SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:13

4:13

In 4:12 the author said that God’s word is like a sword which cuts people open and shows what they are like inside. In 4:13 the author indicates that God sees every person and everything that he created, and he knows all about them. No one can hide anything from him, and everyone must give an account to him for what they do.

The statements in 4:13a and 4:13b are parallel, and 4:13b repeats the idea of 4:13a. The parallel parts are indicated here by underlining or bolding:

13a And before him no creature is hidden

13b but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one

13c
to whom we must render an account.

In some languages it is more natural to combine these statements. For example:

13a–b No one can hide anything from God, and he is the one 13c to whom we must give an account.

4:13a

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight: The word hidden refers here to something that is not able to be seen or known. The clause indicates that God can see everything and everyone that he created. Nothing can be hidden from God so that he does not see it.

Some other ways to translate the statement are:

No creature can hide from God (God’s Word)
-or-
There is really nothing that can be hidden from God.
-or-
God can see every one of his creatures, and none of them is hidden from him.

creation: The word creation refers to anything that God created. God created everything.

4:13b

everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes: The words uncovered and exposed mean “uncovered, bare,” and they are used in a figurative way here. It indicates that God knows everything about every creature, just as people can see the whole body of a naked person. Even if a person tries to hide something about himself from God, God will still see it clearly. He will know all about it.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

everything is uncovered…for him to see (God’s Word)
-or-
whatever creature, it is as if they are all naked in his sight

exposed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as exposed occurs only here in the Bible. It probably refers to the custom of exposing the neck of a person or animal in order to cut his throat and kill him. Here the word is used as a figure of speech. It indicates that everything (and every person) is completely known to God, and God has power over each one.

Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

exposed/clear
-or-
there is nothing of our thoughts closed to him
-or-
He can always see anything that we are doing/thinking

4:13c

of Him to whom we must give account: The phrase of Him to whom we must give account refers to God. It indicates that God is the judge of what people do and think throughout their lives. He is the one to whom we will explain the way we have lived.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

And he is the one to whom we will answer for all that we have done and thought.
-or-
It is to him that we must admit/confess our behavior.
-or-
This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done. (New Living Translation (2004))

give account: The phrase give account means “give an answer for our actions” or “say why we have done what we have done.” See the preceding note for translation examples.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:9

5:9a

And: Here some translations continue the sentence that started at the beginning of verse 5:8. In some languages, it is more natural to begin a new sentence at 5:9, as modelled by the Berean Standard Bible.

having been made perfect: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as having been made perfect is a form of the same verb that was used in 2:10. The verb has several meanings, which are based on being complete or mature. In this context the verb refers to being completely qualified. It indicates that Christ was totally prepared for the work of being high priest.

Jesus never sinned, so the phrase having been made perfect does not refer to being purified from sin. Rather, it refers back to 5:8 where Christ obeyed God, though it caused him to suffer and die. The phrase indicates that when Christ obeyed God like that, he became completely qualified to give his people eternal salvation.

Some other ways to translate the verb in this context are:

In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
And then after he was completely prepared

See how you translated this verb in 2:10, and translate it in a similar way here.

5:9b–c

He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as source can also mean “cause.” In this context both meanings indicate that Christ became the one who can cause people who obey him to receive eternal salvation.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

he became the one who can cause all people who obey him to receive eternal salvation
-or-
now he is able to give/offer eternal salvation to everyone who obeys him
-or-
now he is the one who is able to save forever all who ⌊listen to⌋ him ⌊and⌋ do what he says

He: Remember that He refers back to “Christ” in 5:5.

eternal salvation: The phrase eternal salvation refers to salvation that continues forever. The word salvation occurred in 1:14 with the same meaning as it has here. You may translate it in the same way here.

In some languages it is more natural to translate salvation as a verb or a phrase. For example:

to save forever
-or-
to rescue ⌊people⌋ ⌊to live⌋ forever ⌊with God⌋

As mentioned in 5:6b, eternal is a key word in Hebrews. For more information on salvation, see save, sense B, in Key Biblical Terms.

to all who obey Him: The phrase to all who obey Him means “for each person who obeys Christ.” It indicates that people who submit to Christ will receive the salvation which he provided for them. The verb obey has the same meaning as the noun “obedience” in 5:8b. Translate it in a similar way here.

