Translation commentary – Page 1336

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:1

Section 4:1–13

We must have faith in God and enter his rest

The word “rest” is used in 4:1, and it is the important topic that connects chapter 4 to chapter 3. The author used the word “rest” in a figurative way to refer to depending on God. God wants his people to rest from their own work, as God rested from his work on the seventh day after he created the world. In chapter 3, God promised the people of Israel a place to rest. In chapter 4, the author used a special time of rest as a symbol. This time was one day each week, which the people called the Sabbath Day (seventh day). Both the place and the time of rest are symbols of the rest that God’s people have when they depend on him for everything.

Two sentences in this section are especially important in stating this theme:

4:9
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (Berean Standard Bible)

4:11
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, (Berean Standard Bible)

The theme of this section is clear: God has planned a good life of rest for believers when they depend on him. We must be careful to believe and obey him so that we do not miss the life of rest that he promised. Some words that are connected to this theme in chapters 3 and 4 are “faith,” “believe,” “unbelief,” and “disobedience.”

Some other examples of headings for this section are:

God’s people can still experience God’s rest
-or-
We should trust God and receive his promise of rest

Paragraph 4:1–5

At the end of chapter 3, the author indicated that the people of Israel whom God led out of Egypt refused to enter his rest (3:19). Chapter 4 begins by saying that God still offers that rest to people who believe him (4:1a). Connect chapter 4 with chapter 3 in a natural way in your language. Notice the examples in the note on “Therefore” in 4:1a.

4:1a

Therefore: The word Therefore introduces the warning in the next part of the verse (4:1b). In some languages it is necessary to put the introductory word or phrase at the beginning of 4:1b to make the connections clearer. For example:

But God’s promise that he has prepared a resting place for his people can still be fulfilled to us. 1b Therefore…
-or-
God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, 1b so… (New Living Translation (2004))

while the promise of entering His rest still stands: The phrase the promise…still stands is a figure of speech. It indicates that God still promises to give rest to his people who believe and obey him. When the people of Israel refused his rest, he did not take away his promise to give rest to the people who were willing to receive it.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

And now, God still offers his promise that we may enter his rest
-or-
God’s promise to give his people rest can still be fulfilled to us

Languages have many ways to indicate that a promise made in the past is still valid, and it can still be fulfilled. Use a natural way in your language to translate that meaning.

the promise: A promise tells a person’s intention to do something. It indicates that the person must do what he has said. Here the promise refers to what God said about his rest. He promised to welcome people into his rest if they believe. A promise is different from an oath, so you should use different ways to translate these two words.

entering His rest: The phrase entering His rest is used as a figure of speech here. It means to begin to rest as God promised. This promise does not refer here to the land where God promised to give the people rest from their enemies. The rest that God now offers his people is a life of depending on him for everything we need.

In some languages it is not natural to speak of entering rest. Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

receive that rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
can be included in being able to rest under his care

His rest: The word rest is the theme of this section. It should be translated in the same way throughout the section. The phrase His rest symbolizes dependence on God, especially for salvation and also for everything that he has promised his people.

A minority of scholars believe that His rest may refer to heaven. It is not recommended that you follow this interpretation or make it explicit in your translation.

still stands: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as still stands refers here to a promise that is still valid. In this context, it indicates that God still makes his promise of rest available to people who will receive it. Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

is still good/valid
-or-
continues to be offered

4:1b

let us be careful: The Greek command which the Berean Standard Bible translates as let us be careful is more literally “we should fear.” It means that we should be afraid that we might not enter God’s rest. The word “fear” implies that failure to enter God’s rest is terrible. That is why we must be careful to enter his rest.

