HEB 2:3 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not 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 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 very early looks into the unfinished 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 (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) how will we escape punishment if we neglect such a great offer of salvation. This salvation was first heard when spoken about by the master and then others who heard confirmed it to us

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
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).

ULT how will we escape, having neglected so great a salvation? Which salvation, first having been chosen to be spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by the ones having heard it;

UST Since that is true, God will certainly punish any one of us who ignores the message about how God has acted powerfully to save us. It was the Lord Jesus who first spoke this message, and those who listened to him told us the same message reliably.

BSB how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?
§ [ This salvation ] was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard [Him],

BLB how shall we escape, having neglected such a great salvation, which, having received a commencement declared by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those having heard,

AICNT how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, which began to be spoken through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard,

OEB how can we, of all people, expect to escape, if we disregard so great a salvation? It was the Master who at the outset spoke of this salvation, and its authority was confirmed for us by those who heard him,

WEBBE how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him,

LSV how will we escape, having neglected such great salvation? Which having received [that] spoken through the LORD [from] the beginning, was confirmed to us by those having heard,

FBV how will we escape if we don't pay attention to this great salvation that the Lord first announced, and then we had confirmed to us by those who heard him.

TCNT how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

T4T So, we will certainly not escape God punishing us if we ignore such a great message about how God [MTY] saves us! [RHQ] This new message was first spoken by the Lord Jesus {The Lord Jesus first spoke this message}. Then it was confirmed to us by those who heard what the Lord told them {those who heard what the Lord told them confirmed it to us}.

LEB how will we escape if we[fn] neglect so great a salvation which had its beginning when it[fn] was spoken through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard,

2:3 *Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“neglect”) which is understood as conditional

2:3 *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal infinitive (“was spoken”)

BBE What will come on us, if we do not give our minds to such a great salvation? a salvation of which our fathers first had knowledge through the words of the Lord, and which was made certain to us by those to whom his words came;

Moff how shall we escape the penalty for neglecting a salvation which was originally proclaimed by the Lord himself and guaranteed to us by those who heard him,

Wymth how shall *we* escape if we are indifferent to a salvation as great as that now offered to us? This, after having first of all been announced by the Lord Himself, had its truth made sure to us by those who heard Him,

ASV how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;

DRA How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? which having begun to be declared by the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.

YLT how shall we escape, having neglected so great salvation? which a beginning receiving — to be spoken through the Lord — by those having heard was confirmed to us,

Drby how shall we escape if we have been negligent of so great salvation, which, having had its commencement in being spoken [of] by the Lord, has been confirmed to us by those who have heard;

RV how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;

SLT How shall we escape, having neglected such great salvation; which at the beginning taken to be spoken by the Lord, by them having heard was made firm to us;

Wbstr How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him ;

KJB-1769 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

KJB-1611 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great saluation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed vnto vs by them that heard him,
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Howe shall we escape, yf we neglect so great saluation? which at the first began to be preached of the Lorde, and was confirmed vnto vswarde, by them that hearde it:
(How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? which at the first began to be preached of the Lord, and was confirmed unto uswarde, by them that heard it:)

Gnva How shall we escape, if we neglect so great saluation, which at the first began to be preached by the Lord, and afterward was confirmed vnto vs by them that heard him,
(How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be preached by the Lord, and afterward was confirmed unto us by them that heard him, )

Cvdl how shal we escape, yf we despyse so greate a saluacion: which after that it beganne to be preached by the LORDE himselfe, was confirmed vpon vs, by them that herde it,
(how shall we escape, if we despise so great a salvation: which after that it began to be preached by the LORD himself, was confirmed upon us, by them that herd/heard it,)

TNT how shall we escape yf we despyse so great saluacion which at ye fyrst began to be preached of the lorde him silfe and afterwarde was confermed vnto vs warde by the ye hearde it
(how shall we escape if we despise so great salvation which at ye/you_all first began to be preached of the lord himself and afterward was confirmed unto us ward by the ye/you_all heard it )

Wycl hou schulen we ascape, if we despisen so greet an heelthe? Which, whanne it hadde takun bigynnyng to be teld out by the Lord, of hem that herden is confermyd in to vs.
(how should we escape, if we despisen so great an health? Which, when it had taken beginning to be told out by the Lord, of hem that heard is confirmed in to us.)

Luth wie wollen wir entfliehen, so wir eine solche Seligkeit nicht achten? welche, nachdem sie erstlich geprediget ist durch den HErr’s, ist sie auf uns kommen durch die, so es gehöret haben.
(as/like want we/us escape, so we/us a/one such Blessedkeit not regard? which, after they/she/them erstlich preached is through the LORD’s, is they/she/them on/in/to us/to_us/ourselves coming through that, so it belongs/pertains have.)

