¹ tn Or “spoke formerly.”
²tn Or “parts.” The idea is that God’s previous revelation came in many parts and was therefore fragmentary or partial (LN 63.19), in comparison with the final and complete revelation contained in God’s Son. However, some interpret polumerw'" (polumerw") in Heb 1:1 to mean “on many different occasions” and would thus translate “many times” (LN 67.11). This is the option followed by the NIV: “at many times and in various ways.” Finally, this word is also understood to refer to the different manners in which something may be done, and would then be translated “in many different ways” (LN 89.81). In this last case, the two words polumerw'" and polutrovpw" (polutropw") mutually reinforce one another (“in many and various ways,” NRSV).
³tn These two phrases are emphasized in Greek by being placed at the beginning of the sentence and by alliteration.
⁴tn Grk “to the fathers.”
⁵tn The Greek puts an emphasis on the quality of God’s final revelation. As such, it is more than an indefinite notion (“a son”) though less than a definite one (“the son”), for this final revelation is not just through any son of God, nor is the emphasis specifically on the person himself. Rather, the focus here is on the nature of the vehicle of God’s revelation: he is no mere spokesman (or prophet) for God, nor is he merely a heavenly messenger (or angel); instead, this final revelation comes through one who is intimately acquainted with the heavenly Father in a way that only a family member could be. There is, however, no exact equivalent in English (“in son” is hardly good English style).
sn The phrase in a son is the fulcrum of Heb 1:1-4. It concludes the contrast of God’s old and new revelation and introduces a series of seven descriptions of the Son. These descriptions show why he is the ultimate revelation of God.
⁶tn Grk “the ages.” The temporal (ages) came to be used of the spatial (what exists in those time periods). See Heb 11:3 for the same usage.
⁷tn Grk “who being…and sustaining.” Heb 1:1-4 form one skillfully composed sentence in Greek, but it must be broken into shorter segments to correspond to contemporary English usage, which does not allow for sentences of this length and complexity.
⁸tn Grk “by the word of his power.”
⁹sn An allusion to Ps 110:1, quoted often in Hebrews.
¹⁰tn Grk “having become.” This is part of the same sentence that extends from v. 1 through v. 4 in the Greek text.
¹¹sn This comparison is somewhat awkward to express in English, but it reflects an important element in the argument of Hebrews: the superiority of Jesus Christ.
¹²tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
¹³tn Grk “I have begotten you.”
sn A quotation from Ps 2:7.
¹⁴tn Grk “And again,” quoting another OT passage.
¹⁵tn The words “he says” are not in the Greek text but are supplied to make a complete English sentence. In the Greek text this is a continuation of the previous sentence, but English does not normally employ such long and complex sentences.
¹⁶tn Grk “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to me.”
sn A quotation from 2 Sam 7:14.
¹⁷tn Or “And again when he brings.” The translation adopted in the text looks forward to Christ’s second coming to earth. Some take “again” to introduce the quotation (as in 1:5) and understand this as Christ’s first coming, but this view does not fit well with Heb 2:7. Others understand it as his exaltation/ascension to heaven, but this takes the phrase “into the world” in an unlikely way.
¹⁸sn A quotation combining themes from Deut 32:43 and Ps 97:7.
¹⁹sn The Greek correlative conjunctions mevn and dev (men and de) emphasize the contrastive parallelism of vs. 7 (what God says about the angels) over against vv. 8-9 and vv. 10-12 (what God says about the son).
²⁰tn Grk “He who makes.”
²¹sn A quotation from Ps 104:4.
²²tn Or “to.”
²³tn The verb “he says” (levgei, legei) is implied from the levgei of v. 7.
²⁴tn Or possibly, “Your throne is God forever and ever.” This translation is quite doubtful, however, since (1) in the context the Son is being contrasted to the angels and is presented as far better than they. The imagery of God being the Son’s throne would seem to be of God being his authority. If so, in what sense could this not be said of the angels? In what sense is the Son thus contrasted with the angels? (2) The mevn…dev (men…de) construction that connects v. 7 with v. 8 clearly lays out this contrast: “On the one hand, he says of the angels…on the other hand, he says of the Son.” Thus, although it is grammatically possible that qeov" (qeos) in v. 8 should be taken as a predicate nominative, the context and the correlative conjunctions are decidedly against it. Hebrews 1:8 is thus a strong affirmation of the deity of Christ.
²⁵tn Grk “the righteous scepter,” but used generically.
²⁶sn God…has anointed you over your companions. God’s anointing gives the son a superior position and authority over his fellows.
²⁷sn A quotation from Ps 45:6-7.
²⁸sn A quotation from Ps 102:25-27.
²⁹sn The parallel phrases to which of the angels in vv. 5 and 13 show the unity of this series of quotations (vv. 5-14) in revealing the superiority of the son over angels (v. 4).
³⁰sn A quotation from Ps 110:1.
³¹tn Grk “sent for service for the sake of those.”
¹sn The message spoken through angels refers to the OT law, which by Jewish tradition was mediated to Moses through angels (cf. Deut 33:2; Ps 68:17-18; Acts 7:38, 53; Gal 3:19; and Jubilees 1:27, 29; Josephus, Antiquities 15.5.3).
²tn Grk “through angels became valid and every violation.”
³tn Grk “God bearing witness together” (the phrase “with them” is implied).
⁴tn Grk “and distributions of the Holy Spirit.”
⁵sn The phrase the world to come means “the coming inhabited earth,” using the Greek term which describes the world of people and their civilizations.
⁶sn See the previous reference to the world in Heb 1:6.
⁷sn The following quotation is from Ps 8:4-6.
⁸tn Grk “remember him.”
⁹tn Grk “you subjected all things under his feet.”
sn A quotation from Ps 8:4-6.
¹⁰sn These phrases as repeated from Ps 8:6 are not exactly identical to the Greek text of Ps 8:6 quoted at the beginning of the verse, but have been adapted to fit the context.
¹¹tn Or “who was made a little lower than the angels.”
¹²tn Grk “because of the suffering of death.”
¹³tn Grk “for whom are all things and through whom are all things.”
¹⁴sn The Greek word translated pioneer is used of a “prince” or leader, the representative head of a family. It also carries nuances of “trailblazer,” one who breaks through to new ground for those who follow him. It is used some thirty-five times in the Greek OT and four times in the NT, always of Christ (Acts 3:5; 5:31; Heb 2:10; 12:2).
¹⁵tn Grk “are all from one.”
¹⁶tn Grk “for which reason.”
¹⁷tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” as here (cf. BAGD 16 s.v. ajdelfov" 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ajdelfoiv [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). The context here also indicates both men and women are in view; note especially the collective taV paidiva (ta paidia) in v. 14.
¹⁸tn Here, because of its occurrence in an OT quotation, toi'" ajdelfoi'" (tois adelfois) has been translated simply as “brothers” rather than “brothers and sisters” (see the note on the latter phrase in the previous verse).
¹⁹sn A quotation from Ps 22:22.
²⁰tn Grk “and again,” as a continuation of the preceding.
²¹tn Grk “behold, I,” but this construction often means “here is/there is” (cf. BAGD 371 s.v. ijdouv 2).
²²tn Grk “and.”
²³sn A quotation from Isa 8:17-18.
²⁴tn Or “partook of” (this is a different word than the one in v. 14a).
²⁵tn Or “break the power of,” “reduce to nothing.”
²⁶tn Or “he was obligated.”
²⁷tn See the note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 2:11.
²⁸tn Or “propitiation.”
²⁹tn Grk “being tempted” (a participle), but the action is parallel in sense to the main verb “suffered.”
¹tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BAGD 16 s.v. ajdelfov" 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ajdelfoiv [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).
²tn Grk “of our confession.”
³tn Grk “his”; in the translation the referent (God) has been specified for clarity.
⁴tc Some manuscripts read “in all his house,” in dependence on Num 12:7 (cf. Heb 3:5).
⁵tn Grk “his”; in the translation the referent (God) has been specified for clarity.
⁶sn A quotation from Num 12:7.
⁷sn The Greek makes the contrast between v. 5 and v. 6a more emphatic and explicit than is easily done in English.
⁸tn Grk “his”; in the translation the referent (God) has been specified for clarity.
⁹tn Grk “whose house we are,” continuing the previous sentence.