Some other ways to translate this command are:

we must be very careful
-or-
we ought to tremble with fear (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Beware! (New Jerusalem Bible)

Translate this command in a way that is natural in your language.

that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it: There are different ways to interpret the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be deemed to have fallen short of it :

(1) It means “fail to receive it.” For example:

might fail to experience it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
will fail to enter (New Century Version)

(2) It means “will be judged/considered (by God) to have failed to receive it.” For example:

will be found to have failed to receive that promised rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
be judged to have failed to receive it (Revised Standard Version)

(3) It means “thinks that they will not attain it.” For example:

think you won’t enter his place of rest (God’s Word)

(God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Interpretations (1) and (2) are similar, but interpretation (1) is more general. It is also followed by more English versions and many commentaries. Interpretation (2) fits the context of serious warning, but no English version makes it explicit.

none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it: This clause indicates that the author wanted every one of his hearers to receive the rest that God offers. He implied that it is a serious matter if anyone fails to believe God and then is not able to enjoy the rest that God promised.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

that some of you might fail to experience it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
that perhaps someone will not be included in that rest

you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to all the people who hear or read what the author said to them in Hebrews.

to have fallen short of it: The phrase to have fallen short of it means “to fail to gain or experience something because of one’s own fault.” The word it refers to God’s rest. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to have failed to receive that promised rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
who is not able to enter/attain it

General Comment on 4:1a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to use more than one sentence to translate this verse. For example:

Beware! God still promises that we may enter his rest. So each of you must make sure to gain/receive it.

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BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:2

4:2

The Berean Standard Bible translates 4:2a–c as one sentence. In some languages it is more natural to use more than one sentence. For example:

We heard the good news, as our ancestors did. But the message did not help our ancestors because they did not join those who accepted it with faith.

4:2a

For…also: This part of the verse begins with two Greek conjunctions that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as For and also. Some versions translate also as “indeed” here, because it emphasizes the statement in 4:2a. The word For indicates that 4:2c will explain why the good news did not help the Israelites who heard it (as 4:2b says). Connect the clauses in this verse in a natural way in your language.

we…received the good news just as they did: The Greek phrase which the Berean Standard Bible translates as we…received the good news just as they did is more literally “we were evangelized.” It uses a passive verb form, implying that someone told the listeners good news.

In this context the good news refers to the promise of rest that God offers his people. It does not refer specifically here to the gospel of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The phrase just as they did indicates that the Israelites whom Moses led out of Egypt (3:16) were also told good news.

Some ways to translate the phrases in 4:2a are:

• Use passive verbs. For example:

The good news was told to us, just as it was told to them

• Use verbs that focus on receiving the good news. For example:

We received the good news just as they did.
-or-
We have heard the good news just as they have.

• Use active verbs and supply subjects. For example:

⌊ Someone⌋told us the good news, just as ⌊someone⌋ told the good news to them.

Translate the verbs in a natural way in your language. A different form of the same verb is used again in 4:6.

we: The pronoun we refers to both the author and the readers.

just as they did: The phrase just as they did indicates that the readers and hearers of Hebrews received good news, just as the Israel people whom “Moses led out of Egypt” (3:16) also received good news. In some languages it may be helpful to refer to they more specifically. For example:

our ancestors
-or-
those ⌊Israel⌋ people of long ago

Refer back to them in a natural way in your language.

4:2b

but: The word but introduces a contrast. Both the readers of this letter and their ancestors received good news, but their ancestors failed to profit from the good news.

the message they heard was of no value to them: This clause indicates that hearing the message without believing it did not help the people of Israel. Some ways to translate this meaning are:

they listened to the message but they received no help from it
-or-
They heard his word but they gained nothing from hearing it

the message they heard: The phrase the message they heard refers to the good news that was told to the people of Israel (4:2a). It was God’s promise that he would give them rest in the land to which he was leading them. Indicate clearly that the message and the “good news” refer to the same message. For example:

this message that they heard
-or-
that good news that they heard

4:2c

since: The word since introduces the reason that God’s message did not benefit the people of Israel.

they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it: There is a textual issue concerning the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as share. The form of this word causes scholars to interpret 4:2c in different ways. The two textual options are:

(1) In some Greek manuscripts the verb share is plural. The clause indicates that the people who did not enter God’s rest (3:19) did not “join” with the people who listened to what God said. For example:

they did not share the faith of those who did listen (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) In other Greek manuscripts the word share is singular. The clause indicates that the message was heard but was not combined with faith in some people. For example:

it was not combined with faith in those who heard it (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It is followed by many Greek manuscripts, including some of the oldest and most reliable ones. However, many scholars also support option (2), and it is also acceptable.

