SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 2020 – Page 3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:11

Paragraph 4:11–13

4:11

This verse is the second key verse of this section (along with verse 9). It is a solemn exhortation.

4:11a

Let us, therefore: The word therefore introduces an exhortation to enter God’s rest. It is based on what the author said in 4:1–10. Another way to translate it is:

So then
-or-
As a result of all this

Let us…make every effort to enter that rest: The verb make every effort means “be eager, try hard, strive.” Here the command Let us…make every effort includes both the author and those who heard him. This command is similar to the one in 4:1 (“let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach” his rest.) The author emphasized the command by saying it at the beginning of the section and repeating it (in a slightly different way) near the end.

You should translate the two commands in a similar way. Some other ways to translate the command here are:

Let us…do our best to receive that rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
we must be committed/diligent to get that rest with God
-or-
Let us try as hard as we can to enter God’s rest (New Century Version)

4:11b

so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience: This clause tells the purpose for trying hard to enter God’s rest in 4:11a. It indicates that if we do not strive to enter God’s rest (4:11a), we may disobey God and then fall (4:11b). Another way to translate the clause is:

so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience (New International Version)

Notice that this clause mentions two actions: they may fall and they may disobey. The disobedience causes the fall, so in some languages it is more natural to translate the actions in a different order. For example:

so that no one will disobey God like they did and then fall

so that no one will fall: The phrase no one will fall is a figure of speech. The word fall refers to sin that causes a person not to receive God’s rest. It implies that a person may disobey God and refuse the rest that God offers him, just as the Israelites disobeyed God in the wilderness and did not receive God’s rest. That implies here that the person will fail to receive salvation.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

so that no one among us will retreat from our faith
-or-
so that none of us will lose/reject ⌊the rest⌋

by following the same pattern of disobedience: The phrase by following the same pattern of disobedience means “by disobeying God, as the people of Israel did.” In this context the word disobedience refers to refusing to believe God. See the note on 4:6c. This is the same word that the author used in 3:18 and 4:6c. In some languages it is more natural to use a verb to translate disobedience. For example:

by following the example of those who refused to obey (God’s Word)

the same pattern of disobedience: The pronoun the same refers to the pattern of disobedience of the people of Israel at the time of Moses. In some languages it is helpful to refer to them more explicitly. For example:

like the people of Israel disobeyed long ago

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 6:13

Section 6:13–20

We can trust God’s promises because he does not lie

This section is the final part of the long appeal that the author began to make to his readers in 5:11. He urged them to keep on believing. He warned them not to give up what they believed. In this final section, he reminded them of God’s promise to Abraham, and he encouraged them that God always keeps his promises. We can come into God’s presence because Jesus, our high priest, is already there (6:20). He is a high priest like Melchizedek.

The last verse of this section is similar to 5:10, and connects this section to chapter 7. The author finished his long appeal to his readers in 6:20, and in 7:1 he continued his teaching about Jesus, our high priest.

Some other possible section headings are:

God always does what he promises to do
-or-
We can believe God because he always does what he said he would

Paragraph 6:13–15

6:13a

In Greek the author connects this verse to the preceding section with a conjunction that is often translated as “for.” It indicates that the author will give support for what he said in the preceding verses. Here is another way to translate this conjunction:

For example (New Living Translation (2004))

The author also linked 6:13 with 6:12 by referring to the meaning “promise” in both. Use a natural way in your language to introduce such supporting comments. See the next note for more examples. In some languages a connector is not necessary.

When God made His promise to Abraham: In this clause the author wrote about God’s promises at the end of 6:12. Here he continued to say more about them. He used Abraham as an example. God promised to bless Abraham and give him many descendants, as in Genesis 12:1–4 and 15:1–5. Then after Abraham was willing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to him (Genesis 22:1–14), God added an oath to his promise. See also Genesis 22:15–18.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Let’s consider Abraham, because there is also that which God promised him
-or-
Remember God’s promise to Abraham.