¹⁰tc Some manuscripts (Í A C D 33 1739) add “secure until the end” (cf. Heb 3:14).
tn Grk “the pride of our hope.”
¹¹sn The following quotation is from Ps 95:7b-11.
¹²tn Grk “today if you hear his voice.”
¹³tn Grk “tested me by trial.”
¹⁴tn Grk “they are wandering in the heart.”
¹⁵tn Grk “if they shall enter my rest,” a Hebrew idiom expressing an oath that something will certainly not happen.
¹⁶tn Or “take care.”
¹⁷tn See the note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 3:1.
¹⁸tn Grk “that there not be in any of you.”
¹⁹tn Or “deserts,” “rebels against.”
²⁰tn Grk “in forsaking the living God.”
²¹tn Grk “the beginning of the confidence.”
²²tn Grk “while it is said.”
²³tn Grk “today if you hear his voice.”
²⁴sn A quotation from Ps 95:7b-8.
²⁵tn Grk “through Moses.”
²⁶tn Grk “he”; in the translation the referent (God) has been specified for clarity.
²⁷sn An allusion to God’s judgment pronounced in Num 14:29, 32.
²⁸tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “So” to indicate a summary or conclusion to the argument of the preceding paragraph.
¹tn Grk “let us fear.”
²tn Or “they were not united.”
³tc Some manuscripts read “since it [the message] was not combined with faith by those who heard it.”
⁴sn A quotation from Ps 95:11.
⁵tn Grk “although the works,” continuing the previous reference to God. The referent (God) is specified in the translation for clarity.
⁶sn A quotation from Gen 2:2.
⁷tn Grk “and in this again.”
⁸tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
⁹tn Grk “as it has been said before” (see Heb 3:7).
¹⁰tn Grk “today if you hear his voice.”
¹¹tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
¹²tn Grk “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
¹³tn Grk “him”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
¹⁴tn Grk “for timely help.”
¹tn Grk “among men,” but the point in the context is shared humanity (rather than shared maleness).
²tn Grk “who is taken from among people is appointed.”
³tn Grk “appointed on behalf of people in reference to things relating to God.”
⁴sn That is, the honor of the high priesthood.
⁵tn Grk “by himself, on his own.”
⁶tn Grk “being called by God.”
⁷tn Grk “the one”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
⁸tn Grk “I have begotten you”; see Heb 1:5.
sn A quotation from Ps 2:7.
⁹tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
¹⁰sn A quotation from Ps 110:4.
¹¹tn Grk “in the days of his flesh.”
¹²tn Grk “who…having offered,” continuing the description of Christ from Heb 5:5-6.
¹³tn Grk “having been designated,” continuing the thought of Heb 5:9.
¹⁴sn The phrase in the order of Melchizedek picks up the quotation from Ps 110:4 in Heb 5:6.
¹⁵tn Grk “concerning which the message for us is great.”
¹⁶tn Or “dull.”
¹⁷tn Grk “because of the time.”
¹⁸tn Grk “the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God.”
¹⁹tn Grk “you have come to have a need for.”
¹tn Grk “Therefore leaving behind.” The implication is not of abandoning this elementary information, but of building on it.
²tn Or “basic.”
³tn Grk “the message of the beginning of Christ.”
⁴tn Grk “leaving behind…let us move on.”
⁵tn Grk “and we will do this.”
⁶tn Or “have fallen away.”
⁷tn Or “while”; Grk “crucifying…and holding.” The Greek participles here (“crucifying…and holding”) can be understood as either causal (“since”) or temporal (“while”).
⁸tn Grk “recrucifying the son of God for themselves.”
⁹tn Grk “near to a curse.”
¹⁰tn Or “dull.”
¹¹tn Grk “in blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply you,” the Greek form of a Hebrew idiom showing intensity.
sn A quotation from Gen 22:17.
¹²tn Grk “he”; in the translation the referent (Abraham) has been specified for clarity.
¹³tn Grk “by something greater”; the rest of the comparison (“than themselves”) is implied.
¹⁴tn Grk “the oath for confirmation is an end of all dispute.”
¹⁵tn Grk “in which.”
¹⁶tn Or “immutable” (here and in v. 18); Grk “the unchangeableness of his purpose.”
