2:17a

For this reason: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For this reason introduces a conclusion from 2:16. This conclusion is also a summary and conclusion of 2:10–16. Some other ways to introduce this conclusion are:

That is why
-or-
Therefore (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
As a result

Introduce it in a natural way in your language.

He had to be made like His brothers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as had to means “to be obligated” to do something. The clause means that Jesus was obligated to become human like other humans so that he would be a good high priest for them.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

it was necessary for him to be made…like his brothers and sisters (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he needed to become a man/human so that he could be the same as his siblings
-or-
The reason it was necessary for Him to become a human was so that He might become like us(incl.) His siblings.

be made like His brothers in every way: The phrase be made like His brothers in every way has a special meaning in this context. It indicates that in every way Jesus became a real human being, just as his brothers and sisters were human beings. However, the phrase in every way does not imply that Jesus was sinful like other human beings.

Some other ways to translate be made like His brothers in every way are:

become completely human like his people
-or-
to become a real human being like his fellow human beings
-or-
to become just like any human being

His brothers: The phrase His brothers refers back to 2:11. There the author indicated that people whom Jesus sanctifies become his brothers and sisters. The author also implied that these brothers and sisters are the descendants of Abraham that he mentioned in 2:16. In many languages it is good to translate the phrase His brothers in the same way as you did in 2:11.

In some languages it may be necessary to add a phrase to indicate that brothers is used in a spiritual instead of a physical sense here, as it was in 2:11. For example:

⌊ us whom he calls⌋his own siblings

If you include a pronoun like “us,” it should refer to both the author and the people who heard his message.

2:17b

Here in 2:17b the author first used the term “high priest” to refer to Jesus. In Hebrews the author compared the work of a Jewish high priest in the Old Testament to what Jesus did for people. Jewish high priests represented the people and offered sacrifices to God on their behalf. Jesus also represented his people to God, and he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice so that God would forgive the people’s sins.

so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God: This clause tells the purpose for which Jesus became completely human (2:17a). He became human in order to be a good high priest for human beings. The words merciful and faithful both describe the phrase high priest. They do not indicate that Jesus was not merciful or faithful before he became human.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

so that he would be a high priest who treats people with compassion. He would also be faithful toward God and toward people as he does the work of the high priest.
-or-
Because he did that, when he does the work of the high priest, he sympathizes with the people. Both God and people can trust him.

a merciful…high priest: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as merciful means “sympathetic, compassionate.” It refers to a person who is concerned about the needs of other people and sympathizes with them. The phrase a merciful…high priest implies that as a human high priest, Jesus knows the temptations of human beings, and he has compassion for them.

See the examples in the preceding note for translation advice.

faithful high priest in service to God: The word faithful means “worthy of trust, dependable.” It refers to someone who is worthy to be believed and trusted. The phrase in service to God indicates here that Jesus was faithful to both God and people as he served God as high priest. Both God and human beings could trust him.

Some other ways to translate the phrase faithful high priest in service to God are:

a high priest who is…trustworthy as he represents us to God
-or-
to serve God as our high priest in a faithful way

high priest: The high priest was the leader of all the priests of the people of Israel. All the priests offered sacrifices on behalf of the people, but the high priest offered certain special sacrifices that no other priest could offer. Once a year, he offered the special sacrifice that atoned for the people’s sins. In a special way, he represented them to God.

Some ways to translate high priest are:

the chief/leader of all the priests
-or-
the main/principal priest
-or-
the highest/leading priest

The author described the work of Jesus as a high priest in more detail from 4:14 onwards. Translate the term high priest in the same way here and in the Gospels. For more information, see priest in Key Biblical Terms.

in service to God: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in service to God :

(1) It means “toward God.” In this context it refers to service to God or to relationship with him. For example:

in his service to God (Good News Translation)

(2) It means “about God.” It refers to things concerning God or about God. For example:

things relating to God (NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as most English versions and many commentators do. In this context in service to God refers to what the high priest did as he served God on behalf of the people. It refers especially to the sacrifice he made so that God would forgive the people’s sins (2:17c).

Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

to represent us to God
-or-
working the work that God gave him
-or-
as he served God

Be sure to connect this phrase to 2:17c in a natural way in your language.

2:17c

in order to make atonement for the sins of the people: This clause tells the purpose for Jesus being a merciful and faithful high priest. As a high priest like that, Jesus was able to make atonement for the people’s sins. He did this by offering himself to be killed as a sacrifice to God. Jesus himself took the punishment that people deserve for their sins so that God would forgive them. Then they themselves would not have to be killed.

Some other ways to translate this purpose are:

in order to offer sacrifice so that the people’s sins would be forgiven
-or-
so he would undergo the punishment of our sins so that it would thus be possible for our sins to be forgiven
-or-
Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. (New Living Translation (2004))

make atonement: The phrase make atonement is one word in Greek. It refers to the way that people can obtain forgiveness from God for their sins. In the Bible the word implies that people have sinned against God. God is just, and he must punish people for sin. Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice to be punished instead of other people so that God could forgive them.

In many cultures people make sacrifices for other reasons that do not fit the meaning of the Greek word. It is often necessary to use a descriptive phrase to translate it. See the translation examples in the preceding note. Since the Greek word is a key biblical term, it is especially important to check the meaning of your translation of it with other speakers of your language.

Other forms of this Greek word occur in 1 John 2:2 and 4:10. For more information, see reconcile, sense B, in Key Biblical Terms.

the sins of the people: The phrase the sins of the people refers to the sins which the people have committed. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

the sins that the people have done
-or-
the offenses that the people committed ⌊against God⌋

sins: The word sins was used in 1:3d. You may translate it in the same way here. For more information, see the note on 1:3d.

the people: In the original context of the OT the word people refers to the same people as “the descendants of Abraham” in 2:16 and “his brothers” in 2:17a. Refer to them here in a natural way in your language.

© 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

4:12a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as For introduces a list of reasons why we must be diligent to obey God and enter his rest (4:11). These reasons are descriptions of the word of God. It is living, powerful, and discerning. It exposes a person’s secret thoughts. Introduce these reasons in a natural way in your language. In some languages a conjunction may not be necessary.

the word of God is living and active: This statement indicates that God’s word has power to accomplish what God intends. God used his word to create the world, and he uses it to affect what people believe and what they do. Some other ways to translate the statement are:

God’s word is alive and it does ⌊great⌋ things.
-or-
What God says has power to do/accomplish ⌊what he intends⌋.

the word of God: The phrase the word of God refers to what God says. It includes the Scriptures. It also includes whatever God says, whether it is spoken or written. Jesus is also called “the word of God” (for example, in John 1:14). Hebrews 1:2 says that God spoke in (or by) a Son. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

God’s word/message
-or-
the Word that God speaks (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

living and active: The two words which the Berean Standard Bible translates as living and active have a similar meaning here. The author often used pairs of words with similar meanings to emphasize what he wanted to communicate. This pair indicates that God’s word has power to accomplish what God intends. God used his word to create the world, and he uses it to affect what people believe and what they do.

In some languages it may be more natural to emphasize the meaning in a different way. For example:

full of living power (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
it is powerful and it has results

Notice that there are other pairs in 4:12–13. Translate these pairs in a way that will emphasize the meaning in your language.

living: In this context the word living is used in a figurative way. It means “able to accomplish things.” Here it does not refer to breathing or to having physical life. See the preceding note for translation examples.

active: Here the word active means “effective.” It indicates that God’s word accomplishes what he intends.

4:12b

Sharper than any double-edged sword: This statement is a figure of speech. The author compared the word of God to a sword. A sword can be used to cut a person open, and then people can see what is inside his body. The Word of God can do this in a spiritual way. It can reveal a person’s mind and heart and cause him (or other people) to understand it. It reveals to a person what is right and what is wrong about his way of thinking.

Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

• Use a simile. For example:

God’s word cuts better than a sword that is sharp on both sides.
-or-
God’s word is like a sword with two sharp edges.

• Use a simile and also indicate the meaning. For example:

God’s Word ⌊exposes a person’s thoughts and motives,⌋ just as a sharp sword with two edges ⌊cuts into something and exposes what is in it⌋.

• Translate the meaning without using the figure of speech. For example:

God’s Word exposes our hidden thoughts/motives.

Use a natural way in your language to translate the figure of speech.

any double-edged sword: The Greek word used here for sword occurs only three times in the New Testament. A sword (or “dagger”) is a long knife. The word double-edged indicates that the knife has two sharp (cutting) edges. A double-edged knife is more effective than a knife that has only one sharp edge. That type of knife can cut into something and divide it accurately into parts.

Another way to translate double-edged sword is:

a long knife with two sharp edges

In some languages there is an idiom to describe this. For example, in Hebrew the idiom is literally:

a sword that has two mouths

any: The word any indicates here that there is no sword (even one with two edges) that is more effective than God’s word.

4:12c–d

it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow: This part of the verse continues to describe the word of God. In Greek the phrase even to dividing is literally “as far as (the place of) division.” It implies that God’s word enters even the part of a person where soul and spirit meet or where his joints and marrow meet.

In some languages a phrase like to dividing may wrongly imply that the Word of God separates a person’s soul from his spirit and separates a person’s joints from his marrow. For that reason the Notes uses the God’s Word as the source text for 4:12c:

and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet (God’s Word)

(God’s Word) and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet: The phrase where soul and spirit meet is a figure of speech. The phrase place where joints and marrow meet is also a figure of speech. No one can tell exactly where a person’s soul and spirit meet or where joints and marrow meet.

Together these two figures of speech refer to every part of a person. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

It penetrates even the inner-being and thinking of a person. Therefore no matter what a person’s motive is or what he intends, this word of God can reveal it.
-or-
It pierces into even our thinking and our purpose, and it shows us what God thinks about it.

(God’s Word) soul…spirit: In this context the Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as soul and spirit have similar meanings. In many scriptures the word soul refers to the inner part of a person which thinks, feels, and makes decisions. The word spirit refers to the person himself, especially to the essential part of himself that is responsible to give an account to God. Here the words soul and spirit are used together to refer to the hidden part of a person, his thoughts, and motives.

Other ways to translate soul and spirit here are:

our innermost thoughts and desires (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
a person’s inner-being and mind/thinking

Most English versions (except the New Living Translation (2004)) use the words soul and spirit. See soul, sense A1(a), and spirit, sense A1(a), in Key Biblical Terms.

(God’s Word) joints…marrow: The word joints refers to the material in the body that joins bones together. The word marrow refers to the substance inside the big bones of the body. Another way to translate the literal meaning is:

a person’s joints and the substance inside his bones

Here the phrase “the place where joints and marrow meet” is a metaphor to refer to a person’s secret thoughts and desires. It emphasizes the statement in 4:12c, which has the same meaning. In some languages the metaphor may not be natural, and you may need to translate the meaning in a different way. For example:

every part of a person

4:12e–f

It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart: Here the author says that the word of God (It) is able to judge people’s thoughts and intentions. This is figurative language. It implies that God’s word causes people to know how God wants them to think and act. When a person reads it, it teaches him whether his thoughts are good or bad. Some other ways to translate this statement are:

it pierces into even our thinking, our breath, our purpose, and it shows us what God is thinking about it.
-or-
God’s word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions. (God’s Word)
-or-
It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages it may be necessary to translate the meaning without the figurative language. For example:

God uses his Word to show people whether their way of thinking and what they intend to do is right or wrong.

