OET interlinear HEB 12:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

τοιγαροῦν

so_then

Here, the phrase For that very reason draws an inference or exhortation from all of 11:1–40, but especially from 11:39–40. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that clearly draws an inference or exhortation from a previous section. Alternate translation: “Because of all that” or “Therefore”

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ἔχοντες

having

Here, the word having introduces a basis or reason for why we should run with endurance. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a basis or reason. Alternate translation: “since we have”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοσοῦτον & περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος μαρτύρων

so_much & encompassing ˱around˲_us /a/_cloud ˱of˲_witnesses

Here, the author speaks of the witnesses, that is, the faithful people the author mentioned in the previous chapter, as if they were a cloud that “surrounds” us. In the author’s culture, a large crowd of people was often described as a cloud, and the fact that it “surrounds” means that the author and audience stand in the middle of the crowd. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “so great a crowd of witnesses around us”

μαρτύρων

˱of˲_witnesses

Here, the word witnesses could refer to one or both of the following ideas: (1) the witnesses could “witness” or watch us as we run the race. Alternate translation: “of spectators” (2) the witnesses could “witness” or testify to what it means to have faith and endurance. Alternate translation: “of witnesses to faith”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν & τρέχωμεν

burden /having/_put_away every and the well_encompassing sin & /may_be/_running

Here, the phrase beginning with having laid aside is part of the author’s exhortation or command to his audience. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make it clearer that this phrase is part of the command. Alternate translation: “let us lay aside every weight and the easily entangling sin, and let us run”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν

burden /having/_put_away every and the well_encompassing sin

Here the author speaks of sin and other hindrances to the Christian life as if they were weight and something that “entangles.” The author pictures the Christian life as a race, and sin and other hindrances make this race hard and difficult, just like extra weight and anything that “entangles” makes a race harder for a runner. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea as a simile or use plain language. Alternate translation: “having laid aside sin and distractions like they were extra weight or things that entangle” or “avoiding sin and any other hindrance”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ὄγκον & πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν

burden & every and the well_encompassing sin

Here, the words weight and sin refer to very similar things. It is likely that weight refers in general to anything that hinders people from “running the race,” while sin is a specific type of weight. It is also possible that these two words mean basically the same thing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea by linking the two words together with a word besides and. Alternate translation: “every weight, especially the easily entangling sin” or “every weight, that is, the easily entangling sin”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

δι’ ὑπομονῆς, τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα

through endurance /may_be/_running the lying_before ˱before˲_us race

Here, the author speaks of persevering in trusting God and obeying him as if it were a race that he and his audience need to run. This was a common metaphor in his culture and emphasized the need to have endurance despite any obstacles or difficulties. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a simile or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “let us persist in trusting God, just like a runner keeps running until the race is over” or “let us continue to have faith as we endure whatever happens to us”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δι’ ὑπομονῆς, τρέχωμεν

through endurance /may_be/_running

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind endurance, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “endure” or “persevere.” Alternate translation: “let us endure as we run”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

προκείμενον ἡμῖν

lying_before ˱before˲_us

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. The author uses the passive form here to focus on the race that is placed before us rather than on the person doing the placing. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that God did it. Alternate translation: “that God placed before us”