HEB 3:1 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–6: Jesus is greater than Moses

In this section the author explained how Jesus is greater than Moses. Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s house, but Jesus is God’s Son. He is faithful as a Son, taking care of God’s household for God. Because of that he is worthy of more honor than Moses.

Some other examples of headings for this section are:

Moses was God’s faithful servant, but Jesus was God’s faithful Son

Jesus and Moses (NET)

Some English versions include all of chapter 3 in one section. However, Section 3:7–19 is the second of the important warning sections in the book of Hebrews. (The first warning was in 2:1–4.) It is often helpful to readers to provide separate headings for each of these warning sections.

3:1

This verse is complex. In some languages it is more natural to change the order of clauses or to translate the clauses as two sentences. For examples of how to reorder the clauses in this verse, see the General Comment on 3:1a–b at the end of 3:1b.

3:1a

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling,

¶ So then, holy brothers and sisters, who share God’s call/invitation,
¶ My fellow Christians, God himself called you to be his children. Because of all that I have said,
¶ Fellow Christians, we^(incl) are among the people whom God chose/told to give ourselves to him. So because of what I have said to you,^(plur)

Therefore: The Greek word which the BSB translates as Thereforehothen. Koester (page 242) says that this Greek conjunction “indicates that the author is drawing out the implications of what has just been said. The term consistently appears in the middle of an argument rather than at the beginning of a new section (2:17, 2:25, 8:3, 9:18, 11:19).” introduces the exhortation in 3:1 to “set your focus on Jesus.” The Greek word implies that readers should focus on him because of what was said about him in chapters 1 and 2, and more specifically because of 2:17–18. Those verses indicate that Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest for his followers. Therefore they must think about him and pay attention to him.

Some other ways to translate this connection are:

So (NCV)

Because of all this

Now thereforeTagbanwa back translation on TW.

Because of all that I have said

Translate the connection in a natural and clear way in your language.

holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling: Scholars differ about what the word holy describes in this phrase:

It describes holy brothers. For example:
holy brothers and sisters (NIV) (BSB, NIV, RSV, ESV, NASB, NLT, NET, NCV, JBP, REB, KJV)
It describes share. For example:
holy partners (NRSV) (NRSV, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions and many commentaries.Among these are Translator’s Handbook (page 51), Bruce (page 91), Ellingworth (page 198), Koester (page 242), Lane (page 74), Miller (page 64), and Westcott (page 73). Mitchell (page 80) says, “Given the distance between it and metochoi, the adjective more naturally modifies adelphoi, which encompasses both brothers and sisters….”

Here the author addressed his readers directly for the first time in Hebrews. The phrase holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling addresses the readers directly, as if the phrases were names. The author used them to focus special attention on what he was about to say in 3:1b (“set your focus on Jesus”).

In some languages it may not be natural to use a long phrase to address someone directly. So it may be more natural to translate 3:1a in a different way. For example:

holy brothers and sisters, you share in a heavenly calling

relatives, you belong to God and he has called you to enter heaven

In this sermon (letter) the author rarely used this type of direct address. The only other places are in 3:12, 10:19, 13:22 (“brothers”), and in 6:9 (“dear friends”).

holy brothers: The phrase holy brothers refers back to 2:11, where the author mentioned Jesus as the one who makes people holy. He said also that Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. They are brothers and sisters of Jesus and of each other. Translate the words holy and brothers in a similar way as you did in 2:11.

Some ways to translate holy brothers here are:

brothers and sisters dedicated to God

Relatives who belong to GodUma back translation on TW.

holy: The word holy means “dedicated to God,” “belonging to God,” “sanctified.” In 2:11, the author spoke of Jesus as the one who “sanctifies.” That means that he is the one who dedicates people to God so that they belong to him. See the examples in the preceding note.

The fact that God’s people are holy is one of the themes of the book. See also 10:10, 10:14, 12:10, and 12:14. For more information, see holy, sense A3(a), in KBT.

brothers: The Greek word that the BSB translates as brothers refers here to fellow believers in Christ. It includes both male and female. Believers call each other “brothers and sisters” because they have all been received into God’s family through becoming followers of Jesus.

Some ways to translate the word here are:

My Christian friends (GNT)

dear brothers and sisters who belong to God (NLT)

who share in the heavenly calling: The Greek word that the BSB translates as who share (“sharers”) means “people who use or own (something) in common or participate together in (something).”μέτοχος, BDAG, page 643. Here it indicates that the author and readers have all been called by God (they share that calling).

In some languages, it may not be natural to share a calling. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate the meaning are:

who share in being called by God

whom God called along with others to be in his family

This word is also used in 3:14 in the phrase “to share in Christ.” In 2:14 another form of the word referred to Jesus “sharing” blood and flesh.

heavenly calling: There are two ways to interpret the phrase heavenly calling in this context:

It indicates that the calling is from God. The word heavenly is a way to refer to God.For the Jews, “heaven” could be used as a reference to God. They avoided using God’s name directly, out of reverence. Thus Matthew often refers to “the kingdom of heaven” rather than “the kingdom of God.” For example:
called by God (GNT) (GNT, NCV, CEV)
It refers to being called to heaven. For example:
called to heaven (NLT) (NLT)

Most English versions are ambiguous, and the interpretations are similar. However, if you must choose, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In this context the author focuses more on the call to be in God’s family than on our call to heaven.

A heavenly calling indicates that God has invited or chosen people to be his children. Some other ways to translate this are:

God chose you to be his people.Otomi back translation on TW.

you whom God invited/told to be his children

In some languages “God called” a person implies a wrong meaning here. It implies that the person died. If that is true in your language, you should use a different word.