Abraham: In some languages it is more natural to identify Abraham more explicitly. For example:

our(incl.) ancestor Abraham
-or-
Abraham, who is the ancestor for our(incl.) tribe

6:13b–c

since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself: In 6:13b–c the author tells why God swore by himself. God swore by himself because there is no one greater than he is. He himself was the only one who was able to fulfill the promise. There was also no one else to whom people could appeal to cause God to fulfill what he promised. Some other ways to translate this reason are:

Since there was no one greater than himself, he used his own name when he made his vow. (Good News Translation)
-or-
There is nothing greater than God, so he swore naming himself.

one greater to swear by: The phrase to swear by refers to anyone to whom God could appeal to enforce or strengthen his oath. The text implies that a person who could enforce the promise must be more powerful than the person who makes the promise. That is the only way that such a person could punish him if he did not fulfill what he swore to do. Since no one is as powerful as God, no one could punish him if he did not do what he promised to do. Another way to translate this meaning is:

to guarantee his oath
-or-
who could make him fulfill his oath

swear: To swear is to take an oath or to make a promise to do something. When someone adds an oath to what he is saying, it means “What I am saying is true.” It does not imply that the person is using bad or inappropriate words. For more information, see also the note on 6:16a.

He swore by Himself: The clause He swore by Himself means “he promised that he would enforce the promise on himself.” Men have to swear by someone or something greater than themselves to guarantee that the promise is kept. But God swore by himself that he would keep his promise, because there is no one greater than himself to guarantee it. Other ways to translate this meaning are:

he used himself when he swore (New Century Version)
-or-
God took an oath in his own name (New Living Translation (2004))

God’s word can be trusted without the help of an oath, but God made it twice as dependable by adding an oath. See also 7:20 and the following verses. It is similar to the words “As I live…” which God often said in the Old Testament when he was speaking.

General Comment on 6:13b–c

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder 6:13b–c. For example:

13a When God made his promise to Abraham, 13c he swore by his own name. 13b He did this because there was no one who was greater than himself.

The New Jerusalem Bible translates 6:13 clearly as one sentence:

When God made the promise to Abraham, he swore by his own self, since there was no one greater he could swear by. (New Jerusalem Bible)

In some languages it is more natural to use two sentences to translate this verse. For example:

God made a promise to Abraham. Since he had no one greater on whom to base his oath, he based it on himself. (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 1:8

1:8–9

In 1:8–9 the author contrasted the role of the Son as king and the role of the angels as servants in 1:7. He quoted from Psalm 45, which is a wedding song for a royal bridegroom. He applied these words of Psalm 45:6–7 to God’s Son. These verses are the fifth quotation that the author used to contrast the Son and the angels.

1:8a

But: The word But introduces the contrast with 1:7.

about the Son He says: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as about usually means “to,” but it can also mean about. Here it introduces the quotation that God spoke to his Son and also about him. You should use the natural way in your language to introduce the quotation. Some ways to introduce it in English are:

But God said this about his Son: (New Century Version)
-or-
But of the Son he says (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
But to the Son he says (New Living Translation (2004))

1:8b

Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever: In this clause God spoke directly to Christ and called him God. The word O is not in the Greek text. It is often included in English versions when someone speaks directly to God, using a vocative.

Use a natural way in your language to address God directly. In some languages it may be more natural to put the word God at a different place in the sentence. For example:

God, your throne will last forever and ever (New Century Version)
-or-
You God, you will rule forever.

In other languages it may be more natural not to use a vocative. For example:

You are God, and you will rule as King forever! (Contemporary English Version)

Your throne…endures forever and ever: The word throne is used figuratively here. The phrase Your throne means “your ruling as king.” The whole clause means “Your rule lasts forever” or “You will be king forever.” Some other ways to translate it are:

you are King forever
-or-
Your kingdom…will last forever and ever! (Good News Translation)
-or-
your rule/reign will never end

1:8c

and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom: Like the clause that refers to “throne” in 1:8b, this clause is also figurative language. The word scepter refers literally to a staff that belongs to a king. It is a symbol of his authority to rule his people.

The whole clause means that the Son will use his authority fairly. He will rule his kingdom with justice. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

You will rule your kingdom with justice.
-or-
You will rule your people fairly.
-or-
You use your royal power to do what is right/good.

justice: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as justice means “just, fair.” It has a similar meaning as the word “righteousness” in 1:9. For other ways to translate justice, see the preceding note. In some languages there may be an idiom to translate this. For example:

straightness
-or-
uprightness (English Standard Version)

Your kingdom: The pronoun Your is singular. It refers here to Christ, the Son. God used the phrase Your kingdom to refer to the rule of Christ his Son over his people.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 3:9

3:9a–b

where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works: This verse tells about the Israelites’ time in “the wilderness” (mentioned in 3:8). In many languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence at this verse. For example:

9a There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, 9b even though they saw my miracles for forty years. (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of 3:9a and 3:9b. See the General Comment on 3:9a–b at the end of 3:9b for an example.