Some other ways to translate the phrase to all who obey Him are:

all the people who do what he tells them
-or-
all people who ⌊listen and⌋ follow/obey him

Him: The pronoun Him refers to Christ.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:8

5:8a–b

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered: This statement expresses surprise that even Christ, the Son of God, needed to suffer in order to fully obey God. The phrase learned obedience does not imply that the Son was disobedient or that he did not know how to obey. It indicates that when the Son was a man on earth, he had to suffer in order to obey the Father. Then he learned the type of obedience that involves suffering or causes suffering.

In some languages it may be helpful to mention “suffering” before learned obedience. For example:

He, being Son ⌊of God⌋, still suffered. Through his suffering, he learned/experienced obedience.

Some other ways to translate the meaning are:

but Son though he was, he had to prove the meaning of obedience through all that he suffered (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
Even though Christ was the Son of God, yet in order that he might obey God, he let himself go through suffering.

5:8a

Although He was a Son: In Greek this phrase is more literally, “Though being Son.” It emphasizes Christ’s identity as the Son of God. It does not imply that there was more than one son. In some languages it is necessary to supply the word for “God.” For example:

But even though he was God’s Son (Good News Translation)
-or-
Jesus is God’s own Son, but still… (Contemporary English Version)

5:8b

He learned obedience from what He suffered: The phrase He learned obedience indicates that Christ learned (experienced) submitting to God even when the submission caused him to suffer. In some languages a phrase like learned obedience wrongly implies that Christ was only pretending to obey. In other languages it wrongly implies that Christ was disobedient until he learned from suffering that he ought to obey.

If this phrase implies such a wrong meaning in your language, use a different way to describe Jesus’ experience of obeying God as he suffered. For example:

he experienced the meaning of obeying God through/by what he suffered
-or-
through all that he endured, he realized the meaning of following/obeying God
-or-
he too underwent suffering, and he submitted to God like mankind

obedience: The word obedience refers to listening to someone (here, listening to God) and doing what he says to do. In some languages it is more natural to translate obedience as a phrase or clause. For example:

to obey ⌊God⌋
-or-
to listen ⌊to God⌋ ⌊and do as he says/commands⌋

from what He suffered: The phrase from what He suffered indicates the means by which Christ “learned obedience.” He learned it by suffering and in the process of suffering. The phrase what He suffered is a general way to refer to all the pain, sorrow, tortures, and agony that Christ endured when he died to atone for our sins.

For translation examples, see the first note on 5:8b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:7

5:7–10

The verses in 5:7–10 are parallel to 5:1–3 in the chiasm of 5:1–10. In Greek these verses continue the long sentence that began in 5:5. The sentence continues until the end of 5:10. Most versions divide these verses into shorter sentences. Connect the clauses in a natural way in your language.

These verses describe a time or times in Jesus’ life when he prayed with great distress. Many scholars believe that the author referred to Christ’s prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was arrested and killed. Other scholars point out that there are also many other times in Jesus’ life when he prayed in distress. God heard Jesus during all those times.

5:7a

During the days of Jesus’ earthly life: The phrase During the days of Jesus’ earthly life refers to the time when Jesus lived as a mortal human being. He was a person with flesh and blood, like other people on earth. He knew that he would die.

Another way to translate During the days of Jesus’ earthly life is:

During his mortal life
-or-
While he shared in human weakness

In some languages it may be helpful to translate earthly life as “life on earth,” as many English versions do. For example:

During his life on earth (God’s Word)

5:7b

He: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He is a pronoun that is often translated as “who.” It refers back to “Christ” in 5:5 (5:5–10 is one long sentence in Greek), and some versions have the word “Christ” here.

Some versions supply the name “Jesus,” as in the New Revised Standard Version. Such versions may refer back to the phrase “Jesus, the Son of God” in 4:14. In some languages it may be helpful to refer to “Jesus Christ.” Refer to him here in a clear way in your language.

offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears: This phrase describes a time when Jesus prayed earnestly to God. The description has two emphatic phrases: offered up prayers and petitions and with loud cries and tears.

In some languages it is more natural to change the order of these phrases so that loud cries and tears comes first. For example:

he cried out weeping, petitioning, and uttering his requests
-or-
his tears flowed and he wailed as he prayed and begged ⌊God⌋

offered up prayers and petitions: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as offered up can be used in a general way to mean “bring to.” It can also mean “bring an offering to” God. Here the author used it in a figurative way to mean that Christ’s prayers and supplications were like an offering to God. This figure of speech emphasizes that Jesus prayed earnestly.

