HEB 2:3 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–4: Warning: Do not ignore what God has spoken

In the last verse of chapter 1, the author mentioned “salvation.” In 2:1–4, he told the people to pay careful attention to this salvation that God’s Son brought them. He warned them that if they did not pay attention to it, God would certainly punish them. Their punishment would be greater than the punishment of people who ignored the law, since the law was brought only by angels. This warning is the first of five important warnings in the book of Hebrews.

In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of some of the parts of 2:2–3 to help readers understand the contrast between the law and the salvation that the Son brought. See the General Comment on 2:2–3 at the end of 2:3b for an example.

It is good to translate the section before you decide on a heading for it. Some other possible headings are:

Warning Against Neglecting Salvation (ESV)

We must give earnest attention to what we have heard

Some translators decide to combine this section with 2:5–10. If you decide to do that, one possible section heading is:

Everything Is Under Jesus’ Control (GW)

2:3

Hebrews 2:3a–b is the second part of the conditional sentence which began at 2:2a. This second part of the sentence is a rhetorical question based on the condition. In some languages it is more natural to change the order of 2:3a and 2:3b. See the General Comment on 2:2–3 at the end of 2:3b for more information.

2:3a–b

(reordered) So if we refuse this great way of being saved, how can we hope to escape? (CEV)

how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?: In this clause the author compared the terrible results of neglecting God’s salvation with the results of disobeying the law in 2:2. If a person disobeyed the law, they were certainly punished. So also we certainly will be punished if we neglect God’s way of salvation. This clause is a rhetorical question that emphasizes that we will not escape punishment.

Some ways to translate the rhetorical question are:

As a rhetorical question or a rhetorical question that includes a response. For example:
is it possible that we can escape being punished if we neglect such a great salvation?
will we indeed escape punishment if we neglect God’s great salvation? No, we will surely be punished.
As an emphatic statement. For example:
So we also will surely be punished if we do not pay attention to God’s great salvation.
We shall certainly not escape if we disregard this great salvation.

Translate this clause in a way that is natural in your language.

we: The pronoun we is inclusive and refers to the author and anyone who hears or reads this letter.

escape: In this context the Greek word that the BSB translates as escape means “to avoid.” It refers back to avoiding the “punishment” that was mentioned in 2:2, the penalty of being punished by God. In some languages you may need to make that clear here also. For example:

how shall we escape God’s punishment?

God will certainly punish us

2:3a

how shall we escape

so is there any way for us^(incl) to avoid punishment
So as for us^(incl) who have heard, we will certainly be punished

2:3b

if we neglect such a great salvation?

if we^(incl) ignore/disregard the greater message about salvation?
unless we^(incl) pay attention to the great way that God has provided to save people.

if we neglect such a great salvation: This clause gives another condition that is connected to the question “how shall we escape?” This condition is different from the condition in 2:2, which referred to a fact about the past: Everyone who disobeyed the law was justly punished. Here in 2:3b, the condition is present or future. It refers to the possibility that we may ignore God’s great salvation.

Some other ways to translate this condition are:

if we disregard the great salvation

on those of us who will not pay attention to this great salvation

we: The pronoun we refers to both the readers and the author, as it did in 2:1b.

neglect: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as neglect means “disregard, ignore.” The word is also used in Matthew 22:5 when people disregarded the invitation to a feast. See the translation examples in the preceding note.

such a great salvation: The phrase such a great salvation refers to the message about the great salvation that God has spoken of through his Son. The phrase indicates that this salvation is the greatest and most powerful salvation.

For more information, see the note on 1:14a–b, and see save, sense B, in KBT.

In some languages it is more natural to use a verb rather than the noun salvation in your translation. Some ways to translate using a verb are:

the powerful way that God now offers to save us

this great way of being saved (CEV)

salvation: The Greek word that the BSB translates as salvation refers to being rescued from evil or danger. In this context it refers to being rescued from sin. It implies that the people who are saved will not be judged and condemned because of sins. They will be reconciled with God and his people. Some other ways to translate it here are:

deliverance

freedom from sin/judgment

See the preceding note for examples of using a verb to translate salvation.

General Comment on 2:2–3

Hebrews 2:2–3 is one long sentence. You may need to divide it into several different sentences. For example:

²The message about the law which the angels brought could not be changed. Those who broke the law or who disobeyed it were justly punished. ³So how can we escape being punished by God if we ignore the message about such a great salvation?

²Angels brought a message which could not be changed. God rightly punished those who broke the law or who disobeyed it. ³So we also cannot escape if we pay no attention when God offers to save us so wonderfully.

In the Greek text the parts of 2:1–3 are arranged as a chiasm to emphasize the contrast between the message spoken by the Lord and the message received through angels.This special arrangement is a chiasm. The Notes shows this chiasm by using the same capital letters (A, A'; B, B'…) to indicate that the clauses have similar meanings:A Because of this, it is necessary B for us: to pay attention more carefully C to the things we have heard, lest we drift away from it. D 2 For if through the angels E was spoken F the message was firmly established G and every transgression and disobedience received just punishment G' 3 how will we escape [punishment] F' neglecting such a great salvation E' which was first received being spoken D' through the Lord [contrasts with angels] C' by the ones who heard B' to usA' it is confirmed… In some languages it is more natural to arrange the parts in a different way. For example:

¹We should pay greater attention to the things we have heard lest we drift away. ²For we know that the law that the angels spoke was valid, and God justly punished the people for every way they sinned and disobeyed it. ^3cBut it was the Lord himself who spoke about his salvation, ^3dand those who heard him confirmed it to us. Therefore, ^3bif we neglect his message, ^3athere is no way that we can escape punishment!