3:9a

where your fathers tested and tried Me: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as where your fathers tested and tried Me is more literally “where your fathers tested me with a trial.” It is an emphatic way to tell what the Israelite ancestors did.

Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

when your ancestors challenged me and put me to the test (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
when they tested God’s patience in the wilderness (New Living Translation (2004))

Translate the phrase in a natural way in your language.

fathers: The word fathers refers to the ancestors of the Hebrews to whom the author wrote. It refers specifically to the ancestors who were alive in the time of Moses. It includes both male and female ancestors.

3:9b

and for forty years saw My works: This clause implies that the way the people of Israel acted toward God was surprising and wrong. When they saw what God did, they should have obeyed him. They should not have put him to another test.

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

though for forty years they saw what I did (Revised English Bible)
-or-
yet they saw with their own eyes what I did for them for forty years

for forty years: The phrase forty years refers to the forty years when God caused the people of Israel to wander in the desert. They refused to trust him and enter the land of Canaan after they heard the report of the spies. To read more about this, see Numbers 13–14.

My works: The phrase My works refers to the supernatural acts that God did for the Israelites during their forty years in the wilderness. For example, he gave them manna and quails to eat (Exodus 16), and water out of the rock to drink (Exodus 17). These acts may also include how he punished them when they disobeyed him.

Some other ways to translate My works are:

what I did
-or-
the ⌊mighty/supernatural⌋ acts that I did

General Comment on 3:9a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of 3:9a and 3:9b. For example:

9b Although your ancestors witnessed God’s miracles for them during those forty years, 9a they repeatedly tested him.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:6

5:6a

And in another passage God says: The clause And in another passage God says introduces another quotation from the OT. It refers to another verse of scripture that tells something that God said. It does not refer to a location. Some other ways to translate the clause are:

And in another verse God also said
-or-
And there is another word written in the Holy Book which says:

Use the normal way in your language to refer to a specific verse or part of the Scriptures.

5:6b

This part of the verse is a quotation from Psalm 110:4. In Psalm 110 its author speaks about the Messiah (Christ), so the psalm is called a “Messianic psalm.” It indicates that the Messiah is a priest and also a king. Psalm 2 (quoted in 1:8) is also a messianic psalm. It speaks of the Messiah as king. The book of Hebrews indicates that Jesus our Messiah is both king and priest.

You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek: Here the author quotes from the Old Testament. This quotation tells what God spoke to Christ. God spoke to Christ and announced that Christ is a priest forever with the type of priesthood that Melchizedek also had.

Some other ways to translate this statement are:

You are a priest forever, in the way that Melchizedek was a priest.
-or-
You will be a priest forever, and your priesthood will be the type of priesthood that Melchizedek had.

priest: The word priest refers to a person who speaks to God for people and makes sacrifices on their behalf so that God will forgive their sins. The author of Hebrews often uses the terms priest and “high priest” to refer to Jesus, as well as to other priests. The word priest is a general word, and it can refer to both ordinary priests and to the high priest.

Some ways to translate priest are:

• Use a descriptive term that focuses on the function of a priest. For example:

sacrificer
-or-
man/person who offers sacrifices to God
-or-
one who represents people to God

• Use a local word for priest. This option fits best if the local word can be used in a general way to refer to any priest. Test the word carefully throughout Hebrews to be sure that it does not imply a wrong meaning. The word is more likely to fit if the duties of a local priest are similar to the duties of a priest of Israel.

The author used the term priest in this verse for the first time in Hebrews. However, he uses the term often in chapter 7 and a few times in chapters 8–10. The term you use for priest here should be the same as the one that you use in the gospels, for example, in Luke 1:5. If possible, choose a term that can be used in both Old Testament and New Testament contexts.

forever: The word forever refers to a time that continues and never ends throughout eternity. Here it refers to Jesus’ priesthood that will continue forever. He will always be a priest, so he is very different from other priests who lived and died. The word forever is similar to the word “eternal,” which is a key word in the book of Hebrews.

