1:12a
You will roll them up like a robe: The author continued to use a simile here. It indicates that God the Son will bring the heavens and earth to an end as easily as a person rolls or folds an old cloak before he puts it somewhere or throws it away. The context implies that the cloak is too old to be useful anymore. Some other ways to translate the simile are:
like someone folds an old robe, you will fold them
-or-
Just like a shirt is rolled up, you will roll up the heaven and earth and replace them.
Use a natural way in your language to describe this action.
them: The word them refers again to the heaven and the earth, which were mentioned in 1:10.
a robe: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as robe refers to a type of outer clothing that is “put around” someone. In the Jewish culture it often referred to a robe or cloak. Some cultures may use a shirt or cloth or some other type of outer garment. Use a natural word in your language.
1:12b
like a garment they will be changed: In this clause the author continued the figurative language of 1:11b–12a. Here he said that the universe was going to be changed just as people change their clothing. Some other ways to translate the clause are:
They will be replaced like clothes that can no longer be used.
-or-
It will be like people exchanging old clothes for new ones.
a garment: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as garment also occurred in 1:11b.
1:12c
but You remain the same, and Your years will never end: Here the author contrasted God’s Son with the universe. Hebrews 1:11b–12b described how the universe will not last forever. Hebrews 1:12c indicates that unlike the universe, God’s Son will remain the same forever. He will not change, and he will never die. He will live forever.
Some other ways to translate this meaning are:
But as for you, you remain the same, and there will never be any end to your life.
-or-
But you, you cannot be changed. You will live forever.
General Comment on 1:11–12
These verses are a quotation from Psalm 102, which is Hebrew poetry. It is natural in this type of Hebrew poetry to repeat the same meanings in different words. In some languages it will be more natural to combine 1:11–12 and have less repetition. For example:
11–12 Someday heaven and earth will become useless like old clothes, and they will be replaced. But you will continue to live forever, and you will never change.
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