It judges: The Greek word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as judges can describe a judge in a legal case. However, it is often used in a more general way. Here it refers to the ability to distinguish what is right and what is wrong. People can use what God says to examine their thoughts and intentions and know whether they are pleasing to God or not.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

examines
-or-
discovers
-or-
causes…to be exposed

thoughts and intentions: The words thoughts and intentions are used together to describe what a person thinks. The Greek word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as thoughts refers to “the process of considering something, thought, reflection, idea.” It occurs only three other times in the New Testament: Matthew 9:4, 12:25 and Acts 17:29.

The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as intentions is also rare in the New Testament. It occurs only once more, in 1 Peter 4:1. It refers to what a person thinks, his “thoughts, knowledge, and insights.”

Some other ways to translate thoughts and intentions are:

what a person thinks and plans
-or-
our thinking and the purposes in our hearts

of the heart: In both Greek and Hebrew the heart refers to the part of a person that thinks and feels. In some languages a phrase like of the heart may not be necessary in this context. The source of the “thoughts and intentions” may already be implied by referring to the person (or people) who think them. See the first example in the preceding note. For more information, see heart, sense 1(b), in Key Biblical Terms.

General Comment on 4:12a–e

In some languages you may need to make the comparison in this verse more explicit. For example:

God’s word is powerful and active. It exposes what people think and what they want/intend to do as ⌊precisely as⌋ a knife with two sharp edges cuts into ⌊skin⌋.
-or-
God’s word is strong and does great deeds. Like a knife with two sharp edges, it cuts open a person’s thoughts and shows what he secretly thinks and wants to do.

© 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

6:14

saying: The word saying introduces the words that God said when he made his promise to Abraham. In some languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

He said to Abraham

I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants: The statement I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants tells what God promised and swore to do. It is a quotation from Genesis 22:17. God repeated this promise to Abraham after Isaac was born. Since God swore by himself here, it may be helpful in some languages to refer to him more explicitly. For example:

I, the Lord, will bless you with many descendants. (Contemporary English Version)

surely: The word surely means “certainly, indeed.” It indicates that God was making a very strong promise. Some other ways to indicate this are:

Without a doubt I will bless you
-or-
I will certainly bless you richly (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Really-really I say that I will fulfill what I am promising to you: I bless you with a big blessing

bless: The word bless means “to do good to (someone).” For more information, see bless, sense A1, in Key Biblical Terms.

you: The pronoun you is singular and refers to Abraham.

multiply your descendants: The verb multiply here indicates that God will cause Abraham to have children and descendants. In this context it implies that God will cause Abraham to have many children and grandchildren for many generations.

your: The pronoun your is singular and refers to Abraham.

© 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

1:9a

You have loved righteousness: The clause You have loved righteousness indicates that God’s Son is devoted to what is right and just. He does what is right, and he is pleased when other people do what is right. In this context the clause probably refers to how God’s Son rules people justly in his kingdom. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

You love what is right (Good News Translation)
-or-
All that is right is what you have valued
-or-
Every work/action which is good is what pleases you very much.

You have loved: The pronoun You is singular and refers to God’s Son, the Christ. The verb have loved refers to the attitude that God’s Son has always had and still has. He has always loved righteousness, and he continues to love it. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

you love
-or-
you have ⌊always⌋ loved

righteousness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as righteousness refers here to doing what is just and right according to a standard. In the Bible the standard of justice is determined by God.

In this context righteousness probably refers specifically to the way that God’s Son rules people with justice. This fits with 1:8 that speaks of his kingdom and way of ruling. Some ways to translate righteousness in this context are:

All that is good
-or-
what is right (Good News Translation)
-or-
justice (Contemporary English Version)

For more information, see just, sense C3, in Key Biblical Terms.

and hated wickedness: The phrase and hated wickedness indicates that God’s Son detests evil and rejects it. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

and you reject/detest actions that are lawless
-or-
You are disgusted with evil behavior.

wickedness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wickedness is literally “lawlessness.” In the Bible it refers to not respecting or obeying God’s law. Some other ways to translate it are:

evil (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
what is wrong (God’s Word)
-or-
lawlessness (Revised Standard Version)

For more information, see “lawlessness” under sin, other words to compare, in Key Biblical Terms.

