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Hebrews 12:29

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 12:29 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “for our God is a consuming fire.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:29 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
26whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.
27And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.
28Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:
29for our God is a consuming fire.
← Hebrews 12:28Hebrews 13:1 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For our God is a consuming fire.] Either God personally considered, God in the person of Christ; so the Shechinah, with the Jews, is called a consuming fire f302. Christ is truly God, and he is our God and Lord; and though he is full of grace and mercy, yet he will appear in great wrath to his enemies, who will not have him to reign over them: or rather God essentially considered; whose God he is, and in what sense, and how he comes to be so, (see Gill on “<580810>Hebrews 8:10”), what is here said of him, that he is a consuming fire, may be understood of his jealousy in matters of worship, (<050423>Deuteronomy 4:23,24), and so carries in it a reason why he is to be served acceptably, with…”
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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
“Greek, "For even": "for also"; introducing an additional solemn incentive to diligence. Quoted from Deu 4:24. our God--in whom we hope, is also to be feared. He is love (Jo1 4:8, Jo1 4:16); yet there is another side of His character; God has wrath against sin (Heb 10:27, Heb 10:31). Next: Hebrews Chapter 13”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For our God is a consuming fire - This is a further reason why we should serve God with profound reverence and unwavering fidelity. The quotation is made from Deuteronomy 4:24. “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” The object of the apostle here seems to be, to show that there was the same reason for fearing the displeasure of God under the new dispensation which there was under the old. It was the same God who was served. There had been no change in his attributes, or in the principles of his government. He was no more the friend of sin now than he was then; and the same perfections of his nature which would then lead him to punish transgression would also lead him…”
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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
“For our God is a consuming fire - in the strictness of his justice, and purity of his holiness. Next: Hebrews Chapter 13”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Heb 10:27; Exo 24:17; Num 11:1, Num 16:35; Deu 4:24, Deu 9:3; Psa 50:3, Psa 97:3; Isa 66:15; Dan 7:9; Th2 1:8 Next: Hebrews Chapter 13”
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Related study paths

Read Hebrews 12 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification