OET interlinear HEB 4:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

for

Here, the word For introduces how one does “benefit” from hearing the “good news” (4:2). It is those who “believe” who are able to enter into rest. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces further explanation. Alternate translation: “In fact,”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰσερχόμεθα & εἰς κατάπαυσιν, οἱ πιστεύσαντες

˱we˲_/are/_coming_in & into /the/_rest the_‹ones› /having/_believed

Here, the word rest could refer to: (1) the state of “resting.” Alternate translation: “we who have believed participate in the way that God rests” or “we who have believed rest” (2) the place where people rest, particularly the land that God promised to give to his people. Alternate translation: “we who have believed enter into the resting place” or “we who have believed enter into the land of rest”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καθὼς εἴρηκεν

as ˱he˲_/has/_said

Here, the phrase just as indicates that the quotation will support the claim that we who have believed enter into rest. However, the quotation is a negative statement about how the Israelite ancestors will not enter into rest. The quotation could support the claim by: (1) proving the opposite point. Since the Israelite ancestors did not enter because they did not believe (See: 3:19), that means that those who believe can enter. Alternate translation: “which you know because he said this about those who did not believe:” (2) proving that the rest is still available. In other words, because the Israelite ancestors did not enter, someone still can enter. Alternate translation: “which you can tell is still available because he said”

Note 4 topic: writing-quotations

καθὼς εἴρηκεν

as ˱he˲_/has/_said

Here the author uses the phrase just as he said to requote a part of the quotation that he introduced earlier (See: especially 3:11). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces something that has already been quoted. Alternate translation: “just as he said in what I already quoted”

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

εἴρηκεν

˱he˲_/has/_said

Here, the word he could refer back to: (1) the Holy Spirit, whom the author identifies as the speaker of the quotation (See: 3:7). Alternate translation: “God’s Spirit said” (2) God considered as a unity. Alternate translation: “God said”

ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ μου, εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσίν μου

as ˱I˲_swore in the wrath ˱of˲_me never ˱they˲_/will_be/_coming_in into the rest ˱of˲_me

Since the author repeats here the same words that he quoted in 3:11, you should translate these words in exactly the same way as you did in that verse.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καίτοι τῶν ἔργων

and_yet his works

Here, the word although introduces something that is unexpected. God swore that the Israelite ancestors would not enter into my rest, but (unexpectedly) that rest has been available since the foundation of the world, since God’s works were finished then. The author’s point is that God’s oath about how the Israelite ancestors would never enter does not mean that the rest is not available or not yet available. Instead, the rest has been available since God created everything. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “but despite that, his works” or “although the rest is available even now, for his works”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τῶν ἔργων & γενηθέντων

his works & /having_been/_become

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 works that were finished rather than on the person doing the finishing. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that God did it. Alternate translation: “God finished his works”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου

from /the/_foundation ˱of˲_/the/_world

The author speaks of how God created the world as if he set the world on a foundation or solid base. In the author’s culture, this was a common way to refer to how God created everything. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that refers to how God created everything. Alternate translation: “from the beginning of the world” or “from the time when the world was created”