Paragraph 3:12–15

In this paragraph the author told his readers and listeners how they should apply the quotation in 3:7b–11 to themselves. Just as God warned the people of Israel to be careful not to turn away from him, the Hebrews should also be careful. They should not refuse to believe what God said, as the Israelites did.

3:12a

See to it: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as See to it is literally just See. In this context it is a warning. It means “be careful,” “watch out.” The author warned his readers not to commit the same sin of unbelief and disobedience that the Israelites committed. Other ways to translate this verb are:

Be careful (God’s Word)
-or-
Take care (New Revised Standard Version)

brothers: As in 3:1a, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as brothers refers to the author’s fellow believers in Christ. You should translate it in the same way here. Remember that the term includes both men and women. For more information, see the note on 3:1a.

In some languages it is more natural to place the word brothers first in the sentence or in a different place in the sentence. You should place it where it is most natural for your language. For example:

So brothers and sisters, be careful (New Century Version)
-or-
My friends, watch out! (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. (New Living Translation (2004))

3:12b–c

that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God: In this context the word heart represents a person himself. It especially refers here to a person’s decision to believe in and trust God. The phrase a wicked heart of unbelief indicates that it is evil for a person to refuse to trust God.

Some other ways to translate this part of the verse are:

so that none of you has an evil mind that does not believe in God
-or-
in which his inner-being is not focused on his believing/obeying God

In other languages it may be more natural to refer to the person himself, rather than to a part of him. For example:

so that no one among you becomes evil and refuses to believe
-or-
Don’t let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. (Contemporary English Version)

you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to all of the readers and hearers of Hebrews.

heart: The word heart refers here to a person’s thoughts, feelings and decisions. For more information, see the note on “harden your hearts” in 3:8a.

that turns away from the living God: The phrase turns away from is figurative. It refers to deciding to reject God. It does not literally mean that a person turns himself in a different direction. Use a natural way in your language to refer to deciding to reject someone. For example:

so that none of you turns his back on the living God
-or-
that is what will lead you to give up God who is alive without end
-or-
that will cause him to reject/refuse the living God

the living God: The phrase the living God implies that God has always been alive, and he will always continue to live. He is the one who gives life. God is a living God, not a dead god. He contrasts with false gods and idols who have no life. The author described God like this also in 9:14, 10:31, and 12:22. Other New Testament authors also used this description, for example, Matthew 16:16; Romans 9:26; 1 Thessalonians 1:9.

Some other ways to translate the living God are:

God who lives forever
-or-
the life-giving God

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