Hebrews 12:6–11
Bible Verses. Also called Hebrews 12:6-11, Heb. 12:6–11, Hebrews 12:6–11 chastening, Divine discipline in Hebrews 12.
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
Hebrews 12:6–11 describes the hardships believers endure as "chastening," the discipline by which a father trains his children, and teaches that its purpose is for them to share in God's holiness. The passage is often cited in sermons on suffering, and it also raises the question of whether all suffering can be regarded as chastening.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
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Context
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews is not known with certainty. The epistle is generally thought to have been written to believers facing persecution and the temptation to abandon their faith. After the roll call of the faithful in chapter 11, the opening of chapter 12 compares the life of faith to a race and urges readers to look to Jesus. In 12:4 the author observes that the readers "have not yet resisted unto blood," and in 12:5–6 he quotes Proverbs 3:11–12. The present passage is an exposition of that quotation.
The Greek word paideia, rendered here as "chastening," does not denote punishment alone. It also refers to the upbringing, instruction, and training of children. The author compares earthly fathers with God: earthly fathers chastened "for a few days … after their own pleasure," but God chastens "that we might be partakers of his holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). The word "bastards" in verse 8 refers to children without legal standing. The argument is that receiving chastening is itself evidence of being a true child.
Interpretation
- Reading as training: Many commentators do not regard the suffering in this passage as punishment for a particular personal sin. Instead, they hold that the author interprets persecution endured for the faith as the process by which God trains His children. The word rendered "exercised" in verse 11 ("them which are exercised thereby") originally referred to the training of athletes.
- Reformed reading: John Calvin and the broader Reformed tradition distinguish the discipline believers experience from "punishment" in the sense of paying again the penalty for sin that Christ has already borne. This discipline is explained as an expression of a father's love in correcting his children.
- Wesleyan and Holiness reading: Wesleyan theology and Holiness churches often connect being "partakers of his holiness" in verse 10 with the process of sanctification and holiness.
Questions of Application
- Translation issues: The opening of verse 7 can be read in Greek either as a statement ("It is for discipline that you endure") or as a command ("Endure it as discipline"). Likewise, the end of verse 11 may be translated "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (the peaceful fruit that righteousness yields) or, as in the Korean Revised New Korean Version, "the fruit of righteousness and peace."
- Is all suffering chastening?: Some point out that using this passage to interpret every misfortune, such as illness or accidents, as chastening for sin goes beyond its context. This objection is often discussed alongside the Book of Job and John 9:1–3.
- Corporal punishment and abuse: Some argue that the analogy of earthly fathers in verse 9 must not be used to justify the corporal punishment of children or coercion within the church. They maintain that the passage should be read together with Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant churches, the passage is frequently cited as a word of comfort in sermons and pastoral visits dealing with suffering and refinement. Terms such as "chastening" (jinggye) and "refining" (yeondan) have become common in the prayers and testimonies of Korean believers.
Related Passages
See also 8
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