Hebrews 13:4 Meaning and Explanation
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God holds marriage in honour and means for its trust to be kept whole and undefiled.
The Context of Hebrews 13:4
Part of a closing string of short, practical exhortations on how love should look in everyday life: brotherly love, hospitality, care for prisoners, contentment. Here the writer turns to the bond between husband and wife.
What Does Hebrews 13:4 Mean?
Among a cluster of plain instructions for daily love, the writer pauses on marriage and gives it high honour. 'Marriage is honourable in all', a good and dignified gift, not something to be looked down on. 'The bed undefiled' speaks of the closeness between husband and wife as something meant to be kept pure, a trust guarded between two people. Then the verse names what breaks that trust, 'whoremongers and adulterers', and says simply that 'God will judge'.
The warning is warm at heart. It flows from how precious the bond is. God cares about faithfulness because He cares about the people inside it, and because covenant love mirrors something of His own. Scripture often pictures God Himself as a faithful husband to His people, and Christ as a bridegroom giving everything for His bride. The honour God places on human marriage is a small echo of His own unbreakable faithfulness to us.
Hebrews 13:4 in the Original Language
timios (τίμιος), 'honourable' -- held in honour, precious, of great worth and dignity.
How to Apply Hebrews 13:4 Today
God places real honour on the faithfulness between husband and wife, and that honour reflects His own faithful love for us. For anyone carrying the wound of broken trust, there is comfort in knowing God Himself is the faithful husband who never breaks His covenant. The One who guards marriage so carefully is the One whose love for us will never fail.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 13:4
What does Hebrews 13:4 mean?
God holds marriage in honour and means for its trust to be kept whole and undefiled.
What is the context of Hebrews 13:4?
Part of a closing string of short, practical exhortations on how love should look in everyday life: brotherly love, hospitality, care for prisoners, contentment. Here the writer turns to the bond between husband and wife.
How can I apply Hebrews 13:4 today?
God places real honour on the faithfulness between husband and wife, and that honour reflects His own faithful love for us. For anyone carrying the wound of broken trust, there is comfort in knowing God Himself is the faithful husband who never breaks His covenant. The One who guards marriage so carefully is the One whose love for us will never fail.