Lose is literally “throw away” (Revised Standard Version), not simply “mislay,” but “discard as something worthless.” Do not lose your courage may be rendered as “Do not give up” or “Do not cease to have confidence when you face opposition.” In 4.16; 10.19, the same Greek term is used to mean “confidence in approaching God.”

Then, literally “Therefore” (Revised Standard Version), draws a conclusion from what has just been said: “You have shown yourselves to be good Christians so far; so do not give up now.” The equivalent of then in the sense of “Therefore” is usually clearer if it is placed at the beginning of the verse.

On reward, see comments on 2.2 and 11.26. The reward is closely related to God’s promise, discussed in detail in 6.12-20, and which will be mentioned in the next verse, and again in 11.9, 13, 17, 33, 39.

Brings with it is literally “has,” not “will have”; the reward is so close in the future, as the following verses emphasize, that it is almost present. The pronoun it (which occurs twice) relates to courage, but it may be impossible to speak of “courage bringing something.” Therefore it may be necessary to modify the second clause of this verse as “because if you continue to have courage, you will receive a great reward.”

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 .