Some other ways to translate “You are a priest forever” are:

you will be a priest for eternity
-or-
As for you, you will be priest without ending
-or-
there is no end to your being a priest

in the order of Melchizedek: The phrase in the order of Melchizedek indicates that the priesthood of Jesus was of the same type as the priesthood of Melchizedek. It cannot refer here to a sequence of priests, because Melchizedek was the only priest of that type except for Jesus.

Some other ways to translate in the order of Melchizedek are:

like the priesthood that Melchizedek had
-or-
in the tradition of Melchizedek’s priesthood
-or-
of Melchizedek’s type

Melchizedek: This is the first time that the author mentions Melchizedek. Hebrews is the only NT book that refers to Melchizedek, but Genesis describes him as the King of Salem, and “the priest of the Most High God.” For more information about him, see Genesis 14:18–20. The author will compare Melchizedek and Christ in greater detail in chapter 7.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 2:6

2:6a

But: The word But connects the preceding statement in 2:5 with a quotation (2:6b–8) from Scripture. This quotation agrees with what 2:5 says and supports it. In some languages a word like But may be confusing here. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate the connection between 2:5 and 2:6 are:

• Use a word or phrase that introduces a supporting statement. For example:

For (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
In fact

• Do not use a conjunction. For example, the Revised Standard Version begins 2:6 with the statement itself:

It has been testified somewhere (Revised Standard Version)

Translate the connection between 2:5 and 2:6 in a natural way in your language.

somewhere it is testified: This clause refers to a quotation from the OT Scriptures. The verb is testified implies here that God inspired someone to write it, and that person affirmed that it is true. The general term somewhere does not imply that the author did not know the particular book of the Scriptures where the quote is found.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

For somewhere in the Scriptures it says (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
that is the meaning of what God caused to be written, which says:
-or-
Somewhere in the Scriptures someone says to God (Contemporary English Version)

You may want to use the term for “Scriptures” that you have used in other verses in the NT.

somewhere: The word somewhere refers here to a part of the Scriptures. In some languages it is helpful to include your word or phrase for the Scriptures. For example:

in the Holy Book

it is testified: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as it is testified means to solemnly declare the truth about something. The author used this verb to indicate the truth and importance of the part of Scripture that he was about to quote. It does not imply that it was used as a testimony in court.

Some other ways to translate the verb are:

has declared (God’s Word)
-or-
There is…this solemn assurance (Revised English Bible)

Verses 2:6b–8a are a quotation from Psalm 8:4–6. If you use footnotes in your translation, you can put the reference in a footnote.

2:6b–c

The words in 2:6b–c are a quotation from Psalm 8:5. In that psalm, 8:5 is part of a longer prayer to God. In 8:2 the psalmist addressed God directly as Lord. Here in Hebrews, it may be helpful to make explicit that the person is praying to God. For example:

Lord, what is man…
-or-
What are human beings, O God (Good News Translation)

In the Greek text the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “man” is also singular.

What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him: The words in 2:6b–c are a quotation from Psalm 8, which is Hebrew poetry. The quotation begins with two rhetorical questions that have the same meaning. In the example below, the parts that are similar in meaning are marked in similar ways:

6b What is man, that you are mindful of him,

6c or the son of man, that you care for him?

The question in 2:6c has an ellipsis. The phrase What is from 2:6b is also implied in 2:6c. In some languages it may be necessary to make it explicit in 2:6c. For example:

6c
⌊ what is⌋a human being that you care for him?

In some languages it will be more natural to combine these two questions into one. For examples of how these quotations can be combined, see the General Comment on 2:6b–c at the end of 2:6c.

2:6b

What is man that You are mindful of him: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses surprise that God should be concerned about a human being at all. Some ways to translate this surprise are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

What makes you care about a human being?
-or-
Does a man have any status/importance? ⌊No,⌋ so what causes you to care for him?

• As a statement or exclamation. For example:

⌊ I cannot understand⌋why a human being is important to you!

Translate this surprise in a way that is natural in your language.

man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man means “human being.” The word is singular. It can refer to a single human being or to mankind in general (both male and female). Some scholars believe that the author used this singular form because he intended to be ambiguous. He wanted to use a word that could refer either to the Son of Man as Messiah (Jesus) or to human beings in general.

