Hebrews 3:17

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 3:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Hebrews 3:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But with whom was he grieved forty years? etc..] As is said in (<199510>Psalm 95:10), (see Gill on “<580310>Hebrews 3:10”), was it not with them that had sinned; not merely by committing personal iniquities, and particular provocations, which all men are guilty of, but by committing public sins; they sinned as a body of men; they joined together in the commission of sin; every sin is grieving to God, because it is contrary to his nature, is an act of enmity to him, is a transgression of his righteous law, and a contempt of his authority; but especially public sins, or the sins of a multitude, and when they are persisted in, which was the case of the Israelites; they sinned against him during…”
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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
“But--Translate, "Moreover," as it is not in contrast to Heb 3:16, but carrying out the same thought. corpses--literally, "limbs," implying that their bodies fell limb from limb.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But with whom was he grieved forty years? - With whom was he angry; see the notes at Hebrews 3:10. Was it not with them that had sinned - That had sinned in various ways - by rebellion, murmuring, unbelief. As God was angry with them for their sins, we have the same reason to apprehend that he will be angry with us if we sin; and we should, therefore, be on our guard against that unbelief which would lead us to depart from him; Hebrews 3:12. Whose carcasses fell ... - Numbers 14:29. That is, they all died, and were left on the sands of the desert. The whole generation was strewed along in the way to Canaan. All of those who had seen the wonders that God had done “in the land of Ham;” who had…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“with him, Heb 3:10 was it: Num 26:64, Num 26:65; Co1 10:1-13 whose: Num 14:22, Num 14:29, Num 14:32, Num 14:33; Deu 2:15, Deu 2:16; Jer 9:22; Jde 1:5 Hebrews 3:18”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification