The Greek which Revised Standard Version translates “again” is not used here to introduce a quotation, as it is in verse 5, but has its usual meaning “once more” (compare 5.12; 6.1, 6). This is shown by the reference to another day in verse 8.
This refers to the statement in verse 6 that others … are allowed to receive this rest. It may be necessary to specify what This refers to by introducing an entire clause; for example, “That others are allowed to receive this rest is shown by the fact….”
Is shown by the fact may be expressed actively as “we know because of the fact that.”
The literal “sets again a day” is translated more naturally by sets another day. God sets another day must be rendered in some languages as “God decides upon another day” or “God designates another day.” In a number of languages a perfect form of a verb must be employed, since this is evidently something which took place in the past but which is still relevant; for example, “God has designated another day.”
The first Today can be related to the rest of the sentence in two ways: (a) as immediately interrupting the quotation (so Moffatt “To-day—as he says in ‘David’ …”; similarly New English Bible), or (b) as if the “certain day” which God sets is identified by the name “Today” (so common language translations; compare 3.13).
Which is called “Today” may be rendered as “which is spoken of in the holy writings as Today” or “which God speaks of as Today.”
Many years later is literally “After such a long time.”
Through David in Good News Translation fourth edition is better style than earlier editions’ by means of David. As in through the prophets (1.1), where the literal “in the prophets” may also mean “in the writings of the prophets,” so also in 4.7, “in David” would mean “in the Psalms” (so Moffatt, Translator’s New Testament). He spoke of it through David may be expressed as a causative; for example, “he caused David to speak of it” or “he used David to speak about it.”
In the scripture already quoted is literally “as it has been said before,” which may mean “as David said before” or “as God said before.” However, this is less likely, since the contrast is between the seventh day of creation and the “today” of Psalm 95.7, not between two situations in which Psalm 95.7 is applied. Psalm 95.7 was not fulfilled in the Old Testament, but it is to be fulfilled for Christians for the first time.
In the scripture already quoted may be expressed as “in that part of the holy writings already spoken about,” “… which I have already mentioned,” or “… which I have already written about.”
Each time this verse is quoted, different words in it are emphasized. In 3.8 the keywords are do not be stubborn (compare 3.12); in 3.15 the keyword is rebelled (compare 3.16); here the keyword is today.
Do not be stubborn may need to be related specifically to this particular context. Therefore one may translate “do not refuse to obey what God says.”
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 .
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