denial to assent to or rely on the will of God revealed to it, yet is the spring and fountain of all other sin, the teeming womb from whence all issueth, as uncleanness, idolatry, unrighteousness, superstition, &c. It was the hardening sin of their forefathers, they would not believe, and then did murmur and rebel. It is the root of apostacy; men breaking their covenant with God in Christ, do then desert him. Against this perfidious, impious, perverted temper doth he caution them to watch, that neither for measure, nor season they ever do admit or allow it; that there be not at all in the least degree, or at any time, such a base, malignant quality in their hearts, Rom 11:20,21 .

In departing from the living God turning away, standing off, and separating the heart; it implies in it a real, total, final defection; actual and formal apostacy from him whom they had owned and received; and is actual rebellion against their lawful Sovereign, by turning either Jews or heathens, and renouncing the Christian religion and its Author; who is the living God, not only formally, as opposed to dead idols, but efficiently the Author and Fountain of all sorts of life, but especially of spiritual and eternal life, Joh 5:19-21,25,26 : which living God is our Lord Jesus Christ, Heb 3:7 , whose voice they were to hear, who was tempted by their unbelief in the wilderness, 1Co 10:9 , who gave the law to them at Sinai, Heb 12:26 . So that to apostatize from him and his religion, is to apostatize from God, and to renounce eternal life, and to subject themselves to eternal punishments, which he ever liveth to inflict on them. Unless they took heed to avoid this unbelief, it was impossible for them to persevere in Christianity, when threatened with persecutions, and the loss of peace, liberty, safety, estates, honours, relations, and life itself for it.

Haydock: Heb 3:12 - Take heed

Take heed, &c. Not to imitate their incredulous obstinacy, lest you never enter into the place of eternal rest, by departing from God by sin. (Witham) ---

To abandon Christ is to abandon God, since Christ is God. He who denies the Son, believes not the Father, who has wrought so many miracles to sanction his mission. (1 John ii. 23.) It is of little consequence to eternity whether it be the doctrine of faith or life of faith we reject, if persons are equally lost by either practical or speculative infidelity.

Gill: Heb 3:12 - Take heed, brethren // lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief // in departing from the living God

Take heed, brethren,.... This exhortation is grounded upon the state and case of their ancestors before given, as a warning and caution to the then present Hebrews; and whom the apostle styles "brethren", to show that he had no hard thoughts of them, and that his jealousy was a godly one, and not an evil suspicion; and may teach us that all exhortations, admonitions, and reproofs should be given in love:

lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief; or such an evil heart, in which unbelief prevails, and is predominant: there is in every man, whether a profane sinner, or an hypocritical professor, an evil heart, and an unbelieving one; and there is unbelief in regenerate persons, which when cherished and encouraged by them is a great evil, and should be avoided; and this sin is aggravated by the many instances of God's grace, and by the many declarations of it, and by the exceeding great and precious promises God has made, and by the great discoveries of his love to their souls in times past: and this sin, when it gets ahead, has a very great influence on the heart, to make it evil; and unbelief was the first sin of man, at least it very early appeared; it is the mother sin, and puts persons upon every sin; it defiles the conscience, hardens the heart, renders the word unprofitable, unfit for duty and makes men unstable, and therefore to be shunned; and especially because of the dreadful effect following:

in departing from the living God; that is, from Christ, who is the Son over his own house, and whose voice is to be heard; for of no other is the apostle speaking in the context; and who is not only the Son of the living God, but he is himself the living God; he is life in himself, and is the fountain and author of life, natural, spiritual, and eternal. This is mentioned to exalt the person of Christ, the apostle and high priest of our profession; and to discover the greatness and heinousness of the sin of such as depart from him and his Gospel, and to deter men from it: there is a final and total departure from Christ, from his Gospel and ordinances, from his people, and from a former profession of faith, which is never to be found in true believers; for they are as Mount Zion, which can never be removed; but there is a partial departure, and for a while, which they are liable to, and is attended with bad effects to them, and should be guarded against: saints should take heed of themselves, and of their hearts, and of the unbelief of them, that they do not in the least depart from Christ, by letting go their hold of him, or by a non-exercise of faith upon him; and this should be the care and concern of every individual member of the church, and at all times; unbelief is very dishonourable to God and Christ; contradicts the word and promises of God; is uncomfortable to the saints; it is a sin that very easily besets, and is very provoking to God, and is highly resented by him.