In some languages it may be more natural to translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

He prayed and pleaded (God’s Word)

prayers and petitions: Here the author used two words that have almost the same meaning. Repeating the meaning like this emphasizes it. It implies here that Jesus prayed very earnestly. In some languages it is more natural to emphasize the statement in some other way. For example:

he prayed fervently

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as prayers means “urgent requests to God to meet certain needs.” The word petitions means “requests to God.” It occurs only here in the NT. Some ways to translate the two words are:

prayers and requests (Good News Translation)
-or-
prayers and pleadings (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
begged God, praying earnestly

loud cries and tears: The Greek word that is translated as loud cries refers to “loud calls or shouts.” The word tears refers to water that comes from a person’s eyes in times of distress or strong feeling. Some other ways to translate the phrase loud cries and tears are:

His tears flowed and he wailed
-or-
weeping and crying out loud

5:7c

to the One who could save Him from death: The phrase the One who could save Him from death refers to God. In the Greek text it is emphasized. Scholars interpret the phrase save Him from death in different ways. The three main views are:

(1) It means “save him from dying.”

(2) It means “save him out of death—to give him life again after he died.” (This happened at his resurrection.)

(3) It means “save him from the fear of death.”

Most English versions are ambiguous. God was able to save Jesus from death in every sense, because he can do anything. If you need to choose one of the interpretations, it is recommended that you choose either interpretation (1) or (2). Both interpretations are based on common uses of the Greek word that can be translated either as from or “out of.”

5:7d

and He was heard because of His reverence: The phrase because of His reverence gives the reason that Jesus was heard when he prayed to God. In some languages it is more natural for this reason to come before the result He was heard. For example:

He submitted humbly to the will/desire of God. That is why God heard his request.
-or-
And because His respect for God was great, and also His obedience to the commands of God, God heard his praying.

He was heard: The phrase He was heard is passive. It implies that God heard Jesus’ prayer. It does not only indicate that he heard what Jesus said. It also implies that God listened and gave Jesus the help that he needed.

Some ways to translate the phrase are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

And his prayers really were answered

• Use an active verb and supply God as the subject. For example:

God heard his praying

because of His reverence: The phrase because of His reverence indicates the reason why God heard Christ’s prayer. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reverence refers to awe or fear of God that causes a person to obey God. It implies that because of Jesus’ respect for God, he submitted to God and obeyed him. This word occurs only here and in 12:28 in the NT, but it also occurs in other Greek writings.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

because he honored God by submitting to him
-or-
because he humbled/lowered himself to obey what God wanted

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 5:5

Paragraph 5:5–10

After the author described the call and duties of a high priest of Israel in 5:1–4, he applied this description to Jesus Christ in 5:5–10.

5:5a

So also Christ: Here the phrase So also introduces a comparison. It means “in the same way also.” It links 5:4 with 5:5: No one can claim the honor of being high priest unless God calls him (5:4). In the same way, Christ also did not take that honor for himself. He became high priest because God called him.

Some other ways to introduce the comparison are:

That is how it was with Christ (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
In the same way, Christ (Good News Translation)
-or-
Likewise also Christ

Introduce this comparison in a natural way in your language.

Christ: For information about how to translate Christ, see the note on “Christ” in 3:6a.

did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest: The phrase did not take upon Himself indicates that Christ did not take the glory of being a high priest on himself. He was not the one who decided that he should be the high priest. As 5:5b indicates, it was God who appointed him.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

did not choose himself for the honorable work of being high priest
-or-
did not decide on his own to take the privilege of being high priest
-or-
did not become the high priest by appointing himself for that honor

5:5b

but He was called by the One who said to Him: This part of the verse is more literally, “but the one who said to him.” The word but implies a contrast with 5:5a (“Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest”). It implies that someone else glorified him and made him high priest. That person was God. The Berean Standard Bible supplies the passive phrase was called by to imply that.

Some other ways to translate the contrast with 5:5a are:

• Refer to God giving Christ the glory of being high priest. This option supplies the contrast with “did not take upon Himself the glorify” in 5:5a. For example:

Instead, the glory was given to him by God, who said (God’s Word)
-or-
it was God who gave him the honor of being the high priest

• Refer to God calling, appointing, or choosing Christ. This option supplies the comparison with “be called” in 5:4. For example:

but God chose him (New Century Version)
-or-
he was appointed/called by God

• Refer to God telling Christ. This option is a more literal translation of the Greek text. For example:

It was God who told him (Contemporary English Version)

Use a natural option in your language.

who said to Him: The phrase who said to Him introduces a quotation from Psalm 2:7. The author also quoted this same verse in 1:5. Here it implies that when God said this, he was appointing Jesus to be the high priest. Some other ways to introduce the quotation are:

God said to him (New Century Version)
-or-
God who declared to him

5:5c–d

Here in 5:5c–d the author quoted from Psalm 2, just as he did in 1:5. Scholars call Psalm 2 a “messianic psalm” or a “royal psalm,” because it refers to the Messiah whom God promised to send as king. God fulfilled these promises when Christ came to the earth many years later. Remember that the words “Christ” and “Messiah” have the same meaning. Translate this quotation in the same way as you did in 1:5.