ClVg quomodo nos effugiemus si tantam neglexerimus salutem? quæ cum initium accepisset enarrari per Dominum ab eis, qui audierunt, in nos confirmata est,
(how us effugiemus when/but_if so_much neglexerimus health? which when/with the_beginning to_have_receivedt enarrari through the_Master away to_them, who/which they_heard, in/into/on us confirmed it_is, )

UGNT πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας? ἥτις ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα, λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη;
(pōs haʸmeis ekfeuxometha taʸlikautaʸs amelaʸsantes sōtaʸrias? haʸtis arⱪaʸn labousa, laleisthai dia tou Kuriou, hupo tōn akousantōn eis haʸmas ebebaiōthaʸ;)

SBL-GNT πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας, ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη,
(pōs haʸmeis ekfeuxometha taʸlikautaʸs amelaʸsantes sōtaʸrias, haʸtis, arⱪaʸn labousa laleisthai dia tou kuriou, hupo tōn akousantōn eis haʸmas ebebaiōthaʸ,)

RP-GNT πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη,
(pōs haʸmeis ekfeuxometha taʸlikautaʸs amelaʸsantes sōtaʸrias; Haʸtis, arⱪaʸn labousa laleisthai dia tou kuriou, hupo tōn akousantōn eis haʸmas ebebaiōthaʸ,)

TC-GNT πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη,
(pōs haʸmeis ekfeuxometha taʸlikautaʸs amelaʸsantes sōtaʸrias; Haʸtis, arⱪaʸn labousa laleisthai dia tou Kuriou, hupo tōn akousantōn eis haʸmas ebebaiōthaʸ, )

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

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Apostasy

Sadly, opposition to God is not limited to those outside the community of faith; the Bible tells of many people who seemed to know God but turned away (see Num 16; Deut 13; 2 Kgs 17:5-23; Ezek 8). God brings just consequences to those who turn away from him (Job 11:20; Prov 1:24-31; Jer 11:11). Jesus spoke of those who fall away and the judgment they will receive (Matt 16:27; 23:13; 24:10-13; 25:41-46), and the writers of the New Testament follow his lead (Gal 1:6-9; 2 Tim 3:1-9; 2 Pet 2:1-22; 1 Jn 2:18-19).

The Bible as a whole is clear that disobeying God has severe consequences (see, e.g., Gen 9:5-6; Num 35:16-21; Lev 20:10; Zech 5:4). Those who oppose God’s will and rule will ultimately be excluded from his life-giving presence (Isa 66:14-24). In this vein, several passages in Hebrews warn that those who fail to take God’s word seriously are in deep spiritual trouble and will face the judgment of God (see Heb 2:1-4; 4:12-13; 6:4-8; 10:26-31; 12:25-29).

Scholars have understood the nature of the apostasy (falling away) and judgment described in the “warning passages” of Hebrews in various ways: (1) Some have understood the warnings to be hypothetical, suggesting that the harshness serves simply to shock the hearers out of spiritual lethargy, with no impending judgment in view. (2) A second position holds that those with whom the author was concerned were Jewish and had not yet converted to Christianity. Thus they were under God’s judgment because they were not yet a part of the new covenant. (3) A third view argues that the “apostates” in view were Christians who, because of their spiritual condition, faced some measure of God’s judgment as believers, but were in no danger of actually losing their salvation. (4) A fourth view suggests that the apostates had been full members of the Christian community and had experienced the full reality of the Christian faith but had now turned their backs on Christ and the church. (5) A fifth view is that, rather than having been true believers, the apostates showed that they never really knew Christ in the first place.

Ultimately, warnings of judgment are an expression of God’s grace, seeking to turn the rebellious person to the ways of God. Taking the consequences of apostasy seriously can help us build resolve in faithfully following Jesus.

Passages for Further Study

Num 16:1-50; Deut 13:1-18; 2 Kgs 17:5-23; Ezek 8:1-18; Matt 24:10-13; Gal 1:6-9; 2 Tim 3:1-9; Heb 2:1-4; 6:4-8; 10:26-31; 2 Pet 2:1-22; 1 Jn 2:18-19

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–4: Warning: Do not ignore what God has spoken

In the last verse of chapter 1, the author mentioned “salvation.” In 2:1–4, he told the people to pay careful attention to this salvation that God’s Son brought them. He warned them that if they did not pay attention to it, God would certainly punish them. Their punishment would be greater than the punishment of people who ignored the law, since the law was brought only by angels. This warning is the first of five important warnings in the book of Hebrews.