¹⁷tn Grk “have taken refuge”; the basis of that refuge is implied in the preceding verse.
¹⁸sn The curtain refers to the veil or drape in the temple that separated the holy place from the holy of holies.
¹⁹sn A quotation from Ps 110:4, picked up again from Heb 5:6, 10.
¹sn A series of quotations from Gen 14:17-19.
²tn Grk “to whom,” continuing the description of Melchizedek. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
³tn Or “a tenth part.”
⁴sn A quotation from Gen 14:20.
⁵tn Grk “first being interpreted,” describing Melchizedek.
⁶tn Grk “to whom.”
⁷tn Or “a tenth part.”
⁸tn Or “the priesthood.”
⁹tn Grk “from their brothers.” See BAGD 16 s.v. ajdelfov" 3.
¹⁰tn Grk “have come from the loins of Abraham.”
¹¹tn Grk “the one”; in the translation the referent (Melchizedek) has been specified for clarity.
¹²tn Grk “is not descended from them.”
¹³tn Or “a tenth part.”
¹⁴sn The verbs “collected…and blessed” emphasize the continuing effect of the past actions: i.e., Melchizedek’s importance.
¹⁵tn Grk “in the loins of his father” (a reference to Abraham).
sn The point of the phrase still in his ancestor’s loins is that Levi was as yet unborn, still in his ancestor Abraham’s body. Thus Levi participated in Abraham’s action when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.
¹⁶tn Grk “based on it.”
¹⁷tn Grk “of necessity a change in the law comes to pass.”
¹⁸tn Grk “shares in.”
¹⁹tn Grk “from which no one.”
²⁰tn Grk “a law of a fleshly command.”
²¹tn Grk “for he/it is witnessed that.”
²²sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6 and 6:20).
²³tn Grk “the setting aside of a former command comes to pass.”
²⁴tn Grk “because of its weakness and uselessness.”
²⁵sn The Greek text contains an elaborate comparison between v. 20a and v. 22, with a parenthesis (vv. 20b-21) in between; the comparison is literally, “by as much as…by so much” or “to the degree that…to that same degree.”
²⁶tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
²⁷tn The words “did so” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
²⁸sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6, 6:20, and 7:17).
²⁹tn Or “surety.”
³⁰tn Grk “they on the one hand” in contrast with “he on the other hand” in v. 24.
³¹tn Grk “they were prevented by death.”
³²tn Grk “from continuing” (the words “in office” are supplied for clarity).
³³sn See Heb 5:2 where this concept was introduced.
¹tn Grk “the main point of the things being said.”
²sn An allusion to Ps 110:1; see Heb 1:3, 13.
³tn Grk “there are those who offer.”
⁴tn Grk “who serve in,” referring to the Levitical priests, but focusing on the provisional and typological nature of the tabernacle in which they served.
⁵tn Or “prototype,” “outline.” The Greek word does not mean “copy,” as it is often translated; it means “something to be copied,” a basis for imitation.
⁶sn A quotation from Exod 25:40.
⁷sn The Greek text indicates a contrast between vv. 4-5 and v. 6 that is difficult to render in English: Jesus’ status in the old order of priests (vv. 4-5) versus his superior ministry (v. 6).
⁸tn Grk “he”; in the translation the referent (Jesus) has been specified for clarity.
⁹tn Grk “to the degree that.”
¹⁰tn Grk “which is enacted.”
¹¹sn This linkage of the change in priesthood with a change in the law or the covenant goes back to Heb 7:12, 22 and is picked up again in Heb 9:6-15 and 10:1-18.
¹²tn Grk “no occasion for a second one would have been sought.”
¹³tn Grk “for,” but providing an explanation of the God-intended limitation of the first covenant from v. 7.
¹⁴sn The “fault” or limitation in the first covenant was not in its inherent righteousness, but in its design from God himself. It was never intended to be his final revelation or provision for mankind; it was provisional, always pointing toward the fulfillment to come in Christ.
¹⁵tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
¹⁶tc Some manuscripts (Í* A D* K 33 81) read, “in finding fault with them, he says,” alluding to Israel’s failings mentioned in v. 9b. The reading included in the text above, supported by Ì46 Í^c B D^c 1739 Byz, is a harder reading theologically and is more likely to be original.
