SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:4
Sea venerable en todos el matrimonio, y la cama sin mancha; mas a los fornicarios y adlteros juzgar Dios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hebrew 13:4
Verse 4. Marriage is honourable in all] Let this state be highly esteemed as one of God's own instituting, and as highly calculated to produce the best interests of mankind. This may have been said against the opinions of the Essenes, called Therapeutae, who held marriage in little repute, and totally abstained from it themselves as a state of comparative imperfection. At the same time it shows the absurdity of the popish tenet, that marriage in the clergy is both dishonourable and sinful; which is, in fact, in opposition to the apostle, who says marriage is honourable in ALL; and to the institution of God, which evidently designed that every male and female should be united in this holy bond; and to nature, which in every part of the habitable world has produced men and women in due proportion to each other. The bed undefiled] Every man cleaving to his own wife, and every wife cleaving to her own husband, because God will judge, i.e. punish, all fornicators and adulterers.
Instead of de but, gar, for, is the reading of AD*, one other, with the Vulgate, Coptic, and one of the Itala; it more forcibly expresses the reason of the prohibition: Let the bed be undefiled, FOR whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. Marriage is honourable in all , etc..] Some read these words as an exhortation, let it be so; others as an assertion, it is so. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman in wedlock, whereby they become one flesh; it is a joining together of male and female in this relation, and of two only, and of such as are not within the degrees of blood forbid by the law, ( Leviticus 18:6-18) and of such as are fit for marriage: and this is honourable, as it was instituted by God, and has been honoured with the presence of Christ, ( Genesis 2:22,24 John 2:1-11). And it is so in the ends of it, being to procreate children, multiply the earth, build up families, preserve a legitimate offspring, and prevent fornication and all uncleanness; and it is so, when the duties of the relation are performed on both sides: and it is honourable in all; in all things, in all respects, upon all accounts; every way, as the Arabic version renders it; or as the Ethiopic version, everywhere; it has been honourably esteemed of among all nations; it becomes persons of all ranks and degrees, quality, and order; and it is honourable in all that are lawfully married, and do not violate the marriage contract, or defile the marriage bed: hereby are condemned such who despise marriage, that they may give a loose to their wandering and insatiable lusts; and such who, under a pretence of greater sanctity and perfection, reject it as unlawful; and the Papists, who deny it to men employed in sacred work: and the bed undefiled : the Arabic version reads, his bed; and the Syriac and Ethiopic versions, their bed; the bed of such whose marriage is honourable; which is not polluted by admitting others into it, or by acts of fornication and adultery: but, or for, as the Alexandrian copy reads, whoremongers and adulterers God will judge ; the former of these may be rendered fornicators, as it is by the Vulgate Latin version: fornication is a sin committed by single persons, unmarried ones; and though it was reckoned among the Gentiles a thing indifferent, yet is contrary to the law of God, and is a work of the flesh, and makes unfit for the kingdom of God, and brings down the judgments of God both here and hereafter. And this is in opposition to marriage, which is appointed to prevent it. The sin adulterers are guilty of, is a sin committed by persons, who are either one or both in a married state, and so is directly a pollution of the marriage bed: this was punishable with death by the law of God, and light of nature; and though men may make light of it, God will judge and punish such as commit it, both in this life, with diseases, poverty, and disgrace, and in the world to come, at the great day of account; for however secretly it may be committed, God, who is omniscient, sees it, and will bring it into judgment; nor shall any be able to escape the righteous judgment of God, for he is omnipotent, as well as omniscient. The Jews say, whoever lies with another man's wife, shall not escape hnyd , the judgment, or damnation of hell f308 Ver. 5. Let your conversation be without covetousness , etc..] Which is an immoderate desire, of riches, an over anxious care for worldly things, attended with dissatisfaction, and discontent with their present state: it discovers itself many ways; in preferring the world to religion; in laying up treasure for a man's own self, without being any ways useful to others; in withholding from himself the necessaries of life, and in making no use of his substance for the glory of God, and the interest of religion: this is a very great evil; it is called idolatry, and is said to be the root of all evil; and is very pernicious to true religion: a believer's conversation should be without it; in his family, for whom he should provide things convenient and honest; and in the world, where he should deal uprightly, and not defraud and overreach; and in the church, where he should be liberal, and generously communicate, upon all occasions; and such a conversation is becoming the Gospel, which is a declaration of things freely given