Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, translators typically select the inclusive form (including the writer and the readers of this letter).
Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.
Following are a number of back-translations of Hebrews 3:19:
Uma: “So, we clearly know that they were not permitted to enter and get rest with God because they did not believe.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “We (dual) understand that the reason they did not enter that land was because they did not believe.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And we (incl.) know that they were not able to enter there because they would not believe the word of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “That’s how-we -know that the reason they were unable-to-enter the resting-place God had prepared, it was their not believing in him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Therefore then we know that they could not enter that place that was promised them because they refused to be taught in that (they) were not believing/obeying God. 3:2 It’s possible that this household means the (pl.) Israelita in the past whom God caused-to-be-led by Moises. 3:7-11 Psalm 95:7-11. 3:15 Psalm 95:7-8.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Thus it is seen here that they did not get to enter that land where they should have rested because they did not believe the word God spoke.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Verse 19 is a simple summary of the previous argument. The conjunction then does not refer to time but to the sequence of argument and may be rendered by forms equivalent to “accordingly” or “therefore.”
In place of the expression We see, it may be necessary to use some such expression as “We realize” or “We have come to know,” since in reality there was no direct visual perception but simply understanding.
The final, emphatic word “unbelief” recalls verse 12 (see the discussion). “Unbelief” includes an element of rebellion, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “So we see why they did not reach the goal: (it was) because they did not remain true.”
In order to emphasize the opposition implied in “not believing,” it may be best to translate the causal clause as “because they refused to believe.”
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 .
So we see that: The phrase So we see that introduces the conclusion of what the author said in 3:7–18. It indicates that the author is about to tell the Hebrews what they should learn and know from what he said in those verses. Some ways to introduce this conclusion are:
So we clearly know that… -or-
From all this we learn that…
Introduce this conclusion in a natural way in your language.
we: The word we includes both the author and his hearers. However, it is used here as a natural way to introduce a conclusion. In some languages it may be more natural to introduce the conclusion without using we. For example:
Thus it is seen here that…
see: Here the verb see is used in a figurative way to mean “understand, know, learn.” Use a natural verb in your language to introduce the conclusion in this context.
it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter: The phrase because of their unbelief tells the reason that the people were unable to enter God’s rest. God did not allow them to enter his rest because they did not believe him. Some other ways to translate the clause are:
19b they couldn’t receive that rest 19c because they did not believe -or-
19 the reason they were unable to enter the resting place God had prepared, it was their not believing in him
In some languages it is more natural to put the result of not being able to enter God’s rest before the reason (their unbelief). For example:
19c they were unable to enter 19b because of unbelief (New Revised Standard Version) -or-
19c they were not able to enter God’s rest. 19b That is because they refused to trust God. -or-
they could not enter for lack of faith (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
Use a natural order in your language.
because of their unbelief: In 3:18 the sin of the Israelites was called disobedience. Here the author called it unbelief. Disobedience and unbelief are very closely connected.
In some languages it may be more natural to use a verb rather than a noun like unbelief. One way to express this meaning as a verb is:
because they did not believe
they were unable to enter: The words unable to enter refer back to the phrase “enter his rest” in 3:18. It is clear from the historical context that “his rest” refers here to Canaan, the country that God promised the Israelites.
In some languages, it may be necessary to say where the people of Israel were unable to enter. If that is true in your language, you should supply a phrase that will agree with how you translated 3:18. For example:
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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