Then (“Therefore,” Revised Standard Version) renders a strong word in an unusual and therefore emphatic position, like the different Greek word for “therefore” in verse 12.1. It marks a transition from history to an appeal for action by the writer together with his readers. On camp, see verse 11. On shame, see comment on insulted in 10.33, and see especially 11.26, suffer scorn for the Messiah. These verses recall Psalm 89.50-51. Here his shame means “the shame which Jesus suffered because of the way in which he was killed.”

It may be necessary to indicate clearly the figurative nature of this admonition to go to him outside the camp and share his shame. In order to mark that this is a figure, one may translate “Therefore we should, as it were, go to him outside the place where people are dwelling and share with him the shame he suffered,” or “… be put to shame in the same way that he was put to shame,” or “… be despised with him.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .