Hebrews 13:17

Authority and leadership Obedience Fellowship and the church

¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.

¹⁶ And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

¹⁸ Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

¹⁹ And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you soon.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
KJV: Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
WEB: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.
ASV: Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit [to them]: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this [were] unprofitable for you.
DARBY: Obey your leaders, and be submissive; for *they* watch over your souls as those that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.
BLB: Obey you⁺ those leading and be subject, for they watch over your⁺ souls as [those who] will give an account, so that they may do this with joy and not groaning, for this [is] unprofitable for you⁺.

ÅB: Lyd deres veiledere og rett dere etter dem! for de våker over deres sjeler som de som skal gjøre regnskap, så de kan gjøre det med glede og ikke sukkende; for det er dere ikke til gagn.
OTB: Ha tillit til deres ledere og underordne dere deres autoritet, for de våker over deres sjeler som de som må avlegge regnskap. La dem gjøre dette med glede og ikke med sukk, for det ville ikke være til nytte for dere.
B1930: Lyd eders veiledere og rett eder efter dem! for de våker over eders sjeler som de som skal gjøre regnskap, så de kan gjøre det med glede og ikke sukkende; for det er eder ikke til gagn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
Read in context
1 Timothy 5:17
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
Read in context
Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Read in context
1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Read in context
Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
Read in context
1 Peter 5:2–3
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;
Read in context
1 Corinthians 16:16
to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
Read in context
Jeremiah 13:17
But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.
Read in context