¹⁷tn Grk “not like the covenant,” continuing the description of v. 8b.
¹⁸tn Grk “putting…I will inscribe.”
¹⁹tn Grk “mind.”
²⁰tn Grk “I will be to them for a God and they will be to me for a people,” following the Hebrew constructions of Jer 31.
²¹tn Grk “they will not teach, each one his fellow citizen…” The Greek makes this negation emphatic: “they will certainly not teach.”
²²tn Grk “from the small to the great.”
²³sn A quotation from Jer 31:31-34.
²⁴tn Grk “when he says, ‘new,’” (referring to the covenant).
²⁵tn Grk “near to disappearing.”
¹tn Grk “the first” (referring to the covenant described in Heb 8:7, 13). In the translation the referent (covenant) has been specified for clarity.
²tn Grk “the first,” in order of approach in the ritual.
³tn Grk “in which [were].”
⁴tn Grk “which,” describing the outer tent.
⁵tn Grk “in which”; in the translation the referent (the ark) has been specified for clarity.
⁶tn Grk “above it”; in the translation the referent (the ark) has been specified for clarity.
⁷sn The cherubim (plur.) were an order of angels mentioned repeatedly in the OT but only here in the NT. They were associated with God’s presence, glory, and holiness. Their images that sat on top of the ark of the covenant are described in Exod 25:18-20.
⁸tn Grk “the first tent.”
⁹tn Grk “the second tent.”
¹⁰tn Grk “the ignorances of the people.” This seems to be simply a synonym for “sins” (cf. Heb 5:2) and does not pick up the distinction made in Num 15:22-31 between unwitting sin and “high-handed” sin. The Day of Atonement ritual in Lev 16 covered all the sins of the people, not just the unwitting ones.
¹¹tn Grk “the first tent.” The literal phrase “the first tent” refers to either (1) the outer chamber of the tabernacle in the wilderness (as in vv. 2, 6) or (2) the entire tabernacle as a symbol of the OT system of approaching God. The second is more likely given the contrast that follows in vv. 11-12.
¹²tn Grk “only for foods and drinks.”
¹³tn Grk “until the time of setting things right.”
¹⁴tn Grk “But Christ, when he came,” introducing a sentence that includes all of Heb 9:11-12. The main construction is “Christ, having come…, entered…, having secured…,” and everything else describes his entrance.
¹⁵tn This verb occurs in the Greek middle voice, which here intensifies the role of the subject, Christ, in accomplishing the action: “he alone secured”; “he and no other secured.”
¹⁶tn Grk “for the purifying of the flesh.” The “flesh” here is symbolic of outward or ritual purity in contrast to inner purity, that of the conscience (cf. Heb 9:9).
¹⁷tn Grk “the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
¹⁸tn Grk “a death having occurred.”
¹⁹tn Grk “there is a necessity for the death of the one who made it to be proven.”
²⁰sn The Greek text reinforces this by negating the opposite (“not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood”), but this double negation is not used in contemporary English.
²¹tn Grk “which the Lord commanded for you (or in your case).”
sn A quotation from Exod 24:8.
²²tn Or “prototypes,” “outlines,” referring to the earthly sanctuary.
²³tn Grk “with these”; in the translation the referent (sacrifices) has been specified for clarity.
²⁴tn Grk “the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”
²⁵tn Or “prefiguration.”
²⁶tn The word “sanctuary” is not in the Greek text at this point, but has been supplied for clarity.
²⁷tn Grk “and not that he might offer,” continuing the previous construction.
²⁸tn Grk “and after this—judgment.”
²⁹sn An allusion to Isa 53:12.
³⁰tn Grk “without sin,” but in context this does not refer to Christ’s sinlessness (as in Heb 4:15) but to the fact that sin is already dealt with by his first coming.
³¹tn Grk “for salvation.” This may be construed with the verb “await” (those who wait for him to bring them salvation), but the connection with “appear” (as in the translation) is more likely.
¹tn Grk “those who approach.”
²tn Grk “the worshipers, having been purified once for all, would have.”
