Hebrews 2-6
New English Translation
Warning Against Drifting Away
2 Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken through angels[a] proved to be so firm that every violation[b] or disobedience received its just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him, 4 while God confirmed their witness[c] with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed[d] according to his will.
Exposition of Psalm 8: Jesus and the Destiny of Humanity
5 For he did not put the world to come,[e] about which we are speaking,[f] under the control of angels. 6 Instead someone testified somewhere:
“What is man that you think of him[g] or the son of man that you care for him?
7 You made him lower than the angels for a little while.
You crowned him with glory and honor.[h]
8 You put all things under his control.”[i]
For when he put all things under his control, he left nothing outside of his control. At present we do not yet see all things under his control,[j] 9 but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while,[k] now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death,[l] so that by God’s grace he would experience[m] death on behalf of everyone. 10 For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist,[n] in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer[o] of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For indeed he who makes holy and those being made holy all have the same origin,[p] and so[q] he is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,[r] 12 saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers;[s] in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.”[t] 13 Again he says,[u] “I will be confident in him,” and again, “Here I am,[v] with[w] the children God has given me.”[x] 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in[y] their humanity,[z] so that through death he could destroy[aa] the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), 15 and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. 16 For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants. 17 Therefore he had[ab] to be made like his brothers and sisters[ac] in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement[ad] for the sins of the people. 18 For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
Jesus and Moses
3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters,[ae] partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess,[af] 2 who is faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses was also in God’s[ag] house.[ah] 3 For he has come to deserve greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves greater honor than the house itself! 4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s[ai] house[aj] as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken. 6 But Christ[ak] is faithful as a son over God’s[al] house. We are of his house,[am] if in fact we hold firmly[an] to our confidence and the hope we take pride in.[ao]
Exposition of Psalm 95: Hearing God’s Word in Faith
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,[ap]
“Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks![aq]
8 “Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness.
9 “There your fathers tested me and tried me,[ar] and they saw my works for forty years.
10 “Therefore, I became provoked at that generation and said, ‘Their hearts are always wandering[as] and they have not known my ways.’
11 “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’”[at]
12 See to it,[au] brothers and sisters,[av] that none of you has[aw] an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes[ax] the living God.[ay] 13 But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception. 14 For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence[az] firm until the end. 15 As it says,[ba] “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks![bb] Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”[bc] 16 For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses’ leadership?[bd] 17 And against whom was God[be] provoked for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?[bf] 18 And to whom did he swear they would never enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient? 19 So[bg] we see that they could not enter because of unbelief.
God’s Promised Rest
4 Therefore we must be wary[bh] that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in[bi] with those who heard it in faith.[bj] 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’”[bk] And yet God’s works[bl] were accomplished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,”[bm] 5 but to repeat the text cited earlier:[bn] “They will never enter my rest!” 6 Therefore it remains for some to enter it, yet those to whom it was previously proclaimed did not enter because of disobedience. 7 So God[bo] again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David[bp] after so long a time, as in the words quoted before,[bq] “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks![br] Do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God[bs] would not have spoken afterward about another day. 9 Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God. 10 For the one who enters God’s[bt] rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works. 11 Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from God,[bu] but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
Jesus Our Compassionate High Priest
14 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.[bv]
5 For every high priest is taken from among the people[bw] and appointed[bx] to represent them before God,[by] to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal compassionately with those who are ignorant and erring, since he also is subject to weakness, 3 and for this reason he is obligated to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. 4 And no one assumes this honor[bz] on his own initiative,[ca] but only when called to it by God,[cb] as in fact Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God,[cc] who said to him, “You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,”[cd] 6 as also in another place God[ce] says, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”[cf] 7 During his earthly life[cg] Christ[ch] offered[ci] both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.[cj] 9 And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 and he was designated[ck] by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.[cl]
The Need to Move on to Maturity
11 On this topic we have much to say[cm] and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish[cn] in hearing. 12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time,[co] you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances.[cp] You have gone back to needing[cq] milk, not[cr] solid food. 13 For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.
6 Therefore we must progress beyond[cs] the elementary[ct] instructions about Christ[cu] and move on[cv] to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works[cw] and faith in God, 2 teaching about ritual washings,[cx] laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this is what we intend to do,[cy] if God permits. 4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age, 6 and then have committed apostasy,[cz] to renew them again to repentance, since[da] they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again[db] and holding him up to contempt. 7 For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on[dc] it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed;[dd] its fate is to be burned. 9 But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints. 11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish,[de] but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.