1:9b–c

In 1:9b–c God continued to speak directly to his Son. In some languages it is necessary to indicate this by using first person pronouns like “I.” For example:

I, your God, have chosen you. I appointed you…. (Contemporary English Version)

God…has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy: The custom of anointing with oil is used here in a figurative way. When kings and priests were appointed, oil was poured on their heads to dedicate them to God for their work. It was a joyful occasion. In this verse the emphasis is on the joy (joy) and honor that God gave to his Son.

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

• Translate the figure of speech and indicate its meaning. For example:

God blessed you more than your companions and anointed you with oil, ⌊the symbol of⌋ joy.
-or-
God honored you more than your companions: he poured oil on you and made you glad.

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

God…has given you the joy of an honor far greater than he gave to your companions. (Good News Translation)

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

1:9b

therefore: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as therefore means “because of this,” “for this reason.” It introduces what happened because God’s Son loved righteousness and hated wickedness (1:9a). Indicate this result in a natural way in your language.

God, Your God: In the phrase God, Your God, the word God is repeated for emphasis. The phrase Your God indicates that God is the One whom Christ the Son honors as God. The context also indicates that God has honored the Son.

The phrase Your God does not mean “the God you possess.” If a literal translation of Your God has a wrong meaning in your language, you may need to express the meaning in a different way. For example, in this context you may be able to say:

God who honors you
-or-
God whom you honor/obey

Your: The pronoun Your is singular and refers to Christ, the Son of God.

1:9c

companions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as companions means “those who share or participate together” in something. The word occurs five times in Hebrews, once in Luke, and six times in the Greek OT (LXX). The author was probably referring here to the angels. In this whole section he was comparing Christ with the angels. Some ways to translate the word here are:

comrades
-or-
everyone else

© 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

3:10a

Therefore: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore introduces the result of the people rebelling and testing God in 3:8–9. It implies that God was angry because they tested him and did not believe in him. Some ways to translate the connection in English are:

So
-or-
As a result

I was angry with that generation: This clause explains why God was angry with the people who rebelled against him. He was angry because they did not believe him and disobeyed him. This is the way in which they “tested” him (3:9).

For more information about the way the people of Israel rebelled against the Lord, see Deuteronomy 1:19–40 and Numbers 13–14.

that generation: The phrase that generation refers to the Israelites who lived at the time when God rescued them from Egypt and led them through the desert. Consider how you refer to a group of ancestors who lived at a specific time more than a thousand years before you. In some languages a general reference back to them will be sufficient. For example:

those people/ancestors

Refer to them in a natural way in your language.

and I said: This phrase introduces what the Lord said about the people. He did not speak directly to them. Hebrews does not make explicit to whom he spoke. He probably spoke to Moses, since in Numbers 14:22 God said to Moses, “They have already tested me many times.”

Some other ways to introduce God’s decision are:

I thought
-or-
I said ⌊about them⌋

3:10b–c

Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways: The two clauses in 3:10b and 3:10c are parallel. They have a similar meaning, and they are closely connected. Together they indicate that the people refused to obey God. In 3:10b the emphasis is that the people were not loyal to God. In 3:10c the emphasis is that they refused to know and follow God’s ways.

Some ways to translate these clauses are:

10b They are always disloyal 10c and refuse to obey my commands. (Good News Translation)
-or-

10b They continually go astray to someone/something else. 10c They refuse to follow my commands.
-or-

10b these people have determined that they will separate from me. 10c They do not want to follow the word I speak about how they should live.

