Hebrews

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Hebrews 6

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

AI-assisted, sourced

"Let us go on unto perfection," the writer urges, warning that "it is impossible for those who were once enlightened... If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance." Yet "we are persuaded better things of you," for God will not forget "your work and labour of love," and they should be "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." God confirmed his promise to Abraham with an oath, "he sware by himself," so that by two things in which "it was impossible for God to lie" we have hope "as an anchor of the soul," where Jesus has entered as "an high priest for ever." Hebrews 6:1Hebrews 6:4Hebrews 6:6Hebrews 6:9Hebrews 6:10Hebrews 6:12Hebrews 6:13Hebrews 6:18Hebrews 6:19Hebrews 6:20

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

The writer and his "beloved" readers, and Abraham, to whom God "made promise." Hebrews 6:9Hebrews 6:13Hebrews overview

Where

The letter does not say where it was written or sent. "They of Italy salute you" may mean the writer was in Italy or was writing to it. Hebrews overview

When

Traditionally dated before AD 70, since the letter speaks of the tabernacle service as still going on and never mentions the temple's fall. Most scholars date it about AD 60-90 and say the writer is unknown. Hebrews overview

How it fits

Chapter 5 ended with "strong meat" for the mature, and this chapter calls the readers to "go on unto perfection." It ends with Jesus as priest "after the order of Melchisedec," and chapter 7 begins, "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem." Hebrews 5:14Hebrews 6:1Hebrews 6:20Hebrews 7:1

Key verses

Takeaway

Keep growing and do not drift, holding on to the hope God has sworn to keep, which anchors your soul in Jesus. Hebrews 6:1Hebrews 6:18Hebrews 6:19

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-11-01.

Go on unto perfection

1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this will we do, if God permit. 4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Better things of you

9But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God's sure promise

13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.