Hebrews 12:13
And make straight steps with your feet: that no one, halting, may go out of the way; but rather be healed.
Open Hebrews 12:13 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- et gressus rectos facite pedibus vestris : ut non claudicans quis erret, magis autem sanetur.
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- καὶ τροχιὰς ὀρθὰς ποιεῖτε τοῖς ποσὶν ὑμῶν, ἵνα μὴ τὸ χωλὸν ἐκτραπῇ, ἰαθῇ δὲ μᾶλλον.
Haydock's commentary
On verses 12 to 14
Wherefore lift up the4 hands, &c. Be fervent in piety, walk firmly in the way of virtue, make straight5 steps, without declining to one side or the other, without halting or going astray, and strive to be healed from your sins by his grace.
Follow and seek peace, as much as lies in you, with all men, and 6purity of life, without which no man shall see and enjoy God. (Witham)
4 Remissas manus, pareimenas, which signifies hands hanging down in a lazy posture.
5 Gressus rectos facite, trochios orthas poiesate, which is to advance in a straight line, not turning aside, or tottering.
6 Sanctimoniam, agiasmon.
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Argument
But we will unfold these things at a fit opportunity. At present: he of necessity wrote to those for whom he cared so greatly. For while the reason why he was not sent to them is plain, yet he was not forbidden to write. And that they were becoming fainthearted he shows when he says, “Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths” and again, “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and love.” For the soul overtaken by many trials, was turned aside even from the faith. Therefore he exhorts them to “Give heed to the things which they have heard, and that there should not be an evil heart of unbelief.” On this account also, in this Epistle, especially, he argues at length concerning faith, and after much [reasoning] shows at the end that to them [of old] also He promised good things in hand, and yet gave nothing.
St John Chrysostom The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Hebrews 12.14
For how is it that he [the Apostle] said this? How did he exhort them again after they had become “sluggish” ( c. vi. 12 )? How, when they were become “lame”? How, when they were “paralyzed” ( ver. 13 )? How, when they were “relaxed” ( ver. 12 )? For this is the beginning of a fall. He seems to me to hint at some fornicators amongst them, but not to wish at that time to correct them: but feigns ignorance that they might correct themselves. For it is right at first indeed to pretend ignorance: but afterwards, when they continue [in sin], then to add reproof also, that so they may not become shameless. Which Moses also did in the case of Zimri and the daughter of Cosbi.
Theodoret Dialogues. The “Eranistes” or “Polymorphus” of the Blessed Theodoretus, Bishop of Cyrus, The Impassible
Orth. And when while reading the Epistle to the Hebrews we light upon the passage where the Apostle says “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed,” do we say that the divine Apostle said these things about the parts of the body?
St Gregory the Great The Book of Pastoral Rule, What manner of man ought not to come to rule
Wherefore let every one measure himself wisely, lest he venture to assume a place of rule, while in himself vice still reigns unto condemnation; lest one whom his own guilt depraves desire to become an intercessor for the faults of others. For on this account it is said to Moses by the supernal voice, Speak unto Aaron; Whosoever he be of thy seed throughout their generations that hath a blemish, he shall not offer loaves of bread to the Lord his God ( Lev. xxi. 17 ). And it is also immediately subjoined; If he be blind, if he be lame, if he have either a small or a large and crooked nose, if he be brokenfooted or brokenhanded, if he be hunchbacked, if he be bleareyed (lippus), if he have a white speck (albuginem) in his eye, if chronic scabies, if impetigo in his body, or if he be ruptured (ponderosus) ( Ibid. 18 ). …