In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of some of the parts of 2:2–3 to help readers understand the contrast between the law and the salvation that the Son brought. See the General Comment on 2:2–3 at the end of 2:3b for an example.

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

Warning Against Neglecting Salvation (ESV)

We must give earnest attention to what we have heard

Some translators decide to combine this section with 2:5–10. If you decide to do that, one possible section heading is:

Everything Is Under Jesus’ Control (GW)

2:3

Hebrews 2:3a–b is the second part of the conditional sentence which began at 2:2a. This second part of the sentence is a rhetorical question based on the condition. In some languages it is more natural to change the order of 2:3a and 2:3b. See the General Comment on 2:2–3 at the end of 2:3b for more information.

2:3a–b

(reordered) So if we refuse this great way of being saved, how can we hope to escape? (CEV)

how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?: In this clause the author compared the terrible results of neglecting God’s salvation with the results of disobeying the law in 2:2. If a person disobeyed the law, they were certainly punished. So also we certainly will be punished if we neglect God’s way of salvation. This clause is a rhetorical question that emphasizes that we will not escape punishment.

Some ways to translate the rhetorical question are:

As a rhetorical question or a rhetorical question that includes a response. For example:
is it possible that we can escape being punished if we neglect such a great salvation?
will we indeed escape punishment if we neglect God’s great salvation? No, we will surely be punished.
As an emphatic statement. For example:
So we also will surely be punished if we do not pay attention to God’s great salvation.
We shall certainly not escape if we disregard this great salvation.

Translate this clause in a way that is natural in your language.

we: The pronoun we is inclusive and refers to the author and anyone who hears or reads this letter.

escape: In this context the Greek word that the BSB translates as escape means “to avoid.” It refers back to avoiding the “punishment” that was mentioned in 2:2, the penalty of being punished by God. In some languages you may need to make that clear here also. For example:

how shall we escape God’s punishment?

God will certainly punish us

2:3a

how shall we escape

so is there any way for us^(incl) to avoid punishment
So as for us^(incl) who have heard, we will certainly be punished

2:3b

if we neglect such a great salvation?

if we^(incl) ignore/disregard the greater message about salvation?
unless we^(incl) pay attention to the great way that God has provided to save people.

if we neglect such a great salvation: This clause gives another condition that is connected to the question “how shall we escape?” This condition is different from the condition in 2:2, which referred to a fact about the past: Everyone who disobeyed the law was justly punished. Here in 2:3b, the condition is present or future. It refers to the possibility that we may ignore God’s great salvation.

Some other ways to translate this condition are:

if we disregard the great salvation

on those of us who will not pay attention to this great salvation

we: The pronoun we refers to both the readers and the author, as it did in 2:1b.

neglect: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as neglect means “disregard, ignore.” The word is also used in Matthew 22:5 when people disregarded the invitation to a feast. See the translation examples in the preceding note.

such a great salvation: The phrase such a great salvation refers to the message about the great salvation that God has spoken of through his Son. The phrase indicates that this salvation is the greatest and most powerful salvation.

For more information, see the note on 1:14a–b, and see save, sense B, in KBT.

In some languages it is more natural to use a verb rather than the noun salvation in your translation. Some ways to translate using a verb are:

the powerful way that God now offers to save us

this great way of being saved (CEV)

salvation: The Greek word that the BSB translates as salvation refers to being rescued from evil or danger. In this context it refers to being rescued from sin. It implies that the people who are saved will not be judged and condemned because of sins. They will be reconciled with God and his people. Some other ways to translate it here are:

deliverance

freedom from sin/judgment

See the preceding note for examples of using a verb to translate salvation.

General Comment on 2:2–3

Hebrews 2:2–3 is one long sentence. You may need to divide it into several different sentences. For example:

²The message about the law which the angels brought could not be changed. Those who broke the law or who disobeyed it were justly punished. ³So how can we escape being punished by God if we ignore the message about such a great salvation?

²Angels brought a message which could not be changed. God rightly punished those who broke the law or who disobeyed it. ³So we also cannot escape if we pay no attention when God offers to save us so wonderfully.