13 Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.”[df] 15 And so by persevering, Abraham[dg] inherited the promise. 16 For people[dh] swear by something greater than themselves,[di] and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute.[dj] 17 In the same way[dk] God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable,[dl] and so he intervened with an oath, 18 so that we who have found refuge in him[dm] may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,[dn] 20 where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.[do]
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:2 sn The message spoken through angels refers to the OT law, which according to Jewish tradition was mediated to Moses through angels (cf. Deut 33:2; Ps 68:17-18; Acts 7:38, 53; Gal 3:19; and Jub. 1:27, 29; Josephus, Ant. 15.5.3 [15.136]).
- Hebrews 2:2 tn Grk “through angels became valid and every violation.”
- Hebrews 2:4 tn Grk “God bearing witness together” (the phrase “with them” is implied).
- Hebrews 2:4 tn Grk “and distributions of the Holy Spirit.”
- Hebrews 2:5 sn The phrase the world to come means “the coming inhabited earth,” using the Greek term which describes the world of people and their civilizations.
- Hebrews 2:5 sn See the previous reference to the world in Heb 1:6.
- Hebrews 2:6 tn Grk “remember him.”
- Hebrews 2:7 tc Several witnesses, many of them early and significant (א A C D* P Ψ 0243 0278 33 1739 1881 al lat co), have at the end of v 7, “You have given him dominion over the works of your hands.” Other mss, not quite as impressive in weight, lack the words (P46 B D2 M). In spite of the impressive external evidence for the longer reading, it is most likely a scribal addition to conform the text of Hebrews to Ps 8:6 (8:7 LXX). Conformity of a NT quotation of the OT to the LXX was a routine scribal activity, and can hardly be in doubt here as to the cause of the longer reading.
- Hebrews 2:8 tn Grk “you subjected all things under his feet.”sn A quotation from Ps 8:4-6.
- Hebrews 2:8 sn The expression all things under his control occurs three times in 2:8. The latter two occurrences are not exactly identical to the Greek text of Ps 8:6 quoted at the beginning of the verse, but have been adapted by the writer of Hebrews to fit his argument.
- Hebrews 2:9 tn Or “who was made a little lower than the angels.”
- Hebrews 2:9 tn Grk “because of the suffering of death.”
- Hebrews 2:9 tn Grk “would taste.” Here the Greek verb does not mean “sample a small amount” (as a typical English reader might infer from the word “taste”), but “experience something cognitively or emotionally; come to know something” (cf. BDAG 195 s.v. γεύομαι 2).
- Hebrews 2:10 tn Grk “for whom are all things and through whom are all things.”
- Hebrews 2:10 sn 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 3:15; 5:31; Heb 2:10; 12:2).
- Hebrews 2:11 tn Grk “are all from one.”
- Hebrews 2:11 tn Grk “for which reason.”
- Hebrews 2:11 tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelphoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). The context here also indicates both men and women are in view; note especially the collective τὰ παιδία (ta paidia) in v. 14.
- Hebrews 2:12 tn Here, because of its occurrence in an OT quotation, τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς (tois adelphois) has been translated simply as “brothers” rather than “brothers and sisters” (see the note on the latter phrase in the previous verse).
- Hebrews 2:12 sn A quotation from Ps 22:22.
- Hebrews 2:13 tn Grk “and again,” as a continuation of the preceding.
- Hebrews 2:13 tn Grk “behold, I,” but this construction often means “here is/there is” (cf. BDAG 468 s.v. ἰδού 2).
- Hebrews 2:13 tn Grk “and.”
- Hebrews 2:13 sn A quotation from Isa 8:17-18.
- Hebrews 2:14 tn Or “partook of” (this is a different word than the one in v. 14a).
- Hebrews 2:14 tn Grk “the same.”
- Hebrews 2:14 tn Or “break the power of,” “reduce to nothing.”
- Hebrews 2:17 tn Or “he was obligated.”
- Hebrews 2:17 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 2:11.
- Hebrews 2:17 tn Or “propitiation.”
- Hebrews 3:1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 2:11.
- Hebrews 3:1 tn Grk “of our confession.”
- Hebrews 3:2 tn Grk “his”; in the translation the referent (God) has been specified for clarity.
- Hebrews 3:2 tc ‡ The reading adopted by the translation follows a few early mss and some versions (P13,46vid B vgms co Ambr). The majority of mss (א A C D Ψ 0243 0278 33 1739 1881 M lat sy) insert “all” (“in all his house”), apparently in anticipation of Heb 3:5 which quotes directly from Num 12:7. On balance, the omission better explains the rise of ὅλῳ (holō, “all”) than vice versa. NA28 puts ὅλῳ in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
- Hebrews 3:5 tn Grk “his”; in the translation the referent (God) has been specified for clarity.