If it is possible in your language to be ambiguous in that way here, that is a good choice. In some languages that may not be natural or it may imply a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, you may use a plural form like “human beings,” as in the New Revised Standard Version. The form should include both the author and the readers. Use appropriate forms in 2:7–8 also.

that You are mindful of him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mindful means “remember.” When it is used about God remembering a person or persons, it implies that he remembers them in order to help and care for them.

Some other ways to translate that You are mindful of him are:

that you think of him (NET Bible)
-or-
that you are concerned for him

You: The pronoun You refers to God. The psalmist was speaking to God, so he used a singular form of You.

2:6c

or the son of man that You care for him: In Greek this clause is more literally “or son of (a) human-being that you care for him.” Like 2:6b, it is also a rhetorical question. It expresses surprise and has the same meaning as 2:6b. Be sure that you have read the note on 2:6b–c before you read the rest of this note.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

What is a mortal that you should remember him… (God’s Word)

• As a statement. For example:

⌊ I am amazed⌋that you are concerned about mankind
-or-

⌊ I⌋do not know/understand why you care for a ⌊mere⌋ human being.

Translate the clause in 2:6c in the way that is natural in your language for expressing surprise. See the General Comment on 2:6b–c at the end of 2:6c for ways to combine the parts of this verse.

the son of man: In this context, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the son of man can refer to any human being and it can refer specifically to the Messiah. It indicates that the author wondered why God concerned himself with a human being. A human seems unimportant compared to God. In some languages it is possible to use the same key term for son of man here that you used in the Gospels.

Other ways to translate the son of man here are:

human being
-or-
person

that You care for him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as care for means “be concerned about, show concern for.” Other ways to translate the clause are:

that you notice him
-or-
that you take good care of him

General Comment on 2:6b–c

The two questions in 2:6b and 2:6c are quoted from Hebrew poetry. It is common in Hebrew poetry for an author to use similar statements to emphasize his meaning. The rhetorical questions in 2:6b and 2:6c are very similar in meaning. In some languages it will be more natural to combine these two questions into one.

Some ways that you can combine these two questions are:

Why do you think about or care about a human being?
-or-
What is a human being that you should be concerned about him?
-or-
Why should you care about a human being?

However, the author probably interprets Psalm 8 to be speaking of the Messiah, as well as of human beings.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:1

Section 4:1–13

We must have faith in God and enter his rest

The word “rest” is used in 4:1, and it is the important topic that connects chapter 4 to chapter 3. The author used the word “rest” in a figurative way to refer to depending on God. God wants his people to rest from their own work, as God rested from his work on the seventh day after he created the world. In chapter 3, God promised the people of Israel a place to rest. In chapter 4, the author used a special time of rest as a symbol. This time was one day each week, which the people called the Sabbath Day (seventh day). Both the place and the time of rest are symbols of the rest that God’s people have when they depend on him for everything.

Two sentences in this section are especially important in stating this theme:

4:9
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (Berean Standard Bible)

4:11
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, (Berean Standard Bible)

The theme of this section is clear: God has planned a good life of rest for believers when they depend on him. We must be careful to believe and obey him so that we do not miss the life of rest that he promised. Some words that are connected to this theme in chapters 3 and 4 are “faith,” “believe,” “unbelief,” and “disobedience.”

Some other examples of headings for this section are:

God’s people can still experience God’s rest
-or-
We should trust God and receive his promise of rest

Paragraph 4:1–5

At the end of chapter 3, the author indicated that the people of Israel whom God led out of Egypt refused to enter his rest (3:19). Chapter 4 begins by saying that God still offers that rest to people who believe him (4:1a). Connect chapter 4 with chapter 3 in a natural way in your language. Notice the examples in the note on “Therefore” in 4:1a.

