But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

HEBREWS 3:13KJV
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Hebrews 3:13 (KJV)

What does Hebrews 3:13 mean?

Hebrews 3:13 calls on the people hearing the letter to speak to one another every day with an urgent purpose: to help prevent anyone among them from becoming hard-hearted through sin’s deception. The verse treats that danger as a matter the whole group should take seriously.

The writer has just warned the group about an unbelieving heart in verse 12. “Hardened” pictures a heart becoming resistant to God’s voice. “To day” recalls the words of Psalm 95, quoted earlier in the passage, and marks the time in which that voice is being heard.

The Greek behind Hebrews 3:13

  • “exhort” — παρακαλέω (parakaleō): The Greek can carry the sense of urging or encouraging someone. Here the word describes what the group is to do for one another, not simply a speech from one leader.
  • “deceitfulness” — ἀπάτη (apatē): The word means deception or something misleading. It presents sin as capable of misleading people, rather than merely naming a wrong action.

Why Hebrews 3:13 matters

  • The warning is personal and shared. “Any of you” draws attention to each member, while “one another” gives the group a part in addressing the danger.
  • The verse gives the word “To day” special weight. The same word appears in the quotation from Psalm 95 in Hebrews 3:7–8, linking the writer’s appeal to that earlier call to hear God’s voice.
  • Sin’s deception is connected with a change in the heart. The phrase “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” describes a process in which being misled leads to resistance.

Where else these words appear

“hardened” Greek G4645 · used in 6 verses

  • Acts 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
  • Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
  • Hebrews 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

“deceitfulness” Greek G539 · used in 7 verses

  • Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
  • Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

“day” Greek G4594 · used in 40 verses

  • Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
  • Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
  • Acts 26:2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

“while” Greek G891 · used in 49 verses

  • Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
  • Acts 22:22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
  • Galatians 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.