“You know” is a grammatically possible translation of the first word in Greek, but “Know!” or I want you to know is more likely. Brother has the special Christian sense of “fellow Christian,” implied by 13.1. Let out of prison: of prison is not expressed in the Greek text and is not absolutely necessary in translation (literally, simply “released,” Revised Standard Version), but it seems the most likely meaning. Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Barclay make out of prison explicit, but most translations do not.

The most likely explanation of the second part of the verse is that as soon as Timothy joins the writer, the writer will take Timothy with him to see the readers of this letter (compare verse 19). “As soon as” is a well-attested meaning of the Greek words translated soon enough, but has not been chosen by translators. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente has simply “quickly.”

For I will have him with me, Bible en français courant has “I will take him with me”; Translator’s New Testament and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch have “I will bring him with me.” Bible en français courant takes as the point of reference the place where the writer is; Translator’s New Testament takes it as the place where the readers are. The translator must decide which is more natural in his own language. In English, as well as in this context, both are possible, and also Good News Translation‘s neutral I will have him with me. However, the use of “bring” rather than “take” suggests a warmer identification with the readers’ point of view.

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 .

Give our greetings to is literally “Greet.” As in verse 18, no one can be sure whether the writer is speaking in his own name alone or on behalf of a group. Here most translations avoid adding either our or “my” to greetings; Barclay and Translator’s New Testament have “my.” Give our greetings to all your leaders may be expressed as “Greet all your leaders with words as coming from us” or “Greet all your leaders as though we were greeting them.”

All God’s people: Revised Standard Version “all the saints” does not mean “all the outstandingly religious members of the church,” but “all the members of the Christian community,” that is, “all who have been set apart as Christians to belong to God in a special way”; see comments on 3.1.

Brothers is not expressed in the Greek text, but it is natural to assume that “those who come from Italy” (Revised Standard Version) are fellow-Christians, as in the previous verse. Jerusalem Bible thinks “saints” is implied, but this view is not shared even by Bible de Jérusalem.

The Greek is literally “those of Italy” or “those from Italy.” (a) “Of Italy” would mean that the writer is in Italy and sends greetings from the church. (b) “From Italy” would mean that the writer is somewhere else and sends greetings from a group of expatriate Italians in the same place. Most translations either leave the matter open (Moffatt “The Italians salute you”) or choose (b), like Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version. Phillips (“The Christians of Italy”) and Jerusalem Bible choose (a). No one really knows whether the writer was in Italy or not.

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 .

This is the final blessing. Good News Translation translates the most likely text. Some manuscripts, followed by Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Moffatt, Knox, and older translations, add “Amen.” Others replace you with “the saints.” On grace, see comments on 4.16. God’s is implied. May God’s grace be with you all may be rendered as “May God be good to you all.” Or, as in the form of a prayer, “I pray that God may be good to you all,” or “… show you his loving kindness,” or “… demonstrate to you his love and kindness.”

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 .