Hebrews 10:31

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 10:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:31 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.] For this is to be understood not in a good sense; so in general all mankind may be said to fall into, or be in the hands of God, as they are the work of his hands, the care of his providence, and are subject to his sovereignty; and in especial manner, believers, whose times and persons are in God's hand, which bespeaks his great affection for them, their nearness to him, the support they have by him, and protection from him; and they choose to fall into the hands of him as a chastising Father, rather than into the hands of men, and at death commend themselves into his hands: but here it is taken in a bad sense, and signifies to…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“fearful . . . to fall into the hands--It is good like David to fall into the hands of God, rather than man, when one does so with filial faith in his father's love, though God chastises him. "It is fearful" to fall into His hands as a reprobate and presumptuous sinner doomed to His just vengeance as Judge (Heb 10:27). living God--therefore able to punish for ever (Mat 10:28).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God - There may be an allusion here to the request of David to “fall into the hands of the Lord and not into the hands of men,” when it was submitted to him for the sin of numbering the people, whether he would choose seven years of famine, or flee three months before his enemies, or have three days of pestilence; 2 Samuel 24:0. He preferred “to fall into the hands of the Lord,” and God smote seventy thousand men by the pestilence. The idea here is, that to fall into the hands of the Lord, after having despised his mercy and rejected his salvation, would be terrific; and the fear of this should deter from the commission of the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“To fall into the hands - Of his avenging justice. Hebrews 10:32”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a fearful: Heb 10:27; Isa 33:14; Luk 21:11 to fall: Heb 12:29; Psa 50:22, Psa 76:7, Psa 90:11; Mat 10:28; Luk 12:5 Hebrews 10:32”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification