UTN uW Translation Notes:

Hebrews 13 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

8. Closing (13:1–25)* Final commands and exhortations (13:1–19)* Benediction and letter closing (13:20–25)Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 13:6, which are words from the Old Testament.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Hospitality and friendship

Throughout this chapter, the author urges his readers to be hospitable, friendly, and caring towards others. This includes “brotherly love” (13:1), “hospitality” (13:2), “remembering” the prisoners (13:3), “doing good” and “sharing” (13:16), and “greeting” one another (13:24). The author wishes his audience to know that loving and caring for others is one thing that they should do as a result of what he has said. In your translation, make it clear that the author is consistently exhorting his audience to love and care for others.

“Outside the camp”

In 13:11, 13, the author refers to a place “outside the camp.” The phrase “outside the gate” in 13:12 is almost synonymous, although it refers to the place outside a city rather than a place outside camp. The author identifies this “outside” place as where the Israelites would burn the carcasses from the Day of Atonement sacrifices and also the place where Jesus suffered and died. He then exhorts the audience to “go out” to this place of suffering, death, and destruction. Scholars debate exactly what the author had in mind. Did he mean leaving Judaism to suffer as a Christian? Did he mean abandoning all cultic and sacred systems to live in the “secular” world? Did he mean accepting the shame and dishonor that came with being a Christian in the Greco-Roman world? What is most likely is that the author intended his audience to leave and abandon anything that would keep them from Christ, even though doing so might mean suffering and death. In your translation, you should try to express this general idea clearly.

“The word of exhortation”

In 13:22, the author refers to the content of his letter as a “word of exhortation.” Many scholars argue that this would have been a well-known phrase and referred to a sermon or homily, particularly one given at a synagogue meeting after someone read from the Scriptures. If possible, translate this phrase in such a way that it refers to a spoken message, especially one that is like a sermon or a homily.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

The “altar” in 13:10

In this verse, the author briefly mentions that “we have an altar.” Scholars debate what this “altar” is. Some suggest that it is an altar in the heavenly sanctuary. However, the author has not mentioned such an altar in heaven, even though he mentioned earthly altars in 7:13 and in 9:4. Others argue that the altar refers to believers’ worship. Some argue that it refers specifically to the Lord’s Supper. However, the author’s use of “we have” earlier in the letter (See: 6:19; 8:1) suggests that what “we have” is a gift from God, not something that believers do. Further, the author never refers explicitly to the Lord’s Supper. What is most likely is that the “altar” refers to the place where Jesus died (Golgotha) or to the death itself. This fits with how Hebrews connects Jesus’ death and offering of himself to the Day of Atonement, in which an animal would be killed near the altar, and a priest would take its blood into the inner part of the tabernacle. See the notes on this verse for translation ideas. (See: altar)

Shepherd and sheep

In 13:20, the author refers to Jesus as “the great shepherd of the sheep.” This metaphor identifies Jesus as a “shepherd” who guides, protects, and leads the “sheep,” who are everyone who believes in him. The Bible uses “shepherd” language frequently to describe how God the Father and Jesus relate to God’s people. If possible, you should preserve this metaphor or use a simile to express the idea. See the notes on this verse for translation options. (See: shepherd and sheep)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

What are the “teachings” and “foods” in 13:9?

In this verse, the author refers generally to “various and strange teachings” that he warns his audience against. The author uses very general language and implies that there are many different kinds of “teachings” that he is warning them against. It is possible, however, that these teachings instruct people about the “foods” that the author mentions later in the verse. There are two general ways to understand what the author means by using the word “foods.” First, he could be referring to instructions that forbid or require eating certain kinds of food. These instructions could be Jewish food laws or other pagan or Christian food laws. Second, and more likely, he could be referring to instructions about eating sacred or ritual meals. These meals could be Jewish, Christian, or pagan. In the end, it is unclear exactly what the author was referring to with the words “teachings” and “foods.” He may have used these general words to refer to multiple different kinds of “teachings” about “foods.” If possible, use general words for false “teachings” and eating “foods.” (See: doctrine)

What is 13:10 describing?

As suggested above, the “altar” probably refers to Jesus’ sacrificial death. The two other difficult phrases in this verse are “the ones serving in the tabernacle” and “authority to eat.” First, “the ones serving in the tabernacle” could refer to anyone who worships God in the ways that the old covenant required. In this case, the author is saying that they do not “have” Jesus and his death. On the other hand, the phrase could refer specifically to the priests who offered sacrifices in the tabernacle. In this case, the author is arguing from Scripture that Jesus’ sacrifice is so much greater than those sacrifices that the levitical priests could not participate in it. Second, “authority to eat” could refer to receiving the benefit of the sacrifice, just like priests who offered sacrifices in the tabernacle often received parts of the sacrifices to eat. Sometimes, the person who presented the sacrifice also received some of it to eat. In this case, the author is saying that “the ones serving in the tabernacle” do not have “authority” to benefit from Jesus’ death. On the other hand, “authority to eat” could refer specifically to how no one was allowed to eat the animals that were sacrificed on the Day of Atonement. In this case, the author is identifying Jesus’ death with the Day of Atonement rituals, and he is saying that Jesus’ death was one that atoned for sins. Most likely, the author is indicating generally that Jesus’ sacrificial death is greater and more effective than any sacrifice performed under the old covenant, and only those who believe in him can benefit from it. See the notes on this verse for specific explanations and translation options.