HEB 1:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not necessarily natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for Bible-translators and others doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still early looks into the drafted texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal Speaker(s)=Narrator (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

GHT Many-share-ly/portion-ly/part-ly and many-manner-ly long-ago the God, speak[ing] to {the fathers} in to {the prophets},

ULT In many portions and in many ways long ago, God, having spoken to our fathers through the prophets,

UST In the past, God communicated to the Israelite ancestors through people who proclaimed his message. He did this throughout the time during which the ancestors lived, and he used many different means to do so.

BSB & MSB {On many} past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to [our] fathers through the prophets.

BLB God, having spoken long ago to our fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,

AICNT [fn]In many parts[fn] and in many ways, God long ago spoke to {the}[fn] fathers through the prophets.

1:0, Title (“Hebrews”): Absent from 𝔓12 ℵ(01) B(03). ‖ 𝔓46 A(02) BYZ TR reads “To the Hebrews.” ‖ TR reads “The letter of Paul the apostle to the Hebrews.”

1:1, In many parts: Or, of prophetic writings.

1:1, the: 𝔓12 reads “our.”

OEB God, who, of old, at many times and in many ways, spoke to our ancestors, by the prophets,

WEBBE & WMBB God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

NET After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets,

LSV In many parts and many ways, God, having spoken long ago to the fathers by the prophets,

FBV God, who in the past spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at various times and in many ways,

TCNT God spoke to our fathers long ago at many times and in many ways through the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son,

T4T Long ago God communicated frequently to our ancestors in various ways by what the prophets said and wrote.

LEB Although[fn] God spoke long ago in many parts[fn] and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets,

1:1 *Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“spoke”) which is understood as concessive

1:1 Or “portions”

BBE In times past the word of God came to our fathers through the prophets, in different parts and in different ways;

Moff Many were the forms and fashions in which God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets,

Wymth God, who in ancient days spoke to our forefathers in many distinct messages and by various methods through the Prophets,

ASV God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,

DRA God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all,

YLT In many parts, and many ways, God of old having spoken to the fathers in the prophets,

Drby [fn]God having spoken in many parts and in many ways formerly to the fathers in the prophets,

1.1 Elohim

RV God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,
(God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by diverse/various portions and in diverse/various manners,)

SLT God, formerly multifariously and abundantly having spoken to the fathers in the prophets,

Wbstr God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

KJB-1769 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
(God, who at sundry times and in diverse/various manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,)

KJB-1611 ¶ God who at sundry times, and in diuers manners, spake in time past vnto the Fathers by the Prophets,
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps God which in time past, at sundrie tymes, and in diuers maners, spake vnto the fathers in the prophetes:
(God which in time past, at sundrie times, and in diverse/various manners, spake unto the fathers in the prophets:)

Gnva At sundry times and in diuers maners God spake in the olde time to our fathers by the Prophetes: in these last dayes hee hath spoken vnto vs by his Sonne,
(At sundry times and in diverse/various manners God spake in the old time to our fathers by the Prophets: in these last days he hath/has spoken unto us by his Son,)

Cvdl God in tyme past dyuersly & many wayes, spake vnto ye fathers by prophetes,
(God in time past dyuersly and many ways, spake unto ye/you_all fathers by prophets,)

TNT God in tyme past diversly and many wayes spake vnto the fathers by Prophetes:
(God in time past diversly and many ways spake unto the fathers by Prophets:)

Wycl God, that spak sum tyme bi prophetis in many maneres to oure fadris, at the
(God, that spake some time by prophets in many manners to our fathers, at the)

Luth Nachdem vorzeiten GOtt manchmal und mancherlei Weise geredet hat zu den Vätern durch die Propheten,
(After ancient_times God sometimes and various way/manner talked has to/for the fathers through the prophet(s),)

ClVg Multifariam, multisque modis olim Deus loquens patribus in prophetis:[fn]
(In_many_places, and_many in_ways formerly/once God speaking to_the_fathers in/into/on prophets:)

