Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 13:17

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit [to them]: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this [were] unprofitable for you." — Hebrews 13:17 (ASV)

The readers must obey their leaders. In v.7 the leaders were men who had died. Here, however, those alive and currently in positions of authority are meant. The reason for their submission is that the leaders “keep watch” (lit., “keep oneself awake”; GK 70). The imagery is of the leaders keeping awake at nights in their concern for their people. “Over you” translates “for your souls [GK 6034].” This word may be simply a periphrasis for “you,” but it seems preferable to see it as a reference to one’s spiritual life and spiritual well-being. The leaders are concerned for the deep needs of their people, not simply for what lies on the surface, because they must render “account.” The writer pleads with the readers to act in such a way that keeping watch will be a thing of joy for the leaders (cf. Php 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:20; 3Jn 4). The alternative is for them to do it as “a burden” (lit., “with groaning”; GK 5100), which would be “of no advantage” for the readers.