2:3c–4

In the Greek text, verses 2:3c–4 continue the long sentence that began at 2:2. Many versions begin a new sentence at 2:3c–4, and some translate 2:3c and 2:4 as separate sentences. Divide or connect the parts of the sentences in a natural way in your language.

2:3c

This salvation was first announced by the Lord,

It was the Lord who first spoke about this salvation,
The Lord Jesus himself first proclaimed the message about this way that God provided to save people.

This salvation was first announced by the Lord: This is a passive clause. It indicates that the Lord Jesus was the first person to tell people about the great salvation. The words This salvation refer to the “great salvation” that was mentioned at the end of 2:3b. Some ways to translate 2:3c are:

As a passive clause:
that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself (NLT)
As an active clause:
The Lord himself first told about this salvation (NCV)

For suggestions on translating salvation as a verb, see the note on salvation in 2:3b.

announced: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as announced is a common word that means “spoke.” It is the same word that was used in 1:2. Translate it in a natural way in your language for this context.

the Lord: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Lord means “someone who has authority over people In Greek this word can be used to refer to God and also to others who have great authority. Here it refers to the Lord Jesus. In some languages it may be helpful to make that explicit here. For example:

the Lord Jesus

The title Lord is used for Jesus also in 7:14 and 13:20.

2:3d

was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

and those who heard it from him confirmed to us^(incl) that it was certainly true.
and the people who listened to him reported it to us^(incl), so we know that it is true.
Then people who heard the message faithfully delivered/told it to us^(incl).

was confirmed to us by those who heard Him: This clause indicates that people who heard Jesus speak told other people what Jesus said. They confirmed that Jesus really said those things. The author and readers heard the testimony of those people who listened to Jesus.

This clause is passive. Some ways to translate it are:

As a passive clause. For example:
it was confirmed to us by those who heard (NASB)
As an active clause. For example:
and those who heard him confirmed it to us (REB)

confirmed to us by those who heard Him: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as confirmed indicates that people who heard Jesus speak repeated what he said to other people, including the author of Hebrews. They confirmed that what Jesus said about God’s salvation was true. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

and those who listened to him told us that it was certainly true

And people who heard that message from his very lips, they were the ones who recounted it to us, with the result that we know that it is true.

those who heard Him: The phrase those who heard Him refers to the apostles and other disciples who listened to Jesus while he was living with them on earth. The BSB has supplied the word Him to make the sentence more natural in English. It is not in the Greek text. Some English versions supply “it” instead. The meaning is almost the same, since the text refers to hearing what Jesus said.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας?

how we ˓will_be˒_escaping ˱of˲_so_great ˓having˒_neglected ˓a˒_salvation

The author does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the audience in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the answer is “we will not.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a strong negation. Alternate translation: [we will definitely not escape, having neglected so great a salvation.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα

we ˓will_be˒_escaping

The author implies that we will not escape what those under the law experienced when they broke that law, a “just penalty” ([2:2](../02/02.md)). So, he does not include what we escape because he stated it in the last verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [will we escape the penalty] or [will we escape just punishment]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας

we ˓will_be˒_escaping ˱of˲_so_great ˓having˒_neglected ˓a˒_salvation

The phrase having neglected introduces a hypothetical possibility. The author is not claiming that he or his audience have neglected or will “neglect” the salvation. Instead, he is asking the question about what we would happen if he or his audience did “neglect” the salvation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that introduces a possibility. Alternate translation: [will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τηλικαύτης & σωτηρίας? ἥτις

˱of˲_so_great & ˓a˒_salvation (Some words not found in SR-GNT: πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας Ἥτις ἀρχήν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διά τοῦ Κυρίου ὑπό τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμάς ἐβεβαιώθη)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of salvation, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “save.” Alternate translation: [the amazing way in which God saves us? This way in which God saves us]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τηλικαύτης & σωτηρίας? ἥτις

The word salvation refers to the “message” about salvation. The author makes this clear in the second half of the verse, when he refers to how the salvation is spoken. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea by referring to a “message” or “proclamation” about salvation. Alternate translation: [the proclamation about so great a salvation? Which proclamation about salvation]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα, λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας Ἥτις ἀρχήν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διά τοῦ Κυρίου ὑπό τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμάς ἐβεβαιώθη)

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 what was chosen and spoken rather than on the person doing the choosing and speaking. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that “God” did the choosing and the Lord did the speaking. Alternate translation: [God having chosen the Lord to speak it first]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη

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 what was confirmed rather than on the people doing the confirming. Alternate translation: [those who heard confirmed to us]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear HEB 2:3

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)