Compare 11.31. There are three sound effects in the Greek of this verse which are almost plays on words. The translator should note them, but he should not worry if he cannot reproduce them, since they do not affect the meaning of the text. (a) The words for “brotherly love” (verse 1) and “hospitality” (Revised Standard Version, verse 2) begin in the same way, suggesting “friendship” both for brothers and for strangers or “guests.” There is, however, no contrast between the two; the “guest” was often a fellow-Christian. (b) The words for “neglect” and “unawares” (Revised Standard Version) are related in Greek; and (c) so are the words for “hospitality” and “entertained” (Revised Standard Version).

Remember to welcome strangers in your homes is a positive rendering of what is essentially a double negative statement in the Greek, namely, “Do not cease to be hospitable to strangers.” “Hospitable-to-strangers” is a single word in Greek, which in some contexts simply means “hospitable.” The positive expression is often more satisfactory, and it may also be rendered as “Be sure to welcome strangers in your homes,” or “Be certain that you receive strangers into your homes,” or “… receive people from far away…,” or “Be sure to be hospitable.”

Some is quite general; commentaries refer to various stories of visits by angels, both in the Old Testament and in ancient pagan writings.

Welcomed angels without knowing it means “they welcomed angels without knowing that the persons involved were angels.” In some languages it may be necessary to specify this fact.

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 .