HEB 4:15 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. οὒ
2. ou
3. not
4. don't didn't
5. 37560
6. C·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142168
1. Γάρ
2. gar
3. For/Because
4. because
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y64
11. 142169
1. ἔχομεν
2. eχō
3. we are having
4. -
5. 21920
6. VIPA1··P
7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ having
8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ having
9. -
10. Y64; R141940
11. 142170
1. ἀρχιερέα
2. arχiereus
3. +a chief priest
4. priest
5. 7490
6. N····AMS
7. ˓a˒ chief_priest
8. ˓a˒ chief_priest
9. -
10. Y64; F142173; F142174; F142178
11. 142171
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. -
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142172
1. δυνάμενον
2. dunamai
3. being able
4. -
5. 14100
6. VPPM·AMS
7. being_able
8. being_able
9. -
10. Y64; R142171
11. 142173
1. συμπαθῆσαι
2. sumpatheō
3. to sympathize
4. sympathise
5. 48340
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ sympathize
8. ˓to˒ sympathize
9. -
10. Y64; R142171
11. 142174
1. ταῖς
2. ho
3. with the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFP
7. ˱with˲ the
8. ˱with˲ the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142175
1. ἀσθενείαις
2. astheneia
3. weaknesses
4. weakness
5. 7690
6. N····DFP
7. weaknesses
8. weaknesses
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142176
1. ἡμῶν
2. egō
3. of us
4. our
5. 14730
6. R···1G·P
7. ˱of˲ us
8. ˱of˲ us
9. -
10. Y64; R141940
11. 142177
1. πεπειρασμένον
2. peirazō
3. having been tempted
4. tempted
5. 39850
6. VPEP·AMS
7. ˓having_been˒ tempted
8. ˓having_been˒ tempted
9. -
10. Y64; R142171
11. 142178
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142179
1. κατά
2. kata
3. in
4. -
5. 25960
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142180
1. παντᾶ
2. pas
3. all things
4. -
5. 39560
6. S····ANP
7. all ‹things›
8. all ‹things›
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142181
1. καθʼ
2. kata
3. by
4. -
5. 25960
6. P·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142182
1. ὁμοιότητα
2. homoiotēs
3. likeness
4. -
5. 36650
6. N····AFS
7. likeness
8. likeness
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142183
1. χωρίς
2. χōris
3. without
4. -
5. 55650
6. P·······
7. without
8. without
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142184
1. ἁμαρτίας
2. hamartia
3. sin
4. sin
5. 2660
6. N····GFS
7. sin
8. sin
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142185

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:14–16: So let’s be faithful to Jesus, our great high priest

This short section (4:14–16) has three main points:

It encourages the readers to continue to believe the truth about Jesus that they publicly accepted.
It repeats that Jesus is our high priest (see 2:17), and it describes what kind of priest he is.
It introduces the next section, which describes Jesus’ work as high priest.

Remember to translate the section before choosing a heading for it. Some other possible headings are:

Jesus Is the Great High Priest (CEV)

Jesus Our Compassionate High Priest (NET)

Christ Is Superior to Other Chief Priests (GW)

4:15a

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

For our^(incl) high priest has compassion for us in our human weakness/temptations,
We^(incl) have a high priest who is able to help us when we are weak/tempted,

For: The word For introduces a basis for “holding firmly to our confession” of faith (4:14c). The author already gave one basis in 4:14a (We have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God). He introduces the second basis here at the beginning of 4:15a.

In some languages it is more natural to introduce this second basis by referring back to the word “high priest” in 4:14. For example:

Our High Priest (GNT)

And this Highest Priest of oursKankanaey back translation on TW.

we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses: This statement indicates that our high priest is able to sympathize with us in our weaknesses. The two negative phrases do not have and unable (not able) emphasize the fact that our high priest is able to sympathize with us.

In some languages it is more natural to translate the statement without using two negative phrases. For example:

We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. (GW)

And this Highest Priest of ours, he knows how to feel with us in our weaknessKankanaey back translation on TW.

Emphasize this statement in a natural way in your language.

sympathize with our weaknesses: The Greek word that the BSB translates as sympathize occurs only twice in the New Testament. It means to “suffer with” or “feel with” people. It implies the type of sympathy that motivates someone to offer active help.