1.1 Argumentum In primis videndum est cur apostolus Paulus in hac epistola scribenda non servaverit morem suum, ut vel vocabulum nominis sui, vel ordinis describeret dignitatem. Hæc causa est: quod ad eos scribens qui ex circumcisione crediderant, quasi gentium apostolus et non Hebræorum, sciens quoque eorum superbiam, suamque humilitatem ipse demonstrans, meritum officii sui noluit anteferre. Simili etiam modo Joannes apostolus propter humilitatem, in epistola sua nomen suum eadem ratione non prætulit. Hanc autem epistolam ad Hebræos conscriptam, Hebraica lingua fertur Apostolus misisse: cujus sensum et ordinem retinens Lucas evangelista, post excessum beati apostoli Pauli Græco sermone composuit. Olim. Non est novum. Deus, qui est invariabilis tunc et nunc. Loquens. Dicit: loquens, in præsenti, quia quod tunc etiam nunc. Patribus. Id est iis qui carne et cultu Dei patres nobis sunt. In prophetis. Non enim ipsi, sed Deus in eis. Multifarie. Id est multotiens Abrahæ, Isaac, Jacob et cæteris, ac eisdem sæpe. Multisque modis. Quia modo per somnia, ut Danieli: modo aperta voce, ut Moysi: modo interiori inspiratione, ut David.

1.1 Argumentum In first to_be_seen it_is cur apostle Paulus in/into/on this_way letter to_be_written not/no has_kept custom his_own, as or word of_the_name self, or order would_describe dignity. These cause it_is: that to them writing who/which from circumcision they_had_believed, as_if of_Gentile_nations apostle and not/no Of_Hebrews, knowing too their pride, and_his_own humility exactly_that/himself demonstrating, merit/reason office self he_did_not_want to_carry_before. Similar also just/only Yohan apostle because humility, in/into/on letter his_own name his_own the_same by_reason not/no preferred. This however letter to Hebrews written, Hebrew tongue/language is_carried Apostle to_have_sent: whose sense and order holding_back Luke evangelist, after exceeded happy apostles Pauli Greek speech composed. Formerly/once. Not/No it_is new. God, who/which it_is invariable then and now. Speaking. He_says: speaking, in/into/on present, because that then also now. To_the_fathers. That it_is to_them who/which flesh/meat and culture of_God fathers us are. In prophets. Not/No because themselves, but God in/into/on to_them. In_many_ways. That it_is many_times_times Abraham, Isaac, Yacob and the_rests, and to_the_same often. And_many in_ways. Because just/only through dreams, as Daniel: just/only open voice, as of_Moses: just/only interior inspiration, as David.

UGNT πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι, ὁ Θεὸς, λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις
(polumerōs kai polutropōs palai, ho Theos, lalaʸsas tois patrasin en tois profaʸtais)

SBL-GNT Πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις
(Polumerōs kai polutropōs palai ho theos lalaʸsas tois patrasin en tois profaʸtais)

RP-GNT Πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἐπ' ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων ἐλάλησεν ἡμῖν ἐν υἱῷ,
(Polumerōs kai polutropōs palai ho theos lalaʸsas tois patrasin en tois profaʸtais, ep' esⱪatou tōn haʸmerōn toutōn elalaʸsen haʸmin en huiōi,)

TC-GNT Πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ Θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις ἐπ᾽ [fn]ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων ἐλάλησεν ἡμῖν ἐν υἱῷ,
(Polumerōs kai polutropōs palai ho Theos lalaʸsas tois patrasin en tois profaʸtais ep esⱪatou tōn haʸmerōn toutōn elalaʸsen haʸmin en huiōi,)

1:1 εσχατου ¦ εσχατων ᴛʀ

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–4: Introduction: God has spoken through his Son

The first four verses of the book of Hebrews explain what the book is about. In the past God spoke to his people through his prophets. Now during this later time, he has spoken to his people through his own Son. God’s Son shows people who God is.

In 1:1–2a the author used parallelism to show a contrast between how God spoke in the past and how he speaks now. In the past God spoke through the prophets, but now God speaks to us through his Son. In your translation, it is important to emphasize this contrast, especially the fact that God now speaks to us by the Son.

1:1	1:2
in the past	in these last days
to our fathers	to us
through the prophets	by His Son

In Greek, the four verses in 1:1–4 are one long sentence that describes who the Son is and what he has done. It is common in Greek to have long sentences like this. Most English versions divide this section into several sentences. You may do what is natural in your language.

In 1:2b–3e there are seven important facts about God’s Son:

God appointed his Son to be heir of all things (an important theme in 1:5–6).
God created everything through his Son (an important theme in 1:7–14).
The Son reflects God’s glory (an important theme in 2:5–8).
The Son shows us exactly what God is like.
The Son keeps everything working by his powerful word.
The Son made a way to make people clean from their sin (an important theme in 2:10–17, 5:1–10, 7:1–28, and 9:1–10:18).
The Son sat down on the right side of God (see 1:13 and 8:1–2).

It is good to translate the section before you decide on a heading for it. Some other possible headings are:

God has revealed himself to us through his Son.