Since both options are acceptable, you may want to include a footnote in your translation to mention the option that you decide not to follow. For example, the New Revised Standard Version has this footnote:

Other ancient authorities read: “it did not meet with faith in those who listened.”

did not share the faith of those who comprehended it: This phrase refers to the time when most of the people of Israel did not believe the good news that God told them. He promised to give them rest in the land of Canaan. However, only Moses, Joshua, and Caleb trusted God to do what he said. The phrase did not share the faith indicates that most of the people refused to join the ones who listened to God and believed him.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

they did not join in with those who heard it in faith (NET Bible)
-or-
they refused to unite with the ones who believed ⌊that good message⌋

faith: In this context the word faith refers to believing the message that God was able to give the people rest in the land that he promised them. The people of Israel did not believe that this message was true. See the examples in the preceding note. For more information, see believe, sense C2, in Key Biblical Terms.

General Comment on 4:2b–c

In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of 4:2b–c. For example:

2c They, however, did not believe the good news that they heard, 2b and so it did not help them.
-or-

2c but they did not believe the good news which they heard, 2b and so it was not of any use to them

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:3

4:3a

Now we who have believed enter that rest: The word Now introduces an explanation of what the author said in 4:2. It also introduces a contrast. We who have believed contrasts with the people who did not believe what God promised. They could not enter God’s rest. Instead, we who have believed are the ones who enter the rest that he promised.

Some ways to translate this explanation and contrast are:

For only we who believe can enter his rest. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
It is only we who believe who will enter that resting-place
-or-
But as for us, because we believed ⌊the word that God spoke⌋, now we are able to enter the rest.

we who have believed: The pronoun we includes the author and everyone who believes the good news (4:2a), which is the message (4:2b) about the promise of entering his rest (4:1a). The word believed is used in the same sense as “faith” in 4:2, and the Greek words are closely related.

In some languages it is necessary to indicate what is believed. In this context they believed the good news that they heard in 4:2. Some ways to refer back to it are:

we who believed it
-or-
we who believe ⌊the message⌋
-or-
we who have trusted/accepted ⌊the good news⌋

Remember that the “message” and the “good news” in 4:2 referred to what Joshua, Caleb, and Moses told the people. They told the people that God was able to give them rest, just as he promised them. In 4:3 we also believe the good news that God still offers rest to us, and he is able to give us that rest.

enter that rest:
The phrase enter that rest has the same meaning as “entering his rest” in 4:1. Translate it in a similar way here.

4:3b

just as God has said: In this part of the verse, the author spoke again about the people who did not believe God. The phrase just as God has said introduces what God said about them. In many languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

As for those who didn’t believe, God said (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
This agrees with what God said in the Scripture about those who did not believe him:

Translate the connection in a natural way in your language.

4:3c–d

So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest’: These words from Psalm 95:11 were quoted in 3:11. You should translate them exactly as you did there.

4:3e–f

And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world: The word yet implies that the clause in 4:3e–f tells an unexpected fact. The clause indicates that when God finished creating the world, his work was done (and he rested). It implies that at that time, he also provided rest for his people. However, the people whom he led out of Egypt will never enjoy that rest (4:3a–d).

Some other ways to translate this unexpected fact are:

Yet from when God created the world, he has been resting.
-or-
But God’s work was finished from the time he made the world.
-or-
even though this rest has been ready since he made the world (New Living Translation (2004))

since the foundation of the world: The phrase since the foundation of the world refers to the time when God created the world (and everything in it). Then he rested. God’s “work” came before his “rest.” He finished his work of creating the world a long time before the people of Israel made their journey to Egypt.