The phrase sympathize with our weaknesses indicates that Jesus understands the ways that we are weak in resisting temptations to sin. He feels compassion for us. He is able to help us, and he offers us help.Koester (page 283) says, “Jesus sympathized with people by sharing their flesh and blood, suffering to deliver them…and offering help.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

understands every weakness of ours (CEV)

feeling our weaknesses with us (NJB)

has compassion for us when we are weak/tempted

our weaknesses: The phrase our weaknesses refers to the ways that human beings are limited or inadequate. In this context it refers especially to being weak in resisting temptations to sin. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

our weakness because of our humanityWestern Bukidnon Manobo back translation on TW.

our weaknesses which lead us into sinTagbanwa back translation on TW.

the ways we^(incl) are not strong to refuse sin

4:15b

but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.

since he has been tempted in every way like us^(incl), but without sinning.
For he has been tempted with all kinds of temptation just as we^(incl) have, yet as for him, he did not sin.

but: The Greek connector that the BSB translates as but connects the clause in 4:15a with the one in 4:15b. These clauses have similar meanings, and 4:15b explains more about 4:15a. In some languages, a connector like but implies too much contrast in meaning between 4:15a and 4:15b.

If that is true in your language, some other ways to connect the clauses are:

Use a connector which indicates that 4:15b explains or adds to 4:15a. For example:
^15aThis High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, (NLT96)
^15b for he faced all of the same temptations that we do, yet he did not sin.
Do not use a connector. For example:
^15aWe have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. (GW)
^15bHe was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin.

Connect the two statements in a natural way in your language.

we have one who was tempted in every way that we are: The Greek word that the BSB translates as tempted can also mean “tested.” (See the note on 2:18a.) Scholars disagree about what it means here:

It means “tempted to sin.” For example:
he was tempted in every way that we are (CEV) (BSB, CEV, NLT96, RSV, GNT, NIV, NASB, ESV, NET, NCV, JBP, GW)
It means “tested.” For example:
in every respect has been tested as we are (NRSV) (NRSV, REB, NLT, NAB, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions and many Bible scholars. This interpretation fits the context of not sinning as a result of the temptation.

one who was tempted in every way that we are: This statement indicates that our high priest has been tempted in every way, just as every human being is tempted. That is the reason that Jesus, our high priest, is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.

The verb was tempted is passive, and the clause does not specify who tempted Jesus. Other verses in Scripture indicate that Satan tempted Jesus. Some ways to translate the passive clause are:

Keep the passive verb. For example:
he, too, has been urged to sin in all the ways that we are urged to sin
Use a different verb that does not require specifying the tempter. For example:
our high priest experienced/faced all the kinds of temptation that we experience/face
Use an active verb and refer to Satan as the tempter. For example:
Satan has tempted him in every way like he tempts us

Translate this clause in a natural way in your language.

in every way: The phrase in every way means that Jesus experienced all the same kinds of temptations that other people have. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

all of the same testings we do (NLT)

all the types of temptations that human beings face

that we are: The phrase that we are refers in general to human beings. (See the examples in the preceding note.) If you use a pronoun like we, it should refer to both the author and the readers.

yet was without sin: The clause yet was without sin is literally just without sin. It indicates that Jesus faced every temptation without sinning. The BSB adds the word yet, which is not in the Greek text. It makes explicit the contrast between Jesus and other human beings. Jesus did not sin when he was tempted, but every other human being has sinned.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

yet he did not sin (NLT96)

except that he never sinned (JBP)

but as for him by contrast, he absolutely didn’t sinKankanaey back translation on TW.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μή δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν πεπειρασμένον δέ κατά παντᾶ καθʼ ὁμοιότητα χωρίς ἁμαρτίας)

The word For introduces further explanation of how Jesus is a high priest. This information supports the author’s exhortation to “firmly hold” to the “confession” (See: [4:15](../04/15.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word that introduces support for an exhortation, or you could leave it untranslated. Alternate translation: [We should do that because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐ & ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συνπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειρασμένον δὲ

The author uses two negative words to emphasize how much Jesus is able to sympathize with us as high priest. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a positive statement and emphasize it in another way. If you do this, you will need to translate but as a connection instead of a contrast. Alternate translation: [we indeed have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, one having been tempted]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν

˱with˲_the weaknesses ˱of˲_us

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of weaknesses, you could express the idea by using a an adjective such as “weak.” Alternate translation: [with the ways that we are weak]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

πεπειρασμένον δὲ

˓having_been˒_tempted (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μή δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν πεπειρασμένον δέ κατά παντᾶ καθʼ ὁμοιότητα χωρίς ἁμαρτίας)

The author is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the first half of the sentence. Alternate translation: [but we have one who has been tempted]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

πεπειρασμένον

˓having_been˒_tempted

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 Jesus who was tempted rather than on the person or thing doing the tempting. If you must state who did the action, you could use an indefinite subject, since many things can tempt. Alternate translation: [one whom things tempted] or [one having experienced temptation]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ὁμοιότητα

likeness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of likeness, you could express the idea by using a word such as “like” or “similar.” Alternate translation: [what we are like] or [the ways that all humans are similar]

χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας

Alternate translation: [but who did not sin]

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 4:15

SR Greek word order

Section 4:14–16: So let’s be faithful to Jesus, our great high priest

4:15a

4:15b

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