This verse, like 4.10-11, contains some repetition which it may be better to avoid in translation. Languages have other ways than repetition by which to stress particular words and phrases. A possible translation avoiding this repetition would be “So let us go forward to God in confidence, knowing that he will freely give us all we need at the right time,” or even “… when we need it most.”

Let us have confidence is literally “with confidence”; see discussion on 3.6b. In some passages, especially of Acts, the Greek for this expression refers to confident “speaking out” in witness. Here the context shows that it refers to inner confidence. The translation of Let us have confidence should not suggest an unnecessary fear which people might have in approaching God. It may be necessary in some languages to translate Let us have confidence as “Let us not hesitate to” or “Let us be confident in.”

Approach God’s throne, where there is grace: most English translations have approach or “come forward.” “Go forward” seems more natural in English, since the writer’s point of view is that of human beings, not that of God.

“The throne of grace” (Revised Standard Version) is one of the writer’s ways of speaking indirectly about God. Indirect references to God were common among Jews and therefore among Jewish Christians. “God who is gracious” or “God who gives us such good gifts” would be non-Jewish equivalents. Approach God’s throne may be expressed as “go before God’s throne” or “go near to God’s throne.” But a literal rendering of this might be interpreted exclusively in the sense of “going to heaven.” Furthermore, it may not be natural to speak figuratively of a throne, so it may be best to translate approach God’s throne as “to approach God.” If one uses “God” in place of God’s throne, then where there is grace will be rendered as “who is kind” or “who shows kindness to people.”

Receive mercy is difficult to distinguish from find grace, and there is another reference to grace in the first part of the verse. Mercy and grace both have the meaning of a free gift from a superior, in this case God. In Paul’s writings, grace frequently refers to God’s gift of his Son, but this is not explicit here, though 5.9 expresses the same idea without using the word for “grace.” In some languages grace is a word little used outside church circles. If so, the translator may need to replace it by some such word as “love” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

We will receive mercy may be rendered as “God will be merciful to us” or “God will show us kindness.” A literal rendering of find grace might suggest accidental discovery or coming upon as the result of searching. In fact, find grace is merely an equivalent of “experience kindness” or “experience love.” Accordingly, we will receive mercy and find grace may be restructured as “God will be kind to us and show us his love.” This may be further explained as “he will help us just when we need help.”

Us, following find grace to help, is not expressed in the Greek. The idea of asking God to help other people is not excluded.

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 .