Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

HEBREWS 12:26KJV
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Hebrews 12:26 (KJV)

What does Hebrews 12:26 mean?

Hebrews 12:26 says that God’s voice once shook the earth, but now He has promised to shake not only the earth but also the heavens. This means there will be a future, even greater shaking—an event that will affect all of creation, not just the physical world.

The writer of Hebrews is speaking to Jewish Christians, reminding them of when God’s voice shook Mount Sinai during the giving of the law. Now, the writer points to a future promise from God, quoting from the Old Testament (Haggai 2:6), to show that God’s coming action will be even more sweeping and final, involving both heaven and earth.

The Greek behind Hebrews 12:26

  • ἐσάλευσεν (esaleusen, "shook"): This word describes a violent shaking, not just a gentle tremor. It emphasizes the power and seriousness of God’s presence when He spoke at Sinai.
  • ἐπαγγέλλομαι (epangelomai, "promised"): The Greek here carries the sense of a firm, declared commitment. The writer is stressing that God’s future shaking is not just a possibility, but something He has solemnly committed to do.
  • σείω (seió, "shake"): This word is used for both the past and the future shaking. The repetition highlights that what happened before was dramatic, but what is coming will be even more comprehensive, affecting both earth and heaven.

Why Hebrews 12:26 matters

  • Hebrews 12:26 clarifies that God’s future intervention will be even more far-reaching than what happened at Sinai, involving all of creation, not just one mountain or one nation.
  • The verse connects the Old Testament story to a future hope or warning, showing the continuity of God’s plan and promises.
  • This verse helps set up the following verses, which explain that only what is unshakable—what belongs to God’s kingdom—will remain after this coming shaking.

Where else these words appear

“shake” Greek G4579 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
  • Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
  • Matthew 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

“shook” Greek G4531 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
  • Luke 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
  • Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

“promised” Greek G1861 · used in 15 verses

  • Mark 14:11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
  • 1 Timothy 2:10 But(which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
  • Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

“more” Greek G530 · used in 15 verses

  • 2 Corinthians 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
  • Hebrews 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
  • Hebrews 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.