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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Heb C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13
Heb 6 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V19 V20
OET (OET-LV) in_order_that by two matters unchangeable, in which impossible it_is to_lie the for_god, strong exhortation we_may_be_having, which having_taken_refuge to_take_hold_of of_the lying_before hope,
OET (OET-RV) so that by two things that God can’t even change (his promise and his oath), we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
This section is the final part of the long appeal that the author began to make to his readers in 5:11. He urged them to keep on believing. He warned them not to give up what they believed. In this final section, he reminded them of God’s promise to Abraham, and he encouraged them that God always keeps his promises. We can come into God’s presence because Jesus, our high priest, is already there (6:20). He is a high priest like Melchizedek.
The last verse of this section is similar to 5:10, and connects this section to chapter 7. The author finished his long appeal to his readers in 6:20, and in 7:1 he continued his teaching about Jesus, our high priest.
Some other possible section headings are:
God always does what he promises to do
We can believe God because he always does what he said he would
In 6:16–20 the author continued to explain about God’s oath. In Greek, these verses are one long sentence, but English versions have divided it into shorter ones.The most solemn oath which the people of Israel used was “As (surely as) the Lord lives.”
In this verse the author showed that God gave us two things (a promise and an oath), so that we would be very encouraged. In some languages it is more natural to change the order of clauses in this verse. See the General Comment on 6:18a–d at the end of 6:18d for examples.
Thus by two unchangeable things
God gave both his promise and his oath, and neither of them can be changed.
He gave his people these two assurances that cannot change
Thus: The Greek conjunction translated Thus introduces the purpose for God confirming his promise with an oath (in 6:17). Indicate this purpose in a natural way in your language.
by two unchangeable things: The phrase by two unchangeable things indicates the means by which God assured people that he will do what he said. He reassured them in two ways: (1) by making a promise to them and (2) by confirming his promise with an oath.
Some ways to translate by two unchangeable things are:
by saying two things which cannot be changed
He did that so there would be two unchanging means by which people will know…
in which it is impossible for God to lie,
It is also impossible that God would fail to fulfill either his promise or his oath.
and about which he cannot lie.
in which it is impossible for God to lie: This part of the verse refers to the two unchangeable things mentioned in 6:18b. It indicates that God cannot fail to keep either his promise or his oath. He is certain to keep both of them. Another way to translate this is:
and God cannot break either of them
to lie: The verb to lie refers here to not doing what was said or promised. Here it indicates that God will never fail to do what he says. He will always do what he says he will do, and no one can ever truly say that God has not kept his promise. Another way to say this is:
to not fulfill his promise
we who have fled
So he wants us who have fled to him
He did that so that when we(incl) run to him for safety
we who have fled: Here the author described his readers and himself as people who have fled to find refuge. He did not say what they had found refuge from. He said what they found refuge in. They took refuge in their certainty that God will do what he promised them. In many languages it is helpful to make God explicit here. For example:
we have run to God for safety (CEV)
we have fled to him for refuge (NLT)
we: The pronoun we is inclusive and refers to both the author and the readers.
have fled: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as have fled also means “flee to a place.” It implies fleeing somewhere where they will be safe. In this context the refuge is God, and people trust him to save them.
to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
to hold tightly to the hope that he gave us.
we will have confidence to receive what God told us to expect.
to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged: The phrase may be strongly encouraged is more literally “will have strong encouragement.” It indicates God’s purpose for giving us his promise and oath. He wanted to give us great courage to persevere in trusting him to fulfill his promise. Some other ways to translate 6:18d are:
can have great confidence as we hold to the hope (NLT)
we will persevere in hoping/expecting what he has promised
the hope: The Greek word that the BSB translates as hope refers here to what we expect with confidence (from God). It includes all the good things that God has promised and prepared for us, including eternal life. It occurs also in 3:6, 6:11, 7:19, 10:23.
set before us: The phrase set before us is one word in Greek. It means “lying before us,” and it refers to what God will do for us in the future. The verb is passive. In some languages it is more natural to translate this with an active verb. For example:
which God has given to us
that God promised us
us: The pronoun us is inclusive and refers to both the author and the readers.
