HEB 4:16 Interlinear View

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)

4:16a

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,

So, let’s come confidently to the seat of our^(incl) merciful/gracious God,
Therefore let us^(incl) come near our God without hesitation/fear. He is very kind,

Let us then: Here the word then introduces an exhortation that is based on 4:14–15. It is the same word that was used in 4:14a. Connect this exhortation with 4:15 in a way that is natural in your language.

Let us…approach the throne of grace with confidence: In this exhortation the author used a figure of speech. Literally, the word throne refers to the chair or seat on which a king sits to rule his people. Figuratively, the phrase approach the throne refers to coming to God by praying to him. The phrase of grace indicates that God rules with kindness and generosity. The author used the whole exhortation to encourage his listeners to pray to God with confidence (confidence).

Some ways to translate this clause are:

we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God (CEV)

let’s come to God’s seat with confidence, knowing that he is gracious

In some languages a translation like “come to the throne of God” may wrongly imply that a person dies and comes to God in heaven. If that is true in your language, you should translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

let’s pray with assurance to God, our gracious King

let’s come with confidence into the presence of God. He shows grace/kindness

Let us…approach: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as Let us…approach is an exhortation.See also 10:22. We can approach God because of what Jesus, the high priest, has done. This is a major theme of Hebrews. The English words Let us indicate that the exhortation includes the author. It is not a request for permission here. In many languages (as in Greek), words like “let us” are not needed because the form of the verb indicates who should approach. Another way to translate this exhortation is:

we should approach

let’s come/pray to

approach: The verb approach is important in this context. It implies that God’s people can now freely come to God by praying. In the OT, no one except the high priest could approach the “mercy seat,” which symbolized God’s presence. Now because of Jesus, all of God’s people can come to him.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

get near to God by means of prayingBased on the Western Bukidnon Manobo back translation on TW.

come into God’s presence

go/come to God

the throne of grace: The word throne usually refers to a special chair that is reserved for the king. It also refers to the king’s authority. The phrase the throne of grace is a figure of speech to refer to God himself. It indicates that he rules with grace and mercy. The term throne of grace is similar to the term “mercy seat,” which was used in the OT. It also symbolized God’s presence.

Some other ways to translate the throne of grace are:

Translate the figure of speech. For example:
God on his Seat in heavenUma back translation on TW. If you use this option, be sure that it does not imply coming to God in heaven after death.
Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
God who rules with mercy/grace
God, the source/owner of grace
God praying to him because he loves and is mercifulYakan back translation on TW.

For more translation examples, see the note on grace in the next part of the verse.

with confidence: The phrase with confidence refers here to having a confident attitude toward God, not being afraid of him.BDAG, παρρησία, meaning 3b, page 781. It was also used in 3:6, where the BSB translated it as “confidence.” and it will occur again in 10:19 and 10:35.

Some ways to translate with confidence are:

confidently

without fear

4:16b

so that we may receive mercy

so that we^(incl) may receive his mercy
and he will be merciful/kind to us^(incl)

4:16c

and find grace to help us in our time of need.

and obtain/receive his grace to help us^(incl) when we need it.
and will give us^(incl) the help that we need.

4:16b–c

so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need: This clause tells the purpose of coming near to God in 4:16a. We come to him so that he will be merciful to us, and so that he will help us with his grace. Another way to translate this purpose is:

so that we will receive help and gracious kindness when we need it

The context indicates that God is the source of the mercy and grace that we receive. In some languages it is more natural to make that explicit in this clause. For example:

so that God will be merciful to us and graciously help us when we are in need

mercy: The Greek word that the BSB translates as mercy refers to an act of kindness for someone in need. It does not refer only to feeling pity for a person. In this verse it refers to the kind of help that God gives to people in need. He heals them, forgives their sins, and provides what they need. He comforts and sustains them when they endure sorrow, danger, or persecution.

Some other ways to translate mercy are:

show kindness

have compassion/pity on us

The word mercy occurs only here in Hebrews. For more information, see mercy, sense 2, in KBT.

find grace: The phrase find grace refers to receiving grace. The grace is given by God, just as “mercy” is in the preceding phrase. In some languages a word like find may imply the wrong meaning that the grace was discovered by accident. The context indicates that God is the source of the grace, and this should be clear in your translation of the verse.

Other ways to translate find grace are:

receive grace

experience grace

grace: The Greek word that the BSB translates as grace, refers to kindness or help that is given to people freely, not because they have done anything to deserve it. In this context, the word refers to God’s grace. He is good to people because he loves them. The people have not done anything to deserve his goodness.

Some other ways to translate grace in this context are:

kindness

generous help

In many languages it may be more natural to translate grace with a verb or verb phrase. In this context the implied subject is God. For example:

so that God will be kind/generous to you

so that God will graciously help you

For more information, see grace, sense A2(b), in KBT.

to help us in our time of need: The phrase to help us in our time of need means “to help us when we need help.” Some ways to translate the phrase are:

whenever we need help (NET)

and He will help us at the time of difficultiesWestern Bukidnon Manobo back translation on TW.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

προσερχώμεθα οὖν

˱we˲_˓may_be˒_approaching (Some words not found in SR-GNT: προσερχώμεθα Οὖν μετά παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεος καί χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν)

The word then introduces an exhortation that is based [4:14–15](../04/14.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an exhortation. Alternate translation: [Therefore, let us approach] or [Because of that, let us approach]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος

The word approach refers implicitly to getting close to something but not necessarily being right next to it. The author wants believers to approach God’s throne in heaven. This means that they enter into God’s presence. It does not mean that they enter into heaven to be right next to the throne. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to being in someone’s presence. Alternate translation: [Let us then with confidence go before the throne of grace]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

μετὰ παρρησίας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: προσερχώμεθα Οὖν μετά παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεος καί χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of confidence, you could express the idea by using an adverb such as “boldly” or “confidently.” Alternate translation: [confidently]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῷ θρόνῳ

˱to˲_the throne

The word throne refers to the one sitting on the throne: God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that the word throne refers to God on his throne. Alternate translation: [to God on his throne]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος

˱to˲_the throne ¬the ˱of˲_grace

The author uses the possessive form to describe how grace comes from God on the throne. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea without using a possessive form. Alternate translation: [to throne from which grace comes]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος

˱to˲_the throne ¬the ˱of˲_grace

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of grace, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “gracious” or an adverb such as “graciously.” Alternate translation: [to the gracious throne] or [to throne where God rules graciously]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

λάβωμεν ἔλεος, καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν

˱we˲_˓may˒_receive mercy (Some words not found in SR-GNT: προσερχώμεθα Οὖν μετά παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεος καί χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of mercy and grace, you could express the idea by using verbs or in some other natural way. Alternate translation: [God may be merciful and gracious to us]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

λάβωμεν ἔλεος, καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν

The two phrases receive mercy and find grace mean basically the same thing and are used together to emphasize how God will act kindly and lovingly toward those who believe in Jesus. If your language does not use repetition to do this, or if you do not have two words for these attributes, you could use one phrase and provide emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [we may receive grace] or [we may receive favor]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

χάριν εὕρωμεν

grace ˱we˲_˓may˒_find

The author speaks as if grace were an object that people could find. He means that people can receive grace from God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in a different way. Alternate translation: [grace] or [experience grace]

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.