Hebrews 13:17 (YLT)

Passage

Be obedient to those leading you, and be subject, for these do watch for your souls, as about to give account, that with joy they may do this, and not sighing, for this <FI>is<Fi> unprofitable to you.

Nearby Context

Hebrews 13:15 through him, then, we may offer up a sacrifice of praise always to God, that is, the fruit of lips, giving thanks to His name;

Hebrews 13:16 and of doing good, and of fellowship, be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.

Hebrews 13:17 Be obedient to those leading you, and be subject, for these do watch for your souls, as about to give account, that with joy they may do this, and not sighing, for this <FI>is<Fi> unprofitable to you.

Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us, for we trust that we have a good conscience, in all things willing to behave well,

Hebrews 13:19 and more abundantly do I call upon <FI>you<Fi> to do this, that more quickly I may be restored to you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "obedient", "leading", "subject", "watch", "souls", "give", "account", and "sighing". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "obedient" and "leading", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "and of doing good and of fellowship..." into verse 18's "Pray for us for we trust that...", so "obedient" and "leading" belong inside that flow. In Hebrews context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "obedient" and "leading" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.