to us of God. The reason of the apostle's mentioning this sin of covetousness is, because the Jews were prone to it, and these believing Hebrews might be inclined to it, and be dissatisfied with their present condition, in which they suffered the spoiling of their goods; and besides, unless this was avoided, the above mentioned duties could not be performed aright, as brotherly love, hospitality, remembering and relieving persons in bonds, and adversity. And be content with such things as ye have ; or with present things; with present riches, or with present poverty; with present losses and crosses; with present reproaches and afflictions; and contentment with these things shows itself by thankfulness for every mercy, and by submission to the will and providence of God in every state of life: and there are many things which may move and engage unto it; as the consideration of the state and condition men are in, when they come into the world, and will be when they go out of it; the will of God, and the disposition of his providence according to it, which is unalterable; a sense of: their own unworthiness; a view of interest in God and Christ; and an eye to the recompense of reward; as well as the many promises of God to support and supply his: and among the rest, what follows, for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee ; which is a promise made to Joshua, and belongs to all believers, ( Joshua 1:5) which may regard things temporal, as that God will not leave his people in the hands of their enemies, nor forsake them in distress, nor withhold any good thing from them needful for them, but will supply them with the necessaries of life, with which they should be content: and this passage is very pertinently cited for this purpose, and could be easily understood in this sense by the Hebrews; for the Jews explain such places as speak of God's not forsaking men, of the sustenance of them, as ( Psalm 37:25) and observe that the word hbyz[ , forsaking, is never used but with respect to hsnrp , sustenance f309 ; though the words may also relate to things spiritual, as that God will not leave them to themselves, to their own corruptions, which would overpower them; nor to their own strength, which is but weakness; nor to their own wisdom, which is folly; nor to Satan, and his temptations, who is an over match for them; nor to the world, the frowns and flatteries of it, by which they might be drawn aside; nor will he leave them destitute of his presence; for though he sometimes hides his face, and withdraws himself, yet not wholly, nor finally; nor will he forsake the work of his own hands, in them, but will perform it until the day of Christ; he will not leave or forsake them, so as that they shall perish; he will not forsake them in life, nor at death, nor at judgment.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - The design of Christ in giving himself for us, is, that he may purchase to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; and true religio is the strongest bond of friendship. Here are earnest exhortations to several Christian duties, especially contentment. The sin opposed to this grace and duty is covetousness, an over-eager desire for the wealth of this world, with envy of those who have more than ourselves Having treasures in heaven, we may be content with mean things here Those who cannot be so, would not be content though God raised their condition. Adam was in paradise, yet not contented; some angels in heaven were not contented; but the apostle Paul, though abased an empty, had learned in every state, in any state, to be content Christians have reason to be contented with their present lot. Thi promise contains the sum and substance of all the promises; "I wil never, no, never leave thee, no, never forsake thee." In the origina there are no less than five negatives put together, to confirm the promise: the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him, in life, at death, and for ever. Men can do nothing against God and God can make all that men do against his people, to turn to their good.
Greek Textus Receptus
τιμιος 5093 ο 3588 γαμος 1062 εν 1722 πασιν 3956 και 2532 η 3588 κοιτη 2845 αμιαντος 283 πορνους 4205 δε 1161 και 2532 μοιχους 3432 κρινει 2919 5692 2919 5719 ο 3588 θεος 2316
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Marriage is honorable in all ( timiov oJ gamov ejn pasin). Gamov everywhere else in N.T. a wedding or wedding feast, often in the plural, as Matt. xxii. 2, 3, 4; Luke xii. 36. Timiov honorable or held in honor. Often in N.T. precious, of gold, stones, etc., as 1 Cor. iii. 12; Apoc. xvii. 4; xviii. 12: of life, Acts xx. 24: the fruits of the earth, James v. 7; the blood of Christ, 1 Pet. i. 19; the divine promises, 2 Pet. i. 4. Rend. "let marriage be had in honor." The statement is hortatory, as suiting the character of the entire context, and especially the gar for; "for whoremongers," etc. En pasin in all respects," as 1 Tim. iii. 11; 2 Timothy iv. 5; Tit. ii. 9; Col. i. 18; Philip. iv. 12. If as A.V., the more natural expression would be para pasin as Matt. xix. 26; Acts xxvi. 8; Rom. ii. 13; 2 Thess. i. 6; Jas. i. 27. En pasin in all things appears in this chapter, ver. 18. 245 There are many points in which marriage is to be honored besides the avoidance of illicit connections. See on 1 Thess. iv. 6.
God will judge (krinei o qeov). Note the emphatic position of oJ qeov. He will judge and condemn infractions of the marriage-bond, however social sentiment may condone them.