In the Greek text the parts of 2:1–3 are arranged as a chiasm to emphasize the contrast between the message spoken by the Lord and the message received through angels.This special arrangement is a chiasm. The Notes shows this chiasm by using the same capital letters (A, A'; B, B'…) to indicate that the clauses have similar meanings:A Because of this, it is necessary B for us: to pay attention more carefully C to the things we have heard, lest we drift away from it. D 2 For if through the angels E was spoken F the message was firmly established G and every transgression and disobedience received just punishment G' 3 how will we escape [punishment] F' neglecting such a great salvation E' which was first received being spoken D' through the Lord [contrasts with angels] C' by the ones who heard B' to usA' it is confirmed… In some languages it is more natural to arrange the parts in a different way. For example:

¹We should pay greater attention to the things we have heard lest we drift away. ²For we know that the law that the angels spoke was valid, and God justly punished the people for every way they sinned and disobeyed it. ^3cBut it was the Lord himself who spoke about his salvation, ^3dand those who heard him confirmed it to us. Therefore, ^3bif we neglect his message, ^3athere is no way that we can escape punishment!

2:3c–4

In the Greek text, verses 2:3c–4 continue the long sentence that began at 2:2. Many versions begin a new sentence at 2:3c–4, and some translate 2:3c and 2:4 as separate sentences. Divide or connect the parts of the sentences in a natural way in your language.

2:3c

This salvation was first announced by the Lord,

It was the Lord who first spoke about this salvation,
The Lord Jesus himself first proclaimed the message about this way that God provided to save people.

This salvation was first announced by the Lord: This is a passive clause. It indicates that the Lord Jesus was the first person to tell people about the great salvation. The words This salvation refer to the “great salvation” that was mentioned at the end of 2:3b. Some ways to translate 2:3c are:

As a passive clause:
that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself (NLT)
As an active clause:
The Lord himself first told about this salvation (NCV)

For suggestions on translating salvation as a verb, see the note on salvation in 2:3b.

announced: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as announced is a common word that means “spoke.” It is the same word that was used in 1:2. Translate it in a natural way in your language for this context.

the Lord: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Lord means “someone who has authority over people In Greek this word can be used to refer to God and also to others who have great authority. Here it refers to the Lord Jesus. In some languages it may be helpful to make that explicit here. For example:

the Lord Jesus

The title Lord is used for Jesus also in 7:14 and 13:20.

2:3d

was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

and those who heard it from him confirmed to us^(incl) that it was certainly true.
and the people who listened to him reported it to us^(incl), so we know that it is true.
Then people who heard the message faithfully delivered/told it to us^(incl).

was confirmed to us by those who heard Him: This clause indicates that people who heard Jesus speak told other people what Jesus said. They confirmed that Jesus really said those things. The author and readers heard the testimony of those people who listened to Jesus.

This clause is passive. Some ways to translate it are:

As a passive clause. For example:
it was confirmed to us by those who heard (NASB)
As an active clause. For example:
and those who heard him confirmed it to us (REB)

confirmed to us by those who heard Him: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as confirmed indicates that people who heard Jesus speak repeated what he said to other people, including the author of Hebrews. They confirmed that what Jesus said about God’s salvation was true. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

and those who listened to him told us that it was certainly true

And people who heard that message from his very lips, they were the ones who recounted it to us, with the result that we know that it is true.

those who heard Him: The phrase those who heard Him refers to the apostles and other disciples who listened to Jesus while he was living with them on earth. The BSB has supplied the word Him to make the sentence more natural in English. It is not in the Greek text. Some English versions supply “it” instead. The meaning is almost the same, since the text refers to hearing what Jesus said.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας?

how we ˓will_be˒_escaping ˱of˲_so_great ˓having˒_neglected ˓a˒_salvation

The author does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the audience in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the answer is “we will not.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a strong negation. Alternate translation: [we will definitely not escape, having neglected so great a salvation.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα

we ˓will_be˒_escaping

The author implies that we will not escape what those under the law experienced when they broke that law, a “just penalty” ([2:2](../02/02.md)). So, he does not include what we escape because he stated it in the last verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [will we escape the penalty] or [will we escape just punishment]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας

we ˓will_be˒_escaping ˱of˲_so_great ˓having˒_neglected ˓a˒_salvation

The phrase having neglected introduces a hypothetical possibility. The author is not claiming that he or his audience have neglected or will “neglect” the salvation. Instead, he is asking the question about what we would happen if he or his audience did “neglect” the salvation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that introduces a possibility. Alternate translation: [will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τηλικαύτης & σωτηρίας? ἥτις

˱of˲_so_great & ˓a˒_salvation (Some words not found in SR-GNT: πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας Ἥτις ἀρχήν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διά τοῦ Κυρίου ὑπό τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμάς ἐβεβαιώθη)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of salvation, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “save.” Alternate translation: [the amazing way in which God saves us? This way in which God saves us]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τηλικαύτης & σωτηρίας? ἥτις

The word salvation refers to the “message” about salvation. The author makes this clear in the second half of the verse, when he refers to how the salvation is spoken. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea by referring to a “message” or “proclamation” about salvation. Alternate translation: [