2:3
Hebrews 2:3a–b is the second part of the conditional sentence which began at 2:2a. This second part of the sentence is a rhetorical question based on the condition. In some languages it is more natural to change the order of 2:3a and 2:3b. See the General Comment on 2:2–3 at the end of 2:3b for more information.
2:3a–b
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?: In this clause the author compared the terrible results of neglecting God’s salvation with the results of disobeying the law in 2:2. If a person disobeyed the law, they were certainly punished. So also we certainly will be punished if we neglect God’s way of salvation. This clause is a rhetorical question that emphasizes that we will not escape punishment.
Some ways to translate the rhetorical question are:
• As a rhetorical question or a rhetorical question that includes a response. For example:
is it possible that we can escape being punished if we neglect such a great salvation?
-or-
will we indeed escape punishment if we neglect God’s great salvation? ⌊No, we will surely be punished.⌋
• As an emphatic statement. For example:
So we also will surely be punished if we do not pay attention to God’s great salvation.
-or-
We shall certainly not escape if we disregard this great salvation.
Translate this clause in a way that is natural in your language.
we: The pronoun we is inclusive and refers to the author and anyone who hears or reads this letter.
escape: In this context the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as escape means “to avoid.” It refers back to avoiding the “punishment” that was mentioned in 2:2, the penalty of being punished by God. In some languages you may need to make that clear here also. For example:
how shall we escape ⌊God’s punishment⌋ ?
-or-
⌊ God⌋will certainly ⌊punish⌋ us
2:3b
if we neglect such a great salvation: This clause gives another condition that is connected to the question “how shall we escape?” This condition is different from the condition in 2:2, which referred to a fact about the past: Everyone who disobeyed the law was justly punished. Here in 2:3b, the condition is present or future. It refers to the possibility that we may ignore God’s great salvation.
Some other ways to translate this condition are:
if we disregard the great salvation
-or-
on those of us who will not pay attention to this great salvation
we: The pronoun we refers to both the readers and the author, as it did in 2:1b.
neglect: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as neglect means “disregard, ignore.” The word is also used in Matthew 22:5 when people disregarded the invitation to a feast. See the translation examples in the preceding note.
such a great salvation: The phrase such a great salvation refers to the message about the great salvation that God has spoken of through his Son. The phrase indicates that this salvation is the greatest and most powerful salvation.
For more information, see the note on 1:14a–b, and see save, sense B, in Key Biblical Terms.
In some languages it is more natural to use a verb rather than the noun salvation in your translation. Some ways to translate using a verb are:
the powerful way that God now offers to save us
-or-
this great way of being saved (Contemporary English Version)
salvation: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as salvation refers to being rescued from evil or danger. In this context it refers to being rescued from sin. It implies that the people who are saved will not be judged and condemned because of sins. They will be reconciled with God and his people. Some other ways to translate it here are:
deliverance
-or-
freedom ⌊from sin/judgment⌋
See the preceding note for examples of using a verb to translate salvation.
General Comment on 2:2–3
Hebrews 2:2–3 is one long sentence. You may need to divide it into several different sentences. For example:
2 The message ⌊about the law⌋ which the angels brought could not be changed. Those who broke the law or who disobeyed it were justly punished. 3 So how can we escape ⌊being punished by God⌋ if we ignore ⌊the message about⌋ such a great salvation?
-or-
2 Angels brought a message which could not be changed. God rightly punished those who broke the law or who disobeyed it. 3 So we also cannot escape if we pay no attention when God offers to save us so wonderfully.
In the Greek text the parts of 2:1–3 are arranged as a chiasm to emphasize the contrast between the message spoken by the Lord and the message received through angels.
-or-
God verified what they said (God’s Word)
2:4b
through signs, wonders, various miracles: This phrase tells how God confirmed that the message was true. He caused the people who spoke the message to do signs, wonders, and miracles. These three words have similar meanings. They all refer to actions that are done by supernatural power.
The word signs implies that the actions have a meaning. The word wonders implies that people are amazed by the actions. The word miracles implies that the actions are done by supernatural power.
In some languages it is more natural to use verbs to describe the actions. In other languages it is more natural to use only one or two words to refer to them. You should translate the meaning in a natural way in your language. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:
he caused them to do amazing miracles to show that the message was true
-or-
God helped them to do this work in that they did miracles before the people
-or-
all kinds of miracles and wonders (Good News Translation)
These words also occur together in Acts 2:22; 2 Corinthians 12:12 and 2 Thessalonians 2:9. If you have translated these passages, see how you translated the words there. See also the notes on each word below. For more information, see miracle, sign, wonder, mighty work in Key Biblical Terms.
signs: The word signs refers to miracles that have a meaning. They show or prove something. Here the signs showed that Jesus’ message about God’s way of salvation was true.
wonders: The word wonders refers to amazing events or actions. It often occurs with the word “signs” to refer to actions that God causes his messengers to be able to perform.
various miracles: The Greek word for miracles is the plural of the noun “power.” It can refer to a miraculous act of healing or to another act which cannot be done by human power or knowledge. The word various means “many kinds.” Other ways to translate the phrase various miracles are:
many kinds of miracles (New Century Version)
-or-
other powerful acts (God’s Word)
2:4c
and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will: The phrase and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will is another way by which God showed that the message of salvation was true. In some languages it may be helpful to translate 2:4c as a separate sentence. For example:
He also confirmed the message by causing the Holy Spirit to distribute special abilities. He did this just the way he wanted to do it.
gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will: Scholars differ over the exact meaning of this phrase. The most likely meaning is that when God gives his Holy Spirit to people, the Holy Spirit causes them to have the various powers and abilities that God wants them to have. Through using these abilities (gifts), his people show that the message of salvation is true.
Some ways to translate this meaning are:
and with other gifts from the Holy Spirit as he wanted (God’s Word)
-or-
and he gave them other kinds of power from the Holy Spirit, just as he decided to give ⌊to each one⌋
Holy Spirit: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Holy Spirit refers to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is God, together with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is “spirit” in the sense that he is a living being who does not have a physical body. He is “holy” in the sense that he is God and unique from every other being. He is perfect in every way and is completely pure and sinless.
Some ways to translate Holy Spirit are:
Spirit/Breath of God
-or-
Holy/Sacred Spirit
Do not imply that the Holy Spirit is like the ghost of a dead person or that God has died.
according to His will: The phrase according to His will means “just as God wanted.” In some languages it is more natural to translate the phrase His will with a verb or clause. For instance:
just as he wanted (New Century Version)
-or-
as he himself chose
See also the examples in the preceding note.
General Comment on 2:4a–c
In Greek this verse is the final part of a sentence that began in 2:2. Most English versions begin a new sentence here. Some ways to translate this verse are:
God himself confirmed their witness with signs and marvels and miracles of all kinds, and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the various ways he wills. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
At the same time God added his witness to theirs by performing all kinds of miracles and wonders and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will. (Good News Translation)
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