4:1a

Therefore: The word Therefore introduces the warning in the next part of the verse (4:1b). In some languages it is necessary to put the introductory word or phrase at the beginning of 4:1b to make the connections clearer. For example:

But God’s promise that he has prepared a resting place for his people can still be fulfilled to us. 1b Therefore…
-or-
God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, 1b so… (New Living Translation (2004))

while the promise of entering His rest still stands: The phrase the promise…still stands is a figure of speech. It indicates that God still promises to give rest to his people who believe and obey him. When the people of Israel refused his rest, he did not take away his promise to give rest to the people who were willing to receive it.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

And now, God still offers his promise that we may enter his rest
-or-
God’s promise to give his people rest can still be fulfilled to us

Languages have many ways to indicate that a promise made in the past is still valid, and it can still be fulfilled. Use a natural way in your language to translate that meaning.

the promise: A promise tells a person’s intention to do something. It indicates that the person must do what he has said. Here the promise refers to what God said about his rest. He promised to welcome people into his rest if they believe. A promise is different from an oath, so you should use different ways to translate these two words.

entering His rest: The phrase entering His rest is used as a figure of speech here. It means to begin to rest as God promised. This promise does not refer here to the land where God promised to give the people rest from their enemies. The rest that God now offers his people is a life of depending on him for everything we need.

In some languages it is not natural to speak of entering rest. Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

receive that rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
can be included in being able to rest under his care

His rest: The word rest is the theme of this section. It should be translated in the same way throughout the section. The phrase His rest symbolizes dependence on God, especially for salvation and also for everything that he has promised his people.

A minority of scholars believe that His rest may refer to heaven. It is not recommended that you follow this interpretation or make it explicit in your translation.

still stands: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as still stands refers here to a promise that is still valid. In this context, it indicates that God still makes his promise of rest available to people who will receive it. Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

is still good/valid
-or-
continues to be offered

4:1b

let us be careful: The Greek command which the Berean Standard Bible translates as let us be careful is more literally “we should fear.” It means that we should be afraid that we might not enter God’s rest. The word “fear” implies that failure to enter God’s rest is terrible. That is why we must be careful to enter his rest.

Some other ways to translate this command are:

we must be very careful
-or-
we ought to tremble with fear (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Beware! (New Jerusalem Bible)

Translate this command in a way that is natural in your language.

that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it: There are different ways to interpret the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be deemed to have fallen short of it :

(1) It means “fail to receive it.” For example:

might fail to experience it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
will fail to enter (New Century Version)

(2) It means “will be judged/considered (by God) to have failed to receive it.” For example:

will be found to have failed to receive that promised rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
be judged to have failed to receive it (Revised Standard Version)

(3) It means “thinks that they will not attain it.” For example:

think you won’t enter his place of rest (God’s Word)

(God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Interpretations (1) and (2) are similar, but interpretation (1) is more general. It is also followed by more English versions and many commentaries. Interpretation (2) fits the context of serious warning, but no English version makes it explicit.

none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it: This clause indicates that the author wanted every one of his hearers to receive the rest that God offers. He implied that it is a serious matter if anyone fails to believe God and then is not able to enjoy the rest that God promised.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

that some of you might fail to experience it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
that perhaps someone will not be included in that rest

you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to all the people who hear or read what the author said to them in Hebrews.

to have fallen short of it: The phrase to have fallen short of it means “to fail to gain or experience something because of one’s own fault.” The word it refers to God’s rest. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to have failed to receive that promised rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
who is not able to enter/attain it

General Comment on 4:1a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to use more than one sentence to translate this verse. For example:

Beware! God still promises that we may enter his rest. So each of you must make sure to gain/receive it.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 6:3

6:3

And: The word And connects “go on to maturity” with “we will do this, if God permits.” In some languages it is more natural to connect these clauses in a different way. For example:

And so (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

2 Let us not repeatedly…. 3 but rather let us

this we will do, if God permits:
The word this refers to leaving behind elementary teaching and going on to maturity (6:1–2). The author intends that he and his listeners will become mature believers who understand what God wants them to know. However, he knows that they can only become mature if God allows it.

In some languages it is necessary to repeat some implied information from 6:1 to make the meaning of the phrase this we will do clear. For example:

So let’s ⌊learn the mature/deeper teachings⌋, if God allows us.
-or-

Let us go forward ! And this is what we will do, if God allows. (Good News Translation)
-or-
And we will go on to grown-up teaching if God allows. (New Century Version)

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of phrases in this verse. For example:

And God permitting, we will do so. (New International Version)

if God permits: The phrase if God permits means “if God allows.” In some languages there is a special saying to express this meaning. For example:

God willing (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
if God still gives us opportunity.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 6:13

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 1:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 3:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 2:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 6:3

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American Bible Society