In 6:18 the author indicated that God gave us both his promise and his oath to give us great confidence that he will save us as he promised. Neither the promise nor the oath can be broken, because it is impossible for God to lie.
In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of phrases in this verse. For example:
So we have both his promise and his oath which cannot be broken because it is impossible for God to lie. God confirmed his promise with an oath so that we might be very encouraged. We are people who have found refuge and firmly expect with hope what God has for us.
God did this so that we would be encouraged. God cannot lie when he takes an oath or makes a promise. These two things can never be changed. Those of us who have taken refuge in him hold on to the confidence we have been given. (GW)
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
διὰ δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἵνα διά δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι τόν Θεόν ἰσχυράν παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν οἱ καταφυγόντες κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος)
The phrase two unchangeable things refers to God’s “promise” and his “oath” (See: [6:17](../06/17.md)). Both “promise” and “oath” contain binding words that no one can change. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [by an unchangeable oath and promise]
ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι τὸν Θεόν
in which impossible_‹it_is› ˓to˒_lie (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἵνα διά δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι τόν Θεόν ἰσχυράν παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν οἱ καταφυγόντες κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος)
Alternate translation: [concerning which God could never lie]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
οἱ καταφυγόντες
¬which ˓having˒_taken_refuge
The author speaks of believers who trust in God to save and protect them as if they were running to a safe place. He speaks in this way to emphasize the need for refuge and the fact God provides it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [who have found salvation] or [who have sought protection]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
οἱ καταφυγόντες
¬which ˓having˒_taken_refuge
The author does not specify from what we have fled or who provides the refuge. He implies that God provides the refuge, but from what we have fled is not clear. Most likely, the author implies any trouble or problems that humans encounter, including sin, suffering, persecution, or anything else that is bad or painful. If it would be helpful in your language, you include some of this implied information here. Alternate translation: [who have fled to God for refuge from our sins and struggles] or [who have fled to God’s refuge]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἰσχυρὰν παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν, οἱ καταφυγόντες
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἵνα διά δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι τόν Θεόν ἰσχυράν παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν οἱ καταφυγόντες κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος)
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of refuge and encouragement, you could express the ideas by using verbs such as “protect” and “encourage.” Alternate translation: [who have fled to be protected might be strongly encouraged]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
κρατῆσαι τῆς & ἐλπίδος
˓to˒_take_hold_of ˱of˲_the & hope
The phrase hold firmly refers to continuing to consistently believe or trust something, particularly something that one has been told. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to continuing to believe or expect something. Alternate translation: [to tightly grasp the hope] or [to continue to expect the hope]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τῆς & ἐλπίδος
˱of˲_the & hope
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of hope, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “hope” or “expect.” The author could primarily be focusing on: (1) the act of “hoping.” Alternate translation: [to how we hope for what God has] (2) what it is that we hope for. Alternate translation: [to what we hope for that is]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
προκειμένης
lying_before
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 is set before rather than on the person doing the setting. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that God did it. Alternate translation: [that God has set before us]
6:13-20 This passage focuses on the reliability of God’s faithfulness to his promises. The theme of God’s oath is developed with an illustration (6:13-15), followed by a general principle (6:16), followed by the main point: God has sworn a significant oath (6:17-18), which gives us hope because it shows that Jesus is our permanent High Priest (6:19-20).
OET (OET-LV) in_order_that by two matters unchangeable, in which impossible it_is to_lie the for_god, strong exhortation we_may_be_having, which having_taken_refuge to_take_hold_of of_the lying_before hope,
OET (OET-RV) so that by two things that God can’t even change (his promise and his oath), we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
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.