The greatness of the Son of God

Paragraph 1:1–4

There are several ways to arrange the phrases in 1:1–4. The BSB mostly follows the order of phrases in the Greek text. The NIV uses a different order. Compare the order of the phrases in the BSB and NIV below:

¹On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. ²But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son… (BSB)

¹In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… (NIV)

The NIV puts the phrase “at many times and in various ways” at the end of 1:1 instead of at the beginning, as in the BSB. Use an order that is natural in your language.

1:1a

On many past occasions and in many different ways,

¶ In past ages, at many different times and in many different ways,
¶ Long ago, on many different occasions and in various ways,

On many past occasions: The phrase On many past occasions refers to past times that have already ended. It refers to the past in contrast to the present. In this context it refers to the times when God spoke to people through prophets. This time period ended several hundred years before the author of Hebrews wrote. Refer to it in a natural way in your language.

in many different ways: The letter to the Hebrews begins with two words which sound like each other, and which are linked by kai ‘and.’ They are polumerōs and polutrōps. Both words start with polu- which means “many,” and they make a striking beginning to this book. The phrase in many different ways indicates that God gave different kinds of messages, including laws, promises, instructions, and prophecies. He communicated these messages in different ways, for example, by dreams, visions, direct messages, signs, and symbols, and events. The prophets who communicated the messages lived at different times in the past.

Other ways to translate the phrase “On many past occasions and in many different ways” are:

using various ways on many different occasions

at many different times and in many different ways (GW)

1:1b

God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.

God spoke to our^(incl) ancestors through the prophets.
God spoke to our^(incl) forefathers through the prophets,

God spoke to our fathers through the prophets: The phrase spoke…through the prophets indicates that God told the prophets what he wanted them to tell the other people. Then the prophets told the people those messages from God. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

God spoke to our ancestors by means of the prophets

God sent prophets to speak his messages to our forefathers

to our fathers: The phrase to our fathers refers to the ancestors of the author and readers of Hebrews. It refers in general to the people of Israel in the Old Testament, who were descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

prophets: The prophets were men who spoke messages from God. They told others what God revealed to them. Some ways to translate prophets are:

spokesmen for God

men who spoke his/God’s words

his message-speakers

It is good to use a general term that does not focus only on foretelling the future. Prophets did foretell the future, but they also gave people other messages from God. They spoke about their own times, and they told people to stop sinning and to obey God.

When choosing a term for prophets, consider how you will distinguish prophets from other words which are similar in meaning such as “angels,” “apostles,” and “preachers.”

General Comment on 1:1a–b

It may be helpful in your language to reorder the phrases in 1:1. For example:

^1aIn the past ^1bGod spoke to our ancestors through the prophets ^1bat many times and in various ways.

^1aLong ago, ^1bGod spoke to our ancestors ^1aat many different times and in many different ways. ^1bHe spoke to them through the prophets.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πολυμερῶς καί πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ Θεός λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις)

The phrase In many portions shows that God did not speak just once. Rather, he spoke often throughout the time period called long ago. The phrase in many ways shows that God used various means and people to speak to the fathers. The author uses both of these phrases because he wishes to emphasize the variety of times and ways in which God has spoken. If your language does not use repetition for emphasis, and if you cannot represent the author’s two phrases well, you could express the idea using one phrase that emphasizes variety. Alternate translation: [Long ago, with great variety] or [Long ago, using multiple methods in different times,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι, ὁ Θεὸς, λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πολυμερῶς καί πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ Θεός λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις)

The phrase In many portions and in many ways long ago describes how God “spoke” to our fathers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could rearrange the phrases so that In many portions and in many ways long ago does modify having spoken. Alternate translation: [God, having spoken to our fathers through the prophets in many portions and in many ways long ago]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-time-sequential

λαλήσας

˓having˒_spoken

The phrase having spoken introduces an action that took place before the actions that take place in the next verse ([1:2](../01/02.md)). Use a form that introduces action that takes place before something else. Alternate translation: [after speaking]

Note 4 topic: translate-kinship

τοῖς πατράσιν

˱to˲_the fathers

The phrase our fathers refers to the Israelites who were alive before Jesus lived on earth. Not all members of the audience were descended from these Israelites. However, the author can still refer to the Israelites as their fathers because he thinks that all Christians have been included in the family of Abraham, the ancestor of the Israelites. If possible, preserve the family language in your translation. Alternate translation: [our forefathers] or [to the Israelite ancestors]

Parallel HEB 1:1

Section 1:1–4: Introduction: God has spoken through his Son

Paragraph 1:1–4

1:1a

1:1b

General Comment on 1:1a–b