Their hearts are always going astray: This clause is figurative. It indicates that the people were not loyal to God. They did not do what he told them to do. For ways to translate this clause, see the examples for 3:10b in the preceding note.

hearts: For more information on the use of hearts as an idiom, see the note on 3:8a.

and they have not known My ways: The clause and they have not known My ways indicates that the people did not want to understand the way that God wanted them to live. It implies that they did not choose to obey him. The people of Israel did not understand what God wanted because they refused to obey his commands. That is why he was angry with them.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

They refuse to do what I tell them. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
they will not hear/listen-to the way I teach them to live
-or-
and they have no desire to know who I am and how I want them to live

For more information on what the people of Israel did, see Deuteronomy 1:32–33.

© 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

5:7–10

The verses in 5:7–10 are parallel to 5:1–3 in the chiasm of 5:1–10. In Greek these verses continue the long sentence that began in 5:5. The sentence continues until the end of 5:10. Most versions divide these verses into shorter sentences. Connect the clauses in a natural way in your language.

These verses describe a time or times in Jesus’ life when he prayed with great distress. Many scholars believe that the author referred to Christ’s prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was arrested and killed. Other scholars point out that there are also many other times in Jesus’ life when he prayed in distress. God heard Jesus during all those times.

5:7a

During the days of Jesus’ earthly life: The phrase During the days of Jesus’ earthly life refers to the time when Jesus lived as a mortal human being. He was a person with flesh and blood, like other people on earth. He knew that he would die.

Another way to translate During the days of Jesus’ earthly life is:

During his mortal life
-or-
While he shared in human weakness

In some languages it may be helpful to translate earthly life as “life on earth,” as many English versions do. For example:

During his life on earth (God’s Word)

5:7b

He: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He is a pronoun that is often translated as “who.” It refers back to “Christ” in 5:5 (5:5–10 is one long sentence in Greek), and some versions have the word “Christ” here.

Some versions supply the name “Jesus,” as in the New Revised Standard Version. Such versions may refer back to the phrase “Jesus, the Son of God” in 4:14. In some languages it may be helpful to refer to “Jesus Christ.” Refer to him here in a clear way in your language.

offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears: This phrase describes a time when Jesus prayed earnestly to God. The description has two emphatic phrases: offered up prayers and petitions and with loud cries and tears.

In some languages it is more natural to change the order of these phrases so that loud cries and tears comes first. For example:

he cried out weeping, petitioning, and uttering his requests
-or-
his tears flowed and he wailed as he prayed and begged ⌊God⌋

offered up prayers and petitions: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as offered up can be used in a general way to mean “bring to.” It can also mean “bring an offering to” God. Here the author used it in a figurative way to mean that Christ’s prayers and supplications were like an offering to God. This figure of speech emphasizes that Jesus prayed earnestly.

In some languages it may be more natural to translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

He prayed and pleaded (God’s Word)

prayers and petitions: Here the author used two words that have almost the same meaning. Repeating the meaning like this emphasizes it. It implies here that Jesus prayed very earnestly. In some languages it is more natural to emphasize the statement in some other way. For example:

he prayed fervently

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as prayers means “urgent requests to God to meet certain needs.” The word petitions means “requests to God.” It occurs only here in the NT. Some ways to translate the two words are:

prayers and requests (Good News Translation)
-or-
prayers and pleadings (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
begged God, praying earnestly

loud cries and tears: The Greek word that is translated as loud cries refers to “loud calls or shouts.” The word tears refers to water that comes from a person’s eyes in times of distress or strong feeling. Some other ways to translate the phrase loud cries and tears are:

His tears flowed and he wailed
-or-
weeping and crying out loud

5:7c

to the One who could save Him from death: The phrase the One who could save Him from death refers to God. In the Greek text it is emphasized. Scholars interpret the phrase save Him from death in different ways. The three main views are:

(1) It means “save him from dying.”

(2) It means “save him out of death—to give him life again after he died.” (This happened at his resurrection.)

(3) It means “save him from the fear of death.”

Most English versions are ambiguous. God was able to save Jesus from death in every sense, because he can do anything. If you need to choose one of the interpretations, it is recommended that you choose either interpretation (1) or (2). Both interpretations are based on common uses of the Greek word that can be translated either as from or “out of.”

