4:15a
For: The word For introduces a basis for “holding firmly to our confession” of faith (4:14c). The author already gave one basis in 4:14a (We have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God). He introduces the second basis here at the beginning of 4:15a.
In some languages it is more natural to introduce this second basis by referring back to the word “high priest” in 4:14. For example:
Our High Priest (Good News Translation)
-or-
And this Highest Priest of ours
we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses: This statement indicates that our high priest is able to sympathize with us in our weaknesses. The two negative phrases do not have and unable (not able) emphasize the fact that our high priest is able to sympathize with us.
In some languages it is more natural to translate the statement without using two negative phrases. For example:
We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. (God’s Word)
-or-
And this Highest Priest of ours, he knows how to feel with us in our weakness
Emphasize this statement in a natural way in your language.
sympathize with our weaknesses: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sympathize occurs only twice in the New Testament. It means to “suffer with” or “feel with” people. It implies the type of sympathy that motivates someone to offer active help.
The phrase sympathize with our weaknesses indicates that Jesus understands the ways that we are weak in resisting temptations to sin. He feels compassion for us. He is able to help us, and he offers us help. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
understands every weakness of ours (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
feeling our weaknesses with us (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
has compassion for us when we are weak/tempted
our weaknesses: The phrase our weaknesses refers to the ways that human beings are limited or inadequate. In this context it refers especially to being weak in resisting temptations to sin. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
our weakness because of our humanity
-or-
our weaknesses which lead us into sin
-or-
the ways we(incl.) are not strong to refuse sin
4:15b
but: The Greek connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but connects the clause in 4:15a with the one in 4:15b. These clauses have similar meanings, and 4:15b explains more about 4:15a. In some languages, a connector like but implies too much contrast in meaning between 4:15a and 4:15b.
If that is true in your language, some other ways to connect the clauses are:
• Use a connector which indicates that 4:15b explains or adds to 4:15a. For example:
15a This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, (New Living Translation (1996))
15b
for he faced all of the same temptations that we do, yet he did not sin.
• Do not use a connector. For example:
15a We have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. (God’s Word)
15b He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin.
Connect the two statements in a natural way in your language.
we have one who was tempted in every way that we are: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tempted can also mean “tested.” (See the note on 2:18a.) Scholars disagree about what it means here:
(1) It means “tempted to sin.” For example:
he was tempted in every way that we are (Contemporary English Version)
(2) It means “tested.” For example:
in every respect has been tested as we are (New Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions and many Bible scholars. This interpretation fits the context of not sinning as a result of the temptation.
one who was tempted in every way that we are: This statement indicates that our high priest has been tempted in every way, just as every human being is tempted. That is the reason that Jesus, our high priest, is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.
The verb was tempted is passive, and the clause does not specify who tempted Jesus. Other verses in Scripture indicate that Satan tempted Jesus. Some ways to translate the passive clause are:
• Keep the passive verb. For example:
he, too, has been urged to sin in all the ways that we are urged to sin
• Use a different verb that does not require specifying the tempter. For example:
our high priest experienced/faced all the kinds of temptation that we experience/face
• Use an active verb and refer to Satan as the tempter. For example:
⌊ Satan⌋has tempted him in every way like he tempts us
Translate this clause in a natural way in your language.
in every way: The phrase in every way means that Jesus experienced all the same kinds of temptations that other people have. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
all of the same testings we do (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
all the types of temptations that human beings face
that we are: The phrase that we are refers in general to human beings. (See the examples in the preceding note.) If you use a pronoun like we, it should refer to both the author and the readers.
yet was without sin: The clause yet was without sin is literally just without sin. It indicates that Jesus faced every temptation without sinning. The Berean Standard Bible adds the word yet, which is not in the Greek text. It makes explicit the contrast between Jesus and other human beings. Jesus did not sin when he was tempted, but every other human being has sinned.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
yet he did not sin (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
except that he never sinned (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
but as for him by contrast, he absolutely didn’t sin
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