"Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."
— Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
Hebrews 12:14 joins two pursuits that belong together: peace with people and holiness before God. This page gives the verse, what the key Greek words mean, where it sits in Hebrews 12, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about peace and Romans 12:18.
Free PDF
Get the free 30 Days of Love Verses PDF
Sign up for the daily Bible verse email, and get the free 30 Days of Love Verses PDF. 30 Days of Love Verses · Open the PDF
The verse
The King James reads: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
"Make every effort" ("follow") is diōkō (G1377), to pursue or run after, the same word used for chasing something down. "Peace" is eirēnē (G1515). "Holiness" is hagiasmos (G38), being set apart for God. "See" is optanomai (G3700), to look on or behold.
Where it sits in Hebrews 12
The chapter opens by calling readers to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:1). It then talks about God's discipline as the training of a loving Father (Hebrews 12:5-11), and verses 12-13 say, "strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees."
Verse 14 turns that strength toward people. Verse 15 shows what is at stake: "See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
What the verse is saying
Peace here is not something you wait for; it is something you chase. The writer uses a running word, the same picture as the race in verse 1. Psalm 34:14 says it too: "seek peace and pursue it."
Peace and holiness are paired on purpose. Peace is not keeping everyone happy at any cost, and holiness is not being right while burning every bridge. Romans 12:18 adds the honest limit: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
Questions people ask
What does Hebrews 12:14 say?
In the NIV it says, "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." The KJV says, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
What does "follow peace with all men" mean?
"Follow" translates the Greek diōkō, which means to pursue or chase. The KJV phrase means to actively go after peace with everyone, not just to avoid fights.
What does "without holiness no one will see the Lord" mean?
Holiness (hagiasmos) is being set apart for God. The line echoes Jesus' words, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). The writer is saying a life set apart for God is not optional for those who hope to see him.
Why are peace and holiness together in Hebrews 12:14?
They guard each other. Pursuing peace without holiness can turn into going along with anything, and pursuing holiness without peace can turn harsh. The verse asks for both at once.
What verses go with Hebrews 12:14?
Romans 12:18 (live at peace with everyone as far as it depends on you), Matthew 5:9 (blessed are the peacemakers), and 1 Peter 3:9 (do not repay evil with evil) are close companions.