5:7d

and He was heard because of His reverence: The phrase because of His reverence gives the reason that Jesus was heard when he prayed to God. In some languages it is more natural for this reason to come before the result He was heard. For example:

He submitted humbly to the will/desire of God. That is why God heard his request.
-or-
And because His respect for God was great, and also His obedience to the commands of God, God heard his praying.

He was heard: The phrase He was heard is passive. It implies that God heard Jesus’ prayer. It does not only indicate that he heard what Jesus said. It also implies that God listened and gave Jesus the help that he needed.

Some ways to translate the phrase are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

And his prayers really were answered

• Use an active verb and supply God as the subject. For example:

God heard his praying

because of His reverence: The phrase because of His reverence indicates the reason why God heard Christ’s prayer. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reverence refers to awe or fear of God that causes a person to obey God. It implies that because of Jesus’ respect for God, he submitted to God and obeyed him. This word occurs only here and in 12:28 in the NT, but it also occurs in other Greek writings.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

because he honored God by submitting to him
-or-
because he humbled/lowered himself to obey what God wanted

© 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

2:7

There is a textual issue at the end of this verse. Some Greek manuscripts include another clause that can be translated as “and set them over the works of your hands.” In these manuscripts this clause completes Psalm 8:6. The two textual options are:

(1) Most Greek manuscripts do not have this clause, and most English versions do not translate it.

(2) Other Greek manuscripts have this Greek clause. This is followed by only a few English versions. For example:

and have appointed him over the works of your hands (New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). Most English versions follow this option. However, since there is also good manuscript evidence for option (2), you may include it in a footnote, as many English versions do. For example, the Good News Translation has this footnote:

Many manuscripts add: You made them rulers over everything you made (see Psalm 8:6).

2:7a

You made him a little lower than the angels: There are two ways to interpret the phrase a little in this clause:

(1) It refers to a short time. For example:

You made him lower than the angels for a little while (NET Bible)

(2) It refers to a slightly lower status. For example:

You made him a little lower than the angels. (God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The words that the author quoted from Psalm 2 referred to the status of people, but here in Hebrews the author used the words to refer to a period of time.

Another way to translate this interpretation is:

For this short time

him: The pronoun him is the same as the one that was used in 2:6. See the note on 2:6b. Make sure to indicate this clearly. In English this is done by using the appropriate pronoun.

lower: The word lower refers here to having less status or dignity than someone else. Some other ways to translate it are:

more humble/unimportant
-or-
power made less than

In some cultures there are figurative ways to say that someone has lower status than someone else. For example:

was downhill ⌊in status⌋ a little

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

2:7b

You crowned him with glory and honor: This clause indicates that God rewarded man by giving him glory and honor. The text continues to refer here both to mankind and to the Messiah. The verb crowned is used in a figurative way. It refers to the custom of honoring someone by placing a wreath (“crown”) of leaves on his head. Here the figure of speech indicates that God honored man by giving him authority and respect.

In some languages the metaphor of a “crown” may not have this meaning. Some other ways to translate the metaphor are:

you gave him an honored position/seat
-or-
you caused him to be greatly respected

him: The pronoun him is the same as the one that was used in 2:7a.

glory and honor: In this context the words glory and honor are very similar in meaning. Both words refer to a position of great importance. In this context the importance is connected with authority to rule over God’s creation.

In some languages it may be more natural to use a single phrase to translate glory and honor. For example:

a position of great status/authority

Some other ways to translate glory and honor are:

greatly honored him like the honor of a king
-or-
made him like a great king who is admired/respected

© 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

4:2

The Berean Standard Bible translates 4:2a–c as one sentence. In some languages it is more natural to use more than one sentence. For example:

We heard the good news, as our ancestors did. But the message did not help our ancestors because they did not join those who accepted it with faith.

