Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The anonymous author of Hebrews, writing to Jewish Christians at risk of reverting to the old covenant, closes the high-priest argument (ch. 4–10) with this imperative.

The words — parrēsias (παρρησία) is not mere courage but the frank, unreserved openness of a person who owes the other nothing and fears no rebuke; it is the word used for the apostles' bold preaching in Acts 4:31 and 9:28.

The thread — The same "boldness to approach God" motif appears in Ephesians 3:12 (entering God's presence) and Hebrews 10:19 (entering the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus), while Hebrews 7:25 supplies the mechanism: Christ's perpetual intercession.

Why it lands — The verse is an imperative, not a description: it demands that the reader actually go, and it names the two things they will receive—mercy for what they have done, grace for what they cannot do.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

προσερχώμεθαproserchōmethaWe may come οὖνountherefore μετὰmetawith παρρησίαςparrēsiasboldness τῷtōto the θρόνῳthronōthrone τῆςtēs<the>χάριτος,charitosof grace,ἵναinaso that λάβωμενlabōmenwe may receive ἔλεοςeleosmercy καὶkaiand χάρινcharingrace εὕρωμενheurōmenmay find εἰςeisfor εὔκαιρονeukaironin time of need βοήθειαν.¶boētheianhelp.

King James Version

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Cross-references

Ephesians 3:12 In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 13:6 So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
Ephesians 2:18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
1 Peter 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.