³tn Grk “in them”; the referent (those sacrifices) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
⁴tn Grk “for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
⁵tn Grk “behold,” but this construction often means “here is/there is” (cf. BAGD 371 s.v. ijdouv 2).
⁶sn A quotation from Ps 40:6-8.
⁷sn Various phrases from the quotation of Ps 40:6 in Heb 10:5-6 are repeated in Heb 10:8.
⁸tn Grk “behold,” but this construction often means “here is/there is” (cf. BAGD 371 s.v. ijdouv 2).
⁹sn The phrase from Ps 40:7-8 quoted in Heb 10:7 is repeated here.
¹⁰tn Or “abolishes.”
¹¹tn Grk “by which will.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
¹²tn Or “daily,” “every day.”
¹³sn He refers to Jesus here. The Greek makes the contrast between v. 11 and v. 12 more emphatic and explicit than is easily done in English.
¹⁴sn An allusion to Ps 110:1.
¹⁵tn Grk “from then on waiting.”
¹⁶sn An allusion to Ps 110:1.
¹⁷tn Grk “after having said,” emphasizing the present impact of this utterance.
¹⁸tn Grk “putting…I will inscribe.”
¹⁹sn A quotation from Jer 31:33.
²⁰tn Grk “and.”
²¹sn A quotation from Jer 31:34.
²²tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BAGD 16 s.v. ajdelfov" 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ajdelfoiv [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).
²³tn Grk “that he inaugurated for us as a fresh and living way,” referring to the entrance mentioned in v. 19.
²⁴sn Through his flesh. In a bold shift the writer changes from a spatial phrase (Christ opened the way through the curtain into the inner sanctuary) to an instrumental phrase (he did this through [by means of] his flesh in his sacrifice of himself), associating the two in an allusion to the splitting of the curtain in the temple from top to bottom (Matt 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). Just as the curtain was split, so Christ’s body was broken for us, to give us access into God’s presence.
²⁵tn Grk “and a great priest,” continuing the construction begun in v. 19.
²⁶tn Grk “in full assurance of faith.”
²⁷sn The phrase our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience combines the OT imagery of the sprinkling with blood to give ritual purity with the emphasis on the interior cleansing provided by the new covenant: it is the heart that is cleansed and the conscience made perfect (cf. Heb 8:10; 9:9, 14; 10:2, 16).
²⁸tn Grk “let us consider one another for provoking of love and good deeds.”
²⁹sn The day refers to that well-known time of Christ’s coming and judgment in the future; see a similar use of “day” in 1 Cor 3:13.
³⁰tn This paragraph (vv. 19-25) is actually a single, skillfully-composed sentence in Greek, but it must be broken into shorter segments for English idiom. It begins with several subordinate phrases (since we have confidence and a great priest), has three parallel exhortations as its main verbs (let us draw near, hold, and take thought), and concludes with several subordinate phrases related to the final exhortation (not abandoning but encouraging).
³¹tn Grk “is left,” with “for us” implied by the first half of the verse.
³²tn Grk “zeal,” recalling God’s jealous protection of his holiness and honor (cf. Exod 20:5).
sn An allusion to Zeph 1:18.
³³tn Grk “the enemies.”
sn An allusion to Isa 26:11.
³⁴tn Grk “dies.”
³⁵sn An allusion to Deut 17:6.
³⁶tn Grk “tramples under foot.”
³⁷tn Grk “regarded as common.”
³⁸tn Grk “by which he was made holy.”
³⁹sn A quotation from Deut 32:35.
⁴⁰sn A quotation from Deut 32:36.
⁴¹tn Grk “you yourselves.”
⁴²tn Grk “which,” but showing the reason.
⁴³tn Grk “the promise,” referring to the thing God promised, not to the pledge itself.
⁴⁴sn Quotations from Isa 26:20 and Hab 2:3.
⁴⁵tn Grk “my soul.”
⁴⁶sn A quotation from Hab 2:4.
⁴⁷tn Grk “not…of shrinking back to perdition but of faith to the preservation of the soul.”
¹tn Or “the elders,” “the ancients.”
²tn Grk “were attested,” “received commendation”; and Heb 11:4-6 shows this to be from God.
³tn Grk “ages.” The temporal (ages) came to be used of the spatial (what exists in those time periods). See Heb 1:2 for same usage.
