Hebrews 13:7 and 17 “THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU”

One of the many blunders Bible correctors like Herb Eberle and others commit is that they tell us the verses in Hebrews 13:7 and 17 were mistranslated in the King James Bible as “those that have the rule over you.”  

Some tell us that it really says in the original Greek "to oversee", and not “to have the rule over”.

They are flat out wrong. The word translated at “to take the oversight”  or as “overseers” is # 1983 episkopeo, and # 1985 episkopos, respectively. 

And this word is used in 1 Peter 5:2 where we read - “Feed the flock of God which is among you, TAKING THE OVERSIGHT (επισκοπουντες) thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.”

But the Greek word used in Hebrews is not at all the same word as “to take the oversight”. Not even the new Vatican Versions these men promote translate Hebrews 13:7 and 17 as “to oversee”.  

The word used in both Hebrews 13:7 and 17 is a completely different word.  It is # 2233 heegeomai. (τοις ηγουμενοις )  And it is translated as “Governor” in Matthew 2:6 “there shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”

It is also translated as “governor” in Acts 7:10 “he made him (Joseph) GOVERNOR over Egypt”.  

It is also translated as “chief” in Acts 14:12 “the chief speaker” and in Acts 15:22 “chief men among the brethren”. 

Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon, 17th edition, 1887 page 801 lists the various meanings of the Greek verb heegeomai as “to go before, lead the way, TO COMMAND, RULE” and the noun form o this verb (ho heegoumenos) as “a leader, RULER, chief.”

Likewise Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament 1889 on page 276 defines this Greek word as meaning “to be a leader, TO RULE, COMMAND, TO HAVE AUTHORITY OVER”.

And the Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T. by Arndt and Gingrich 1957 on page 344 defines the noun form of this verb as “a RULER, a leader” and all these lexicons tell us that the term was also used of “a military commander”.

Let’s look at other Bible translations to see how they have translated Hebrews 13:7 and 17 to see if there is any merit at all to Mr. Eberle’s assertions that it should be translated as “those who OVERSEE you”

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

Not only does the KJB say “THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU” but so do the following Bible translations - Whiston’s N.T. 1745, John Wesley’s N.T. 1755, Webster’s Bible 1833, the Revised Version 1885 - “OBEY THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU”, the ASV 1901, the NKJV 1982 - “OBEY THOSE WHO RULE OVER YOU, and be submissive”, the KJV 21st Century Version 1994, The Third Millennium Bible 1998, The Evidence Bible 2003, Updated Bible Version 2004, World English Bible, Hebrew Names Version, Sacred Scriptures Family of Yah 2001, Bond Slave Version 2009, Context Group Version 2007, Hebraic Transliteration Scripture 2010 and the New European Version 2010. 

Other Translations 

Wycliffe - Obey ye to your sovereigns

Tyndale, Geneva Bible - Obey them that have the oversight of you 

Worsley Version 1770 - Be ruled by those who are your guides

Thomas Haweis N.T. 1795 - Obey your presidents, and be subject to them

Living Oracles 1835 - Obey your rulers

Darby 1890, Godspeed N.T. 1923,  Far Above All Translation 2011 - Obey your leaders  

Bible in Basic English 1961 - Give ear to those who are rulers over you, and do as they say

Young’s 1898 - Be obedient to those leading you, and be subject

Weymouth N.T.1912, Conservative Bible 2011 - Obey your leaders and be submissive to them 

RSV 1946-1973, NRSV 1989, ESV 2011, NASB 1995, Holman Standard 2009, NET 2006 - Obey your leaders and submit to them

New Life Bible 1969 - Obey your leaders and do what they say  

NIV - Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority 

Resurrection Life N.T. 2005 - Obey those (in the church) who have (spiritual) authority over you, and submit to them

Biblos Interlinear Bible 2011 - Obey those leading you and be submissive

Holy Scriptures VW Edition 2010 - Obey those in authority over you, and be submissive

Interlinear Greek New Testament 1997 (Larry Pierce) - Obey your leaders and be submissive  

Lawrie Translation 1998 - Obey your leaders and be submissive

Last Days Bible 1999 - Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they ask you to do  

New European Version 2010 - Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive 

Names of God Bible 2011 - Obey your leaders, and accept their authority

The Work of God’s Children Illustrated Bible 2011 - Obey your prelates and be subject to them.

International Standard Version - Continue to obey your leaders and be submissive to them

The King James Bible is right, as always. Don’t let the Clown Critics take it from you.

All of grace, believing The Book - the King James Holy Bible. 

Will Kinney 

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