Hebrews 4:2 Meaning and Explanation
“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The same good news reached the wilderness generation, but it did them no good because they did not receive it with faith.
What Does Hebrews 4:2 Mean?
The writer draws a direct line between the wilderness hearers and his own readers: both were given good news from God. Hearing was not the issue; what differed was how the word was received.
A message can fall on the ears and never reach the heart. The word must be joined to faith, mixed in like leaven through dough, or it leaves the hearer unchanged. This is a tender warning and an invitation: the promise still profits all who believe, and faith is the hand that takes hold of what God has spoken.
Hebrews 4:2 in the Original Language
euangelizo (εὐαγγελίζω), 'preached the gospel' -- to announce good news, the same glad tidings carried across the generations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 4:2
What does Hebrews 4:2 mean?
The same good news reached the wilderness generation, but it did them no good because they did not receive it with faith.