⁴tn Grk “by God’s word.”
⁵sn The Greek phrasing emphasizes this point by negating the opposite: “so that what is seen did not come into being from things that are visible.”
⁶tn Or “through his sacrifice”; Grk “through which.”
⁷tn Or “through his sacrifice”; Grk “through it.”
⁸tn Grk “showing devotion.”
⁹tn Or “settled as a resident alien.”
¹⁰tn Or “heirs with him.”
¹¹tn Grk “that has foundations.”
¹²tn Grk “past the time of maturity.”
¹³tn Grk “power to deposit seed.” Though it is not as likely, some construe this phrase to mean “power to conceive seed,” making the whole verse about Sarah: “by faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and too old, she received ability to conceive, because she regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.”
¹⁴tn Grk “these”; in the translation the referent (children) has been specified for clarity.
¹⁵tn Grk a collective “the sand.”
¹⁶sn An allusion to Gen 22:17 (which itself goes back to Gen 15:5).
¹⁷tn Grk “the promises,” referring to the things God promised, not to the pledges themselves.
¹⁸tn Or “sojourners.”
¹⁹tn Grk “now.”
²⁰tn Here “received the promises” refers to the pledges themselves, not to the things God promised.
²¹tn Grk “he was offering up.” The tense of this verb indicates the attempt or readiness to sacrifice Isaac without the actual completion of the deed.
²²tn Grk “in Isaac seed will be named for you.”
sn A quotation from Gen 21:12.
²³tn Grk “having reasoned,” continuing the ideas of v. 17.
²⁴tn Grk “in/by a symbol.”
²⁵tn Grk “worshiped on the top of his staff,” a quotation from the Greek OT (LXX) of Gen 47:31.
²⁶tn Grk “coming to an end,” “dying.”
²⁷sn Joseph’s prophecy about the exodus of the sons of Israel is found in Gen 50:24.
²⁸tn Grk “about his bones,” which refers by metonymy to the disposition of his bones, i.e., his burial.
sn The instructions about his burial are recorded in Gen 50:25.
²⁹tn Grk “Moses, when he was born, was hidden by his parents.”
³⁰tn Grk “the abuse [or ‘reproach’] of Christ.”
³¹tn Grk “he was looking away to.”
³²tn Grk “the pouring out of the blood.”
sn The sprinkling of the blood refers here to the application of the blood to the doorways of the Israelite houses (cf. Exod 12:7, 13).
³³tn Grk “after they had been encircled.”
³⁴tn Grk “did not perish together with.”
³⁵tn This probably refers to the righteous rule of David and others. But it could be more general and mean “did what was righteous.”
³⁶tn Grk “obtained promises,” referring to the things God promised, not to the pledges themselves.
sn Gained what was promised. They saw some of God’s promises fulfilled, even though the central promise remained unfulfilled until Christ came (cf. vv. 39-40).
³⁷tn Grk “quenched the power of fire.”
³⁸tn Or “recovered from sickness.”
³⁹tn Grk “received back their dead from resurrection.”
⁴⁰tn Grk “to obtain a better resurrection.”
⁴¹sn The expression these all were commended forms an inclusio with Heb 11:2: the chapter begins and ends with references to commendation for faith.
⁴²tn Grk “the promise,” referring to the thing God promised, not to the pledge itself.
⁴³tn The Greek phrasing emphasizes this point by negating the opposite: “so that they would not be made perfect without us.”
¹tn Grk “having such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.”
²sn An allusion to Ps 110:1.
³tn Grk “until blood.”
⁴tn Or “disregard,” “think little of.”
⁵tn Or “reproves,” “rebukes.” The Greek verb ejlevgcw (elencw) implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.
⁶sn A quotation from Prov 3:11-12.
⁷tn Grk “endure,” with the object (“your suffering”) understood from the context.
⁸tn Or “in order to become disciplined.”
⁹tn Grk “you are without discipline.”
¹⁰tn Grk “all”; “sons” is implied by the context.
¹¹tn Grk “we had our earthly fathers as discipliners.”
¹²tn Grk “the fathers of our flesh.” In Hebrews, “flesh” is a characteristic way of speaking about outward, physical, earthly life (cf. Heb 5:7; 9:10, 13), as opposed to the inward or spiritual dimensions of life.
