Verse 19 is a simple summary of the previous argument. The conjunction then does not refer to time but to the sequence of argument and may be rendered by forms equivalent to “accordingly” or “therefore.”

In place of the expression We see, it may be necessary to use some such expression as “We realize” or “We have come to know,” since in reality there was no direct visual perception but simply understanding.

The final, emphatic word “unbelief” recalls verse 12 (see the discussion). “Unbelief” includes an element of rebellion, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “So we see why they did not reach the goal: (it was) because they did not remain true.”

In order to emphasize the opposition implied in “not believing,” it may be best to translate the causal clause as “because they refused to believe.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .