Hebrews 13:5, God's Promise Never To Leave Nor Forsake Us

Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

In the Greek language there is something called a “double negative.” The double negative occurs slightly less than 100 times in the New Testament (a listing of all these occurrences can be found in The Englishman's Greek Concordance, listed under μή). Although double negatives are considered bad speech in English (e.g., I ain't got no money), double negatives are proper in the Greek language, adding emphasis where necessary.

One of the most precious Scriptures in the Bible is Hebrews 13:5, our text verse above. There are 2 double negatives used and then another single negative. There are 5 total negatives in Hebrews 13:5, reassuring the Christian believer that the Lord will never, ever, no not once, never forsake nor leave us. This is a beautiful truth. God has PROMISED never, no, not ever, never, to leave nor forsake us. The meaning is something like this: “Never, positively not! It will never happen! It's unthinkable! There is not even the slightest possibility that it will ever happen!” God will never, never leave us!

Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never [ou me - never, absolutely never] leave thee, nor [oud ou me - never, never, absolutely never] forsake thee.” No matter what happens in my life as a child of God, I have God's promise that He will never leave nor forsake me. God has indwelt every believer with the Holy Spirit, sealing us as His own. Ephesians 1:12-4, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit when He raised up from the dead and ascended into Heaven (John 16:7).

There are times in my life when I feel like God has abandoned me. But the Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 5:7 that we walk by faith and not by sight. So I don't follow my feelings, I follow the voice of the Scripture always. God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). God promised to never leave nor forsake me, no matter what. I am so glad that God gives us that precious assurance of His presence in our life at all times. If you feel distant from God dear friend, it is not God. Draw near unto Him by abiding more in the Word of God. Start attending a Bible-believing local church that uses only the King James Bible, and preaches a free grace Gospel (not turning from sins to be saved, surrendering all to Christ to be saved, or the Devil's lie of Lordship Salvation). God is not far from any of us. In fact, God keeps us all breathing (Acts 17:25).

Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”