6:3a–b
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
3a So let us know —
3b
let us press on to know the LORD.
In these two lines, the speaker urges the people to know the LORD. Some versions have moved the LORD to the first line, because it is more natural English.
let us…let us: These phrases express a plea. See the note on “let us return” in 6:1a.
know…to know: The Hebrew verbs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as know have more than one meaning related to knowing, experiencing, and understanding. There are two main ways to interpret the word know here:
(1) It means that the people should know the LORD in an intimate, personal way. It implies that they should understand the LORD’s character. For example:
Let us know, let us strive to know Yahweh (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Let’s learn about the LORD. Let’s get to know the Lord. (God’s Word)
(2) It means that the people should acknowledge or agree that he is the LORD. For example:
So let us acknowledge him! Let us seek to acknowledge the Lord ! (NET Bible)
(NET Bible, New International Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. This is the same interpretation as in 2:20b, although the context there focuses more on a marriage relationship.
Some languages have different words for knowing someone personally and knowing facts about someone. If that is true in your language, you should use the word that refers to a personal relationship.
let us press on to know the LORD: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as let us press on is literally “let us pursue” It means to fervently strive to know him. For example:
let us strive to know Yahweh (New Jerusalem Bible)
General Comment on 6:3a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder these lines. For example:
Let’s do our best to know the Lord. (Contemporary English Version)
6:3c–e
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
3c
As surely as the sun rises, He will appear;
3d
He will come to us like the rain,
3e
like the spring showers that water the earth.
These three lines are similes. In each simile, the coming of the LORD is compared to natural events. His coming is as certain as the sunrise. It is also as welcome and beneficial as the rain that people in Israel depended on for their crops.
6:3c-d
He will appear; He will come: These clauses imply that the LORD will come to help and bless his people. No difference in meaning is intended between the parallel words appear and come.
6:3c
As surely as the sun rises, He will appear: Here are some other ways to translate these clauses:
his coming is as sure as the dawn (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
His coming is as certain as the morning sun (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He will come to us as sure as the morning comes. (God’s Word)
6:3d–e
like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth: The terms that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rain and spring showers are each one word in Hebrew. The first word is literally rain. It usually refers to rain in general, whereas spring showers refers specifically to rain that falls at a particular time of year. There are two ways to interpret the first word:
(1) It refers to rain or showers in general. It does not indicate the time of year when it rains. For example:
he will come to us like rain (New Century Version)
(2) It refers specifically to autumn or winter rains. For example:
He will come to us like the autumn rains (God’s Word)
The Berean Standard Bible follows interpretation (1), but you may follow either interpretation. There are several reasons why either interpretation is valid:
(a) In Hebrew parallelism, a general statement commonly precedes a specific one.
(b) The general term rain probably includes both the earlier and later times of rain. In Israel, rain commonly fell at planting time in October-November and also when the crops were ripening in March or April.
(c) With either interpretation, the point of the simile (the regularity and benefits of rain) is the same.
In different areas of the world, periods of rainfall are referred to in different ways. People may also expect rain at different times of the year. If that is true in your language area, you may use more general terms. For example:
He will come to us like the rain/showers that the crops need.
General Comment on 6:3c–e
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine some of the verse parts. For example the Good News Translation combines 6:3d and 6:3e:
3c He will come to us as surely as the day dawns, 3d–e as surely as the spring rains fall upon the earth. (Good News Translation)
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