3:1b

set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

meditate^(plur) on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we^(incl) acknowledge/follow.
concentrate^(plur) on Jesus. He is the one whom God sent to us. He is the high priest whom we^(incl) say that we believe/trust.
think^(plur) about Jesus. God sent him to us^(incl), and he is the high priest whom we profess and follow.

In this verse the author compared Jesus to Moses. The BSB and other English versions use a different order of words than the Greek text uses. In Greek, 3:1b–2 is literally:

consider carefully the apostle and high priest of our confession, Jesus

Notice that the name “Jesus” is the last word in the verse. Another way to translate this order is:

Pay attention to the one who is the apostle of God and the High Priest that we believe in: He is Jesus.

In Greek this order of words emphasizes Jesus. English versions have probably changed the order to emphasize Jesus more clearly in English. Use an order of words in your language that emphasizes Jesus.

set your focus on Jesus: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as set your focus on Jesus is more literally “consider…Jesus.” This phrase means “think carefully about.”BDAG, page 522. This verb occurs once more in Hebrews in 10:24, where people are encouraged to “think about” other believers. Some other ways to translate the phrase set your focus on are:

reflect on Jesus (NAB)

think seriously about Jesus

In some languages there is an idiom to express this. For example:

fix your thoughts on Jesus (NIV)

turn your minds to Jesus (NJB)

Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess: The phrase Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess indicates that we believe and publicly declare that Jesus is our apostle and high priest. In this context the word confess refers to “confessing the faith.” To confess the faith refers to making a statement that tells what followers of Jesus believe.

Some other ways to translate the apostle and high priest whom we confess are:

Jesus, the apostle and chief priest about whom we make our declaration of faith (GW)

this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s Messenger and High Priest (NLT96)

the apostle and high priest: The phrase that the BSB translates as the apostle and high priest indicates the roles that God gave Jesus. God sent him (so he is called apostle), and God made him the high priest for us.

apostle: The English word apostle comes from the Greek word which means “one who is sent.” An apostle can be sent to say something or to do something. In the New Testament the word apostle usually refers to the disciples whom Jesus sent to tell people the Gospel. Here it refers to Jesus. It indicates that Jesus is the one whom God sent to people for a special purpose.Hebrews 3:1 is the only verse in the NT where apostle refers to Jesus himself. However, Koester (page 243) lists the following NT verses that refer to Jesus as the one “sent” from God (e.g., Matthew 10:40, 15:24; Mark 9:37; Luke 10:16; John 3:17, 5:36, 17:3; 1 John 4:9–14).

Some ways to translate apostle in this context are:

God’s Messenger (NLT)

who was sent to us (NCV)

In some languages, the term for apostle in the Gospels is “the messenger of Jesus Christ.” Here in Hebrews a term like that should be changed. The term should indicate that God sent Jesus as the apostle (messenger). Also be sure to use a different term for apostle than you use for “prophet” or “angel.” For more information, see apostle, sense 1, in KBT.

high priest: Here the author repeated the phrase high priest that he used in 2:17. He repeated it here because he was about to teach people more about Jesus being our high priest. He gave the main part of this teaching from 4:14 onwards. Translate high priest in the same way as you did in 2:17.

whom we confess: The phrase whom we confess means “what we say/declare that we believe.” In this context the word confess refers to people making a statement in public about what they believe. It does not refer here to confessing sins.

The word that the BSB translates here as confess occurs six times in the New Testament. For translation examples, see the note on “Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess” earlier in this part of the verse.

General Comment on 3:1a–b

The clauses in 3:1 are complex. In some languages it is more natural to translate the connections in a simpler way or to use more than one sentence. For example:

My Christian friends, who also have been called by God! Think of Jesus, whom God sent to be the High Priest of the faith we profess. (GNT)

My holy brothers/relatives, you share in being called by God. Think about Jesus. He is the one whom God sent to us, and he is the supreme priest of our faith.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅθεν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὅθεν ἀδελφοί ἅγιοι κλήσεως ἐπουρανίου μέτοχοι κατανοήσατε τόν ἀπόστολον καί ἀρχιερέα τῆς ὁμολογίας ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν)

The word Therefore introduces an inference from what the author has said about Jesus in [2:5–18](../02/05.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that clearly introduces an inference. Alternate translation: [As a result of all that] or [Because of those things]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀδελφοὶ

Although the word brothers is masculine, the author is using it to refer to all believers, both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word that applies to both men and women or you could refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [brothers and sisters]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

κλήσεως ἐπουρανίου, μέτοχοι

˱of˲_˓the˒_calling heavenly partakers

The author uses the possessive form to indicate that believers share a heavenly calling. Believers could share this calling with: (1) other believers. Alternate translation: [who share together in a heavenly calling] (2) Jesus. Alternate translation: [share with Jesus a heavenly calling]

κλήσεως ἐπουρανίου

˱of˲_˓the˒_calling heavenly

The word heavenly could indicate that the calling (1) comes from “heaven” (See: how God’s voice comes from heaven in [12:25–26](../12/25.md)). Alternate translation: [of a calling from heaven] (2) directs us toward “heaven.” Alternate translation: [of a calling to heaven] or [of a calling to enter heaven]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸν ἀπόστολον

The word apostle refers to someone who has been sent. In this passage, it does not refer to any of the 12 “apostles.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a descriptive phrase instead of the word you normally use for the 12 “apostles.” Alternate translation: [the sent one] or [the ambassador]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸν ἀπόστολον καὶ ἀρχιερέα τῆς ὁμολογίας ἡμῶν

The author uses the possessive form to speak about the apostle and the high priest who is the main content of our confession. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea without using a possessive form. Alternate translation: [the apostle and high priest whom we confess]

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 3:1

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

Section 3:1–6: Jesus is greater than Moses

3:1

3:1a

3:1b

General Comment on 3:1a–b

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