Hebrews 13:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Stand with prisoners and the suffering as if their chains and pain were your own.
What Does Hebrews 13:3 Mean?
Many early believers were imprisoned for their faith, and visiting them meant sharing their shame and danger. The call is to remember the bound not at a safe distance but with the imagination of fellow-feeling, as though sharing the cell.
To suffer 'in the body' is to be vulnerable to the same hardships, so compassion is not charity from above but solidarity among equals. This is the shape of love within Christ's body, where one member's wound is felt by all. The Lord who was numbered with transgressors and bore our griefs teaches His people to draw near to the afflicted, carrying their burdens as if they were our own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 13:3
What does Hebrews 13:3 mean?
Stand with prisoners and the suffering as if their chains and pain were your own.