In some languages it is more natural to translate foundation (“creation”) as a verb. For example:

the time he created the world (Good News Translation)
-or-
when he created everything

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:4

4:4a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces the basis for the author’s comment in 4:3e–f. Another way to introduce this basis is:

We know that because

Connect this basis to 4:3 in a natural way in your language.

somewhere He has spoken…in this manner: The phrase somewhere He has spoken…in this manner introduces a quotation. The word somewhere refers to a part of the Scripture. The author used a similar reference to Scripture in 2:6a, which the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as “somewhere it is testified in these words.”

Some other ways to introduce this quotation are:

somewhere in the Scriptures this is said (Good News Translation)
-or-
in God’s Word/Book it tells/says

In some languages it is more natural to use indirect speech for this verse. For example:

In fact, somewhere the Scriptures say that… (Contemporary English Version)

Use a natural way in your language to introduce a quotation from the Scriptures.

about the seventh day: The phrase about the seventh day refers to the seventh day after God began to create the world. In some languages it may be necessary to make this phrase more explicit.

Some other ways to translate the phrase about the seventh day are:

what God did on the seventh day
-or-
the seventh day ⌊after he began to create the world⌋

4:4b

And on the seventh day God rested from all His works: This clause is a quotation from Genesis 2:2b. The author used this quotation to support what he said in 4:3e–f. It indicates that on the seventh day, after God created everything, he rested.

Some other ways to translate this quotation are:

On the seventh day God rested/stopped from all his work.
-or-
It says that God rested on the seventh day, having finished the work that he had done.

on the seventh day God rested: The phrase on the seventh day God rested contrasts with the first six days, when God was creating everything. When he finished this work of creating, he rested on the seventh day. Notice that the seventh day was also mentioned in the phrase “about the seventh day” in 4:4a.

from all His works: The phrase from all His works indicates that ⌊God rested⌋ after he finished all the work of making the universe and everything in it.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:5

4:5a

And again, as He says in the passage above: The phrase And again introduces another quotation from the Scriptures. The author already quoted this Scripture in 3:11 and in 4:3. The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the passage above is literally “that place.” The author was referring to the same quotation that he used in 4:3.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

but to repeat the verse that was quoted earlier:
-or-
This same matter is spoken of again: (Good News Translation)

4:5b

They shall never enter My rest: Here the author repeats the same verse that he just quoted in 4:3c–d. Because it is an exact repetition, you should translate it here in the same way as you did there.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:6

Paragraph 4:6–8

It is important to notice that the clauses in this paragraph are closely connected. However, the author did not always talk about events in the order in which they happened. In some languages it is more natural to use a different order. For examples, see the General Comment on 4:6b–8b at the end of 4:8b.

4:6a

Since, then: In this verse the author repeats the two facts in 4:5. He gives them as the basis for his conclusion in 4:7. In many languages it is more natural to have a word like then at the beginning of 4:7, rather than here in 4:6.

The word Since implies that the facts were already mentioned (in 4:5), and the author is about to repeat them. In some languages it may be natural to leave the connection implied. Some other ways to introduce the facts in 4:6 are:

So we learned from this that…
-or-
All this teaches/implies that…
-or-
So/Now we see/understand that

Make these connections clear in your language.

it remains for some to enter His rest: This statement tells what the first scripture in 4:4 teaches people. That scripture says that God rested on the seventh day. By that statement, God implied that his people may also rest. See the notes on 4:1a for more advice about how to translate this statement.

Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

it is still allowed/possible for others to enter that rest
-or-
now ⌊God⌋ gives others the opportunity to enjoy that rest

4:6b–c

and: The word and introduces the second reason why God set another time for people to enter his rest. That second reason contrasts with 4:6a, so some versions indicate that contrast with a word like “but.” Introduce this reason in a natural way in your language.

those who formerly heard the good news: The phrase those who formerly heard the good news is more literally “those-who at a previous time were-evangelized.” It uses the same passive verb (“were evangelized”) that was used in 4:2. You should translate it in a similar way here. For example:

those who earlier heard/received the good news
-or-
those who were told that good message in the past

formerly: The word formerly means “first,” “in the past” or “previously.” It refers to the time when the Israel people were rescued from Egypt and God promised them rest in a new land. Some other ways to refer to this time are:

first (Good News Translation)
-or-
in the past (God’s Word)

heard the good news: As in 4:2a, the good news refers to the good news about the rest that God promised his people. It does not refer to the good news about Jesus. In some languages it may be necessary to refer to the good news more specifically. For example:

heard the good news ⌊about his rest⌋

4:6c

did not enter because of their disobedience: This part of the verse has two actions:

(a) They failed to enter God’s rest.

(b) They disobeyed God.

The second action is the cause of the first. In some languages it is more natural to change the order of these actions. For example:

they disobeyed God and so were unable to enter his rest

Translate this cause and its result in a way that is natural in your language.

did not enter: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as did not enter indicates that the people did not enter the rest that God wanted to give them. In some languages it is necessary to make this phrase more specific. For example:

did not receive that rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
did not get rest with God

because of their disobedience: The people of Israel could not enter God’s rest because they disobeyed God. Notice that in 3:19 the author said that the Israelites could not enter the land because of unbelief.

Disobedience and unbelief are similar. The Israelites did not believe that God was able to help them conquer the people living in the land, so they disobeyed God and refused to enter the land. Not believing God and not obeying him are sins. Both of these sins caused the people of Israel not to be able to enter the land.

Some ways to translate because of their disobedience are:

because they disobeyed God (God’s Word)
-or-
because they did not submit to him

General Comment on 4:6a–c

In some languages it may be helpful to reorder some parts of this verse to make the connections with 4:5 and 4:7 clearer. For example:

6b Those who first heard the Good News 6c did not receive that rest, because they did not believe. 6a There are, then, others who are allowed to receive it. 7a This is shown by the fact that God sets another day… (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 3:10

3:10a

Therefore: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore introduces the result of the people rebelling and testing God in 3:8–9. It implies that God was angry because they tested him and did not believe in him. Some ways to translate the connection in English are:

So
-or-
As a result

I was angry with that generation: This clause explains why God was angry with the people who rebelled against him. He was angry because they did not believe him and disobeyed him. This is the way in which they “tested” him (3:9).

For more information about the way the people of Israel rebelled against the Lord, see Deuteronomy 1:19–40 and Numbers 13–14.

that generation: The phrase that generation refers to the Israelites who lived at the time when God rescued them from Egypt and led them through the desert. Consider how you refer to a group of ancestors who lived at a specific time more than a thousand years before you. In some languages a general reference back to them will be sufficient. For example:

those people/ancestors

Refer to them in a natural way in your language.

and I said: This phrase introduces what the Lord said about the people. He did not speak directly to them. Hebrews does not make explicit to whom he spoke. He probably spoke to Moses, since in Numbers 14:22 God said to Moses, “They have already tested me many times.”

Some other ways to introduce God’s decision are:

I thought
-or-
I said ⌊about them⌋

3:10b–c

Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways: The two clauses in 3:10b and 3:10c are parallel. They have a similar meaning, and they are closely connected. Together they indicate that the people refused to obey God. In 3:10b the emphasis is that the people were not loyal to God. In 3:10c the emphasis is that they refused to know and follow God’s ways.

Some ways to translate these clauses are:

10b They are always disloyal 10c and refuse to obey my commands. (Good News Translation)
-or-

10b They continually go astray to someone/something else. 10c They refuse to follow my commands.
-or-

10b these people have determined that they will separate from me. 10c They do not want to follow the word I speak about how they should live.