- Hebrews 3:5 sn A quotation from Num 12:7.
- Hebrews 3:6 sn The Greek makes the contrast between v. 5 and v. 6a more emphatic and explicit than is easily done in English.
- Hebrews 3:6 tn Grk “his”; in the translation the referent (God) has been specified for clarity.
- Hebrews 3:6 tn Grk “whose house we are,” continuing the previous sentence.
- Hebrews 3:6 tc The reading adopted by the translation is found in P13,46 B sa, while the vast majority of mss (א A C D Ψ 0243 0278 33 1739 1881 M latt) add μέχρι τέλους βεβαίαν (mechri telous bebaian, “secure until the end”). The external evidence for the omission, though minimal, has excellent credentials. Considering the internal factors, B. M. Metzger (TCGNT 595) finds it surprising that the feminine adjective βεβαίαν should modify the neuter noun καύχημα (kauchēma, here translated “we take pride”), a fact that suggests that even the form of the word was borrowed from another place. Since the same phrase occurs at Heb 3:14, it is likely that later scribes added it here at Heb 3:6 in anticipation of Heb 3:14. While these words belong at 3:14, they seem foreign to 3:6.
- Hebrews 3:6 tn Grk “the pride of our hope.”
- Hebrews 3:7 sn The following quotation is from Ps 95:7b-11.
- Hebrews 3:7 tn Grk “today if you hear his voice.”
- Hebrews 3:9 tn Grk “tested me by trial.”
- Hebrews 3:10 tn Grk “they are wandering in the heart.”
- Hebrews 3:11 tn Grk “if they shall enter my rest,” a Hebrew idiom expressing an oath that something will certainly not happen.
- Hebrews 3:12 tn Or “take care.”
- Hebrews 3:12 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 2:11.
- Hebrews 3:12 tn Grk “that there not be in any of you.”
- Hebrews 3:12 tn Or “deserts,” “rebels against.”
- Hebrews 3:12 tn Grk “in forsaking the living God.”
- Hebrews 3:14 tn Grk “the beginning of the confidence.”
- Hebrews 3:15 tn Grk “while it is said.”
- Hebrews 3:15 tn Grk “today if you hear his voice.”
- Hebrews 3:15 sn A quotation from Ps 95:7b-8.
- Hebrews 3:16 tn Grk “through Moses.”
- Hebrews 3:17 tn Grk “he”; in the translation the referent (God) has been specified for clarity.
- Hebrews 3:17 sn An allusion to God’s judgment pronounced in Num 14:29, 32.
- Hebrews 3:19 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “So” to indicate a summary or conclusion to the argument of the preceding paragraph.
- Hebrews 4:1 tn Grk “let us fear.”
- Hebrews 4:2 tn Or “they were not united.”
- Hebrews 4:2 tc A few mss (א and a few versional witnesses) have the nominative singular participle συγκεκερασμένος (sunkekerasmenos, “since it [the message] was not combined with faith by those who heard it”), a reading that refers back to the ὁ λόγος (ho logos, “the message”). There are a few other variants here (e.g., συγκεκεραμμένοι [sunkekerammenoi] in 104, συγκεκεραμένους [sunkekeramenous] in 1881 M), but the accusative plural participle συγκεκερασμένους (sunkekerasmenous), found in P13vid,46 A B C D* Ψ 0243 0278 33 81 1739 2464, has by far the best external credentials. This participle agrees with the previous ἐκείνους (ekeinous, “those”), a more difficult construction grammatically than the nominative singular. Thus, both on external and internal grounds, συγκεκερασμένους is preferred.
- Hebrews 4:3 sn A quotation from Ps 95:11.
- Hebrews 4:3 tn Grk “although the works,” continuing the previous reference to God. The referent (God) is specified in the translation for clarity.
- Hebrews 4:4 sn A quotation from Gen 2:2.
- Hebrews 4:5 tn Grk “and in this again.”
- Hebrews 4:7 tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Hebrews 4:7 sn Ps 95 in the Hebrew does not mention David either in the text or the superscription. The writer of Hebrews might attribute Psalms as a whole to David, though some psalms are specifically attributed to other individuals or groups. Yet the Greek inscription for Ps 95 in the LXX credits the psalm to David, and the author of Hebrews frequently uses the LXX.
- Hebrews 4:7 tn Grk “as it has been said before” (see Heb 3:7).
- Hebrews 4:7 tn Grk “today if you hear his voice.”
- Hebrews 4:8 tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Hebrews 4:10 tn Grk “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Hebrews 4:13 tn Grk “him”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Hebrews 4:16 tn Grk “for timely help.”