¹³tn Grk “and live.”
sn Submit ourselves…to the Father of spirits and receive life. This idea is drawn from Proverbs, where the Lord’s discipline brings life, while resistance to it leads to death (cf. Prov 4:13; 6:23; 10:17; 16:17).
¹⁴tn Grk “all discipline at the time does not seem to be of joy, but of sorrow.”
¹⁵tn Grk “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
¹⁶tn Or “straighten.”
¹⁷sn A quotation from Isa 35:3. Strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees refers to the readers’ need for renewed resolve and fresh strength in their struggles (cf. Heb 10:36-39; 12:1-3).
¹⁸sn A quotation from Prov 4:26. The phrase make straight paths for your feet is figurative for “stay on God’s paths.”
¹⁹sn The references to peace and holiness show the close connection between this paragraph and the previous one. The pathway toward “holiness” and the need for it is cited in Heb 12:10 and 14. More importantly Prov 4:26-27 sets up the transition from one paragraph to the next: it urges people to stay on godly paths (Prov 4:26, quoted here in v. 13) and promises that God will lead them in peace if they do so (Prov 4:27 in LXX, quoted in v. 14).
²⁰tn Grk “that there not be any root of bitterness,” but referring figuratively to a person who causes trouble (as in Deut 29:17 LXX from which this is quoted).
sn An allusion to Deut 29:18.
²¹tn Grk “that there not be any,” continuing from v. 15.
²²sn An allusion to Gen 27:34-41.
²³tn Or “a command: for understand that.”
²⁴tn Grk “it,” referring either to the repentance or the blessing. But the account in Gen 27:34-41 (which the author appeals to here) makes it clear that the blessing is what Esau sought. Thus in the translation the referent (the blessing) is specified for clarity.
²⁵tn This describes the nation of Israel approaching God on Mt. Sinai (Exod 19). There is a clear contrast with the reference to Mount Zion in v. 22, so this could be translated “a mountain that can be touched.” But the word “mountain” does not occur here and the more vague description seems to be deliberate.
²⁶tn Grk “a voice of words.”
²⁷tn Grk “a voice…from which those who heard begged that a word not be added to them.”
²⁸sn A quotation from Exod 19:12-13.
²⁹tn Grk “that which appeared.”
³⁰tn Grk “I am terrified and trembling.”
sn A quotation from Deut 9:19.
³¹tn Grk “and the city”; the conjunction is omitted in translation since it seems to be functioning epexegetically—that is, explaining further what is meant by “Mount Zion.”
³²sn Abel’s shed blood cried out to the Lord for justice and judgment, but Jesus’ blood speaks of redemption and forgiveness, something better than Abel’s does (Gen 4:10; Heb 9:11-14; 11:4).
³³sn A quotation from Hag 2:6.
³⁴sn A quotation from Deut 4:24; 9:3.
¹tn Grk “as being imprisoned together.”
²tn Or “since you too are vulnerable”; Grk “you also being in the body.”
³sn A quotation from Deut 31:6, 8.
⁴tc Some manuscripts (Í* C* P 33 1739 lat et pauci) omit the word “and.”
⁵sn A quotation from Ps 118:6.
⁶tn Grk “by diverse and strange teachings.”
⁷tn Grk “foods,” referring to the meals associated with the OT sacrifices (see the contrast with the next verse; also 9:9-10; 10:1, 4, 11).
⁸tn Grk “whose blood is brought by the high priest.”
⁹tn Grk “his abuse.”
¹⁰tn Grk “neglect doing good and fellowship.”
¹¹tn Or “as ones who will give an account”; Grk “as giving an account.”
¹²tn Grk “that they may do this.”
¹³tn Grk “I urge you to do this all the more.”
¹⁴tc Some manuscripts (Í A K P 33 81 1739 Byz) include the words “and ever” here, but the shorter reading (supported by Ì46 C³ D Y al) is preferred on internal grounds.
¹⁵tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BAGD 16 s.v. ajdelfov" 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ajdelfoiv [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).
¹⁶tn Grk “Know that” (an imperative).
¹⁷tn Grk “has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.”