2:11a–b
both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified: The phrase the One who sanctifies refers to Jesus. In some languages it may be necessary to make that explicit. For example:
Jesus who is making us into the holy people of God and we whom he is making holy
2:11a
For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces another reason why it was fitting for God to cause Jesus to suffer in order to bring many people to glory. Some English versions, such as the New International Version, imply this connection without using a conjunction. Show the connection in the way that is most natural in your language.
sanctifies: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sanctifies means “makes holy.” It refers here to dedicating people to God so that they become God’s people and are purified from their sins. Some other ways to translate sanctifies in this context are:
for he who consecrates (Revised English Bible)
-or-
who makes people holy (God’s Word)
-or-
the one who dedicates people to God
For more information, see holy, sense B1, in Key Biblical Terms.
2:11b
and those who are sanctified: The phrase those who are sanctified refers to the people whom Jesus is making holy. In this context it refers to the same people as the “many children” who are saved by Jesus (2:10a).
The verb are sanctified is the passive form of the verb that was translated as “sanctifies” in 2:11a. In some languages it is more natural to use an active form here and indicate Jesus as the subject. For example:
and the people whom he sanctifies
-or-
and we whom he purifies from our sins
-or-
and the people whom he dedicates ⌊to God⌋
are of the same family: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as of the same family is more literally “all from one.” There are two ways to interpret the word same here:
(1) It refers to one Father (God). God is the father of Jesus and all people whom Jesus sanctifies. They are part of the same family. For example:
are all from one Father (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
all have one Father (New Revised Standard Version)
(2) It refers to one humanity or origin. For example:
share a common humanity (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
This interpretation is also translated in various other ways, such as “origin” or “source.”
Both interpretations are true. Jesus and the people whom he sanctifies are all children of God, and Jesus has also become like them in sharing their humanity. However, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It fits the immediate context of “bringing many children to glory,” and it has good commentary support.
2:11c
So: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces the result of 2:11a–b. Because Jesus and the people whom he sanctifies have the same father (2:11b), Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers (2:11c). Some other ways to introduce this result are:
That is why (Good News Translation)
-or-
For this reason (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
And because of this
Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers: This clause indicates that Jesus is not ashamed to say that he is in the same family with the people whom he sanctifies. The context implies that although Jesus is perfectly holy and much greater than human beings, he accepts people as his brothers and sisters because he and they all have God as their father. Some other ways to translate the clause are:
Jesus is not ashamed to say that we are his relatives.
-or-
Jesus is not ashamed of us but rather he calls us his younger siblings.
Different cultures have different beliefs about shame. In some cultures the negative statement Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers may imply a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, you may translate the meaning without a negative. For example:
Jesus is glad to call them his brothers and sisters
-or-
Jesus considers it right/proper to call them his brothers and sisters
to call them brothers: In this context the phrase to call them brothers means to accept or acknowledge them as his siblings. The author of Hebrews was a believer in Christ, and he was writing to other believers. In some languages it may be more natural to use a form that refers to both the author and his readers. For example:
to say/acknowledge that we(incl.) are siblings
brothers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as brothers includes both males and females. In some languages it is necessary to use different words for males and females. For example:
brothers and sisters (New Revised Standard Version)
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