- Hebrews 5:1 tn Grk “from among men,” but since the point in context is shared humanity (rather than shared maleness), the plural Greek term ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn) has been translated “people.”
- Hebrews 5:1 tn Grk “who is taken from among people is appointed.”
- Hebrews 5:1 tn Grk “appointed on behalf of people in reference to things relating to God.”
- Hebrews 5:4 sn Honor refers here to the honor of the high priesthood.
- Hebrews 5:4 tn Grk “by himself, on his own.”
- Hebrews 5:4 tn Grk “being called by God.”
- Hebrews 5:5 tn Grk “the one”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Hebrews 5:5 tn Grk “I have begotten you”; see Heb 1:5.sn A quotation from Ps 2:7.
- Hebrews 5:6 tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Hebrews 5:6 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4.
- Hebrews 5:7 tn Grk “in the days of his flesh.”
- Hebrews 5:7 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Christ) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Hebrews 5:7 tn Grk “who…having offered,” continuing the description of Christ from Heb 5:5-6.
- Hebrews 5:8 sn There is a wordplay in the Greek text between the verbs “learned” (ἔμαθεν, emathen) and “suffered” (ἔπαθεν, epathen).
- Hebrews 5:10 tn Grk “having been designated,” continuing the thought of Heb 5:9.
- Hebrews 5:10 sn The phrase in the order of Melchizedek picks up the quotation from Ps 110:4 in Heb 5:6.
- Hebrews 5:11 tn Grk “concerning which the message for us is great.”
- Hebrews 5:11 tn Or “dull.”
- Hebrews 5:12 tn Grk “because of the time.”
- Hebrews 5:12 tn Grk “the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God.”
- Hebrews 5:12 tn Grk “you have come to have a need for.”
- Hebrews 5:12 tc ‡ Most texts, including some early and significant ones (א2 A B* D Ψ 0122 0278 1881 M sy Cl), have καί (kai, “and”) immediately preceding οὐ (ou, “not”), but other equally significant witnesses (P46 א* B2 C 33 81 1739 lat Or Did) lack the conjunction. As it was a natural tendency for scribes to add a coordinating conjunction, the καί appears to be a motivated reading. On balance, it is probably best to regard the shorter reading as authentic. NA28 has καί in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
- Hebrews 6:1 tn Grk “Therefore leaving behind.” The implication is not of abandoning this elementary information, but of building on it.
- Hebrews 6:1 tn Or “basic.”
- Hebrews 6:1 tn Grk “the message of the beginning of Christ.”
- Hebrews 6:1 tn Grk “leaving behind…let us move on.”
- Hebrews 6:1 sn It is clear from the context that the phrase “dead works” are works that need to be repented from and thus are sins. The same phrase occurs in Heb 9:14 in which the author of Hebrews states that our consciences need to be purified from them. As Bruce states, they are works “that belong to the way of death and not the way of life” (F. F. Bruce, Hebrews [NICNT], 138).
- Hebrews 6:2 sn See Hebrews 9:10 and Mark 7:4 for other references to the Jewish practice of ritual washings.
- Hebrews 6:3 tn Grk “and we will do this.”
- Hebrews 6:6 tn Or “have fallen away.”
- Hebrews 6:6 tn Or “while”; Grk “crucifying…and holding.” The Greek participles here (“crucifying…and holding”) can be understood as either causal (“since”) or temporal (“while”).
- Hebrews 6:6 tn Grk “recrucifying the son of God for themselves.”
- Hebrews 6:7 tn Grk “comes upon.”
- Hebrews 6:8 tn Grk “near to a curse.”
- Hebrews 6:12 tn Or “dull.”
- Hebrews 6:14 tn 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.
- Hebrews 6:15 tn Grk “he”; in the translation the referent (Abraham) has been specified for clarity.
- Hebrews 6:16 tn The plural Greek term ἄνθρωποι (anthrōpoi) is used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women, and is thus translated “people.”
- Hebrews 6:16 tn Grk “by something greater”; the rest of the comparison (“than themselves”) is implied.
- Hebrews 6:16 tn Grk “the oath for confirmation is an end of all dispute.”
- Hebrews 6:17 tn Grk “in which.”
- Hebrews 6:17 tn Or “immutable” (here and in v. 18); Grk “the unchangeableness of his purpose.”
- Hebrews 6:18 tn Grk “have taken refuge”; the basis of that refuge is implied in the preceding verse.
- Hebrews 6:19 sn The curtain refers to the veil or drape in the temple that separated the holy place from the holy of holies.
- Hebrews 6:20 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4, picked up again from Heb 5:6, 10.
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