Their hearts are always going astray: This clause is figurative. It indicates that the people were not loyal to God. They did not do what he told them to do. For ways to translate this clause, see the examples for 3:10b in the preceding note.

hearts: For more information on the use of hearts as an idiom, see the note on 3:8a.

and they have not known My ways: The clause and they have not known My ways indicates that the people did not want to understand the way that God wanted them to live. It implies that they did not choose to obey him. The people of Israel did not understand what God wanted because they refused to obey his commands. That is why he was angry with them.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

They refuse to do what I tell them. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
they will not hear/listen-to the way I teach them to live
-or-
and they have no desire to know who I am and how I want them to live

For more information on what the people of Israel did, see Deuteronomy 1:32–33.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:7

4:7a

Remember that some translators begin this verse with a connector like “Therefore” or “So,” as in the God’s Word. In the Berean Standard Bible, as in the Greek text, 4:6 and 4:7 are one long sentence. The Notes separates them into more than one sentence in the examples in the Display. Use an option that is natural in your language.

God again designated a certain day as “Today”: This statement indicates that God appointed another time when people can enter his rest. The word again implies that he already set one time, which was for the Israel people whom he led out of Egypt. Now he sets another time. He called this time “today.”

Some ways to translate this statement are:

So God set another day. That day is today. (God’s Word)
-or-
again he appoints/offers a certain time and calls it “today.”

In some languages it is necessary to mention the purpose for which God set the day. God’s purpose was to give people the opportunity to enter (have) his rest. Some ways to say that are:

there is another time that God has given to people so they will have opportunity to enter, and now/today is that time.
-or-
So God set another time for entering his rest and that time is today. (New Living Translation (2004))

God again designated a certain day: The phrase God…designated a certain day indicates that God chose a particular time. The phrase a certain day refers to a particular time or to an opportunity. Some ways to translate this phrase are:

there is still a time set by God
-or-
he proclaims a further opportunity (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

In some languages it may be more natural to use a present form of the verb. For example:

again he appoints a certain day (English Standard Version)
-or-
God again designates a certain day

a certain day as “Today”: Here the Berean Standard Bible puts the word “Today” in quotation marks to emphasize it. It also uses quotation marks because it occurs in the psalm that the author will quote later in this verse. These quotation marks are not part of the original Greek text, and some other English versions use different punctuation. You should use natural punctuation in your language here.

Some other ways to translate the phrase a certain day as “Today” are:

a certain day that he calls Today
-or-
another day which God prearranged for people to enter. That day is called “This Day.”

“Today”: The word “Today” is used in part of Psalm 95, which he quoted in 3:7 and 3:15 and will quote again in 4:7e–f. The author emphasized this word “Today” several times to indicate that it is important for those who hear God’s voice to respond now. The time that he calls “Today” will not continue forever. Emphasize this meaning in a natural way in your language. Refer to the other notes and the Display of 4:7a for examples.

4:7b

when a long time later He spoke through David: The phrase spoke through David indicates that God inspired David to write the words that the author quotes in 4:7d–e. These words are from Psalm 95. They were written hundreds of years after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

God announced this through David a long time later (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
For a long time after the time of those first people who did not believe, God inspired His word in King David and David said

a long time later: David lived many years after the Israelites traveled through the desert. However, he also lived a long time before the book of Hebrews was written. Make sure you choose the right time phrase to make this clear.

4:7c

as was just stated: The phrase as was just stated refers to what the author said in 3:15. There he quoted the same words that he will quote again in 4:7d–e. Some ways to translate this clause are:

in the same Scripture used before (New Century Version)
-or-
in the words already quoted from the Psalms (Revised English Bible)
-or-
what ⌊I⌋ said/quoted a little earlier from God’s Word, which said…

These examples indicate that the words that the author quoted are from the Scriptures. You may also refer to the Scriptures in an accepted way in your language.

4:7d

Today, if you hear His voice: Translate this clause in the same way as you did in 3:7. For more information on how to translate it, see the notes on 3:7b.

4:7e

do not harden your hearts: Translate this clause in the same way as you translated it in 3:8. For more information on how to translate it, see the notes on 3:8a.

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Category: Translation commentary