Hebrews 12:13

Hebrews 12:13

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

a. ASV: And make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.

  

b. YLT: And straight paths make for your feet, that that which is lame may not be turned aside, but rather be healed;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured.

1. “And make straight paths for your feet…”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. make [Strong: 4160 poiéō, poy-eh'-o; apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):—abide, + agree, appoint, × avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, × journeying, keep, + lay wait, +lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, × secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield.]

c. straight [Strong: 3717 orthós, or-thos'; probably from the base of G3735; right (as rising), i.e. (perpendicularly) erect (figuratively, honest), or (horizontally) level or direct:—straight, upright.]

d. paths [Strong: 5163 trochiá, trokh-ee-ah'; from G5164; a track (as a wheel-rut), i.e. (figuratively) a course of conduct:—path.]

e. [for] you [Strong: 5216  hymōn, hoo-mone'; genitive case of G5210; of (from or concerning) you:—ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

  

f. feet [Strong: 4228 poús, pooce; a primary word; a "foot" (figuratively or literally):—foot(-stool).]

1). Albert Barnes Commentary: The meaning is, that they were to remove all obstacles out of the way, so that they need not stumble and fail. There is probably an allusion here to Pro 4:25-27. "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil." The idea is, that by every proper means they were to make the way to heaven as plain and easy as possible. They were to allow no obstructions in the path over which the lame and feeble might fall.

a). Proverbs 4:25-27 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

2.  “...lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”

a. lest that [Strong: 3363 hína mḗ, hin'-ah may; i.e. G2443 and G3361; in order (or so) that not:—albeit not, lest, that, no(-t, (-thing)).]

b. [which is] lame [Strong: 5560 chōlós, kho-los'; apparently a primary word; "halt", i.e. limping:—cripple, halt, lame.]

c. [be] turned out of the way [Strong: 1624 ektrépō, ek-trep'-o; from G1537 and the base of G5157; to deflect, i.e. turn away (literally or figuratively):—avoid, turn (aside, out of the way).]

d. but [Strong: 1161 dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

e. [let it] rather [Strong: 3123 mâllon, mal'-lon; neuter of the comparative of the same as G3122; (adverbially) more (in a greater degree)) or rather:—+ better, × far, (the) more (and more), (so) much (the more), rather.]

  

f. [be] healed [Strong: 2390 iáomai, ee-ah'-om-ahee; middle voice of apparently a primary verb; to cure (literally or figuratively):—heal, make whole.]

1). Albert Barnes Commentary: The idea is here, that everything which would prevent those in the church who were in any danger of falling - the feeble, the unestablished, the weak - from walking in the path to heaven, or which might be an occasion to them of falling, should be removed.

2). Adam Clarke Commentary:  Make straight paths for your feet - That is, Take the straight path that is before you, do not go in crooked or rough ways, where are stones, briers, and thorns, by which you will be inevitably lamed, and so totally prevented from proceeding in the way; whereas, if you go in the even, proper path, though you have been wounded by getting into a wrong way, that which was wounded will be healed by moderate, equal exercise, all impediments being removed. The application of all this to a correct, holy deportment in religious life, is both natural and easy.