You are My Son; today I have become Your Father: Christ has always been God’s Son, so this quotation does not refer to his birth. It refers to the time when God gave him glory as his Son. In the context it also specifically implies the honor of being the high priest for God’s people. Translate the quotation in the same way as you did in 1:5b–c. For more information, see the notes on 1:5b–c.

You…Your: The pronouns You and Your are singular and refer to Christ, the Son.

I: The pronoun I refers to God.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:4

5:4a

No one takes this honor upon himself: In Greek this clause is more literally “and not to/for himself does anyone take the honor.” It indicates that no one must claim the honor of being high priest for himself. The Berean Standard Bible uses the phrase No one takes…upon himself to emphasize that no person has the right to make himself a high priest. It is God who must choose the high priest.

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

No one chooses for himself the honor of being a high priest. (Good News Translation)
-or-
To be a high priest is an honor, but no one chooses himself for this work. (New Century Version)
-or-
And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. (New Living Translation (2004))

this honor: The phrase this honor refers to the important role and work of being a high priest. It indicates that being the high priest is a privilege. God has honored the person whom he chooses as high priest. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

the important position of highest priest
-or-
this great respect that the high priest receives

5:4b

he must be called by God: This clause tells how a person can become the high priest. He can have that role only if he is called by God. Notice that the verb called is passive here, though the text indicates that the subject is God. In some languages it is more natural to use an active verb. For example:

but rather it is necessary that God call him
-or-
he can take that work/role only if God chooses him to do it
-or-
he receives it when called by God (New International Version)

called by God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as called means “to choose (a person) to receive a special benefit or experience.” God chooses the person whom he wants to be the high priest and to do that special work.

Some other ways to translate the phrase called by God are:

when God chooses him ⌊and tells him to do that work⌋
-or-
God must appoint him.
-or-
It is God who chooses him.

just as Aaron was: The clause just as Aaron was is a short way to say “in the same way that Aaron was called (chosen)” or “like God chose Aaron.” Aaron was the older brother of Moses (see Exodus 7:7), and he was the first high priest. God chose him and his sons to be consecrated as priests after the people of Israel left Egypt.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

like God/he chose Aaron long ago
-or-
as Aaron was chosen by God in the past

See Exodus 28–29 and Leviticus 8–9 for more information about God choosing Aaron as the high priest.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:3

5:3a–b

That is why: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as That is why refers back to 5:2b (“he himself is beset by weakness”). This statement in 5:2 implies that the OT high priests were too weak to overcome temptation. They also sinned, just as the people did. In 5:3 the author tells the result of the high priest being weak and sinful. He must also offer sacrifices for his own sins, in addition to the people’s sins.

Some other ways to translate this connection are:

and because of this (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and for this reason (NET Bible)

In some languages it is helpful to make the connection more explicit. For example:

Because he is weak (New Century Version)
-or-
So, since he is weak ⌊and also sins⌋
-or-
And because he also sins

he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people: This statement indicates that the high priest also sinned (in addition to the people sinning). Because of that, the high priest had to offer sacrifices for his own sins, in addition to the sacrifices that he made for the sins of the people.

Some other ways to translate this statement are:

That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins and for the sins of others. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
So when he goes to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people, he must also offer something for his own sins.

for the sins of the people: The phrase for the sins of the people indicates that he also offers sacrifices for the people’s sins. See the examples in the preceding note.

General Comment on 5:2–3

In 5:2 it may be more natural in some languages to change the order of clauses so that 5:2b comes at the beginning of the sentence. If you do this in your language, you may need to repeat 5:2b at the beginning of 5:3 to make that verse clear. For example:

2b Since he himself is weak, 2a he is able to be gentle with those who do not understand and who are doing wrong things. 3a And because 2b he is himself weak, 3a he must offer sacrifices 3b not only for the sins of the people 3a but also for his own sins. (New Century Version)

Translate 5:2–3 in the order that is most natural in your language.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:13

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 5:3

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