4:2a

For…also: This part of the verse begins with two Greek conjunctions that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as For and also. Some versions translate also as “indeed” here, because it emphasizes the statement in 4:2a. The word For indicates that 4:2c will explain why the good news did not help the Israelites who heard it (as 4:2b says). Connect the clauses in this verse in a natural way in your language.

we…received the good news just as they did: The Greek phrase which the Berean Standard Bible translates as we…received the good news just as they did is more literally “we were evangelized.” It uses a passive verb form, implying that someone told the listeners good news.

In this context the good news refers to the promise of rest that God offers his people. It does not refer specifically here to the gospel of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The phrase just as they did indicates that the Israelites whom Moses led out of Egypt (3:16) were also told good news.

Some ways to translate the phrases in 4:2a are:

• Use passive verbs. For example:

The good news was told to us, just as it was told to them

• Use verbs that focus on receiving the good news. For example:

We received the good news just as they did.
-or-
We have heard the good news just as they have.

• Use active verbs and supply subjects. For example:

⌊ Someone⌋told us the good news, just as ⌊someone⌋ told the good news to them.

Translate the verbs in a natural way in your language. A different form of the same verb is used again in 4:6.

we: The pronoun we refers to both the author and the readers.

just as they did: The phrase just as they did indicates that the readers and hearers of Hebrews received good news, just as the Israel people whom “Moses led out of Egypt” (3:16) also received good news. In some languages it may be helpful to refer to they more specifically. For example:

our ancestors
-or-
those ⌊Israel⌋ people of long ago

Refer back to them in a natural way in your language.

4:2b

but: The word but introduces a contrast. Both the readers of this letter and their ancestors received good news, but their ancestors failed to profit from the good news.

the message they heard was of no value to them: This clause indicates that hearing the message without believing it did not help the people of Israel. Some ways to translate this meaning are:

they listened to the message but they received no help from it
-or-
They heard his word but they gained nothing from hearing it

the message they heard: The phrase the message they heard refers to the good news that was told to the people of Israel (4:2a). It was God’s promise that he would give them rest in the land to which he was leading them. Indicate clearly that the message and the “good news” refer to the same message. For example:

this message that they heard
-or-
that good news that they heard

4:2c

since: The word since introduces the reason that God’s message did not benefit the people of Israel.

they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it: There is a textual issue concerning the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as share. The form of this word causes scholars to interpret 4:2c in different ways. The two textual options are:

(1) In some Greek manuscripts the verb share is plural. The clause indicates that the people who did not enter God’s rest (3:19) did not “join” with the people who listened to what God said. For example:

they did not share the faith of those who did listen (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) In other Greek manuscripts the word share is singular. The clause indicates that the message was heard but was not combined with faith in some people. For example:

it was not combined with faith in those who heard it (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It is followed by many Greek manuscripts, including some of the oldest and most reliable ones. However, many scholars also support option (2), and it is also acceptable.

Since both options are acceptable, you may want to include a footnote in your translation to mention the option that you decide not to follow. For example, the New Revised Standard Version has this footnote:

Other ancient authorities read: “it did not meet with faith in those who listened.”

did not share the faith of those who comprehended it: This phrase refers to the time when most of the people of Israel did not believe the good news that God told them. He promised to give them rest in the land of Canaan. However, only Moses, Joshua, and Caleb trusted God to do what he said. The phrase did not share the faith indicates that most of the people refused to join the ones who listened to God and believed him.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

they did not join in with those who heard it in faith (NET Bible)
-or-
they refused to unite with the ones who believed ⌊that good message⌋

faith: In this context the word faith refers to believing the message that God was able to give the people rest in the land that he promised them. The people of Israel did not believe that this message was true. See the examples in the preceding note. For more information, see believe, sense C2, in Key Biblical Terms.

General Comment on 4:2b–c

In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of 4:2b–c. For example:

2c They, however, did not believe the good news that they heard, 2b and so it did not help them.
-or-

2c but they did not believe the good news which they heard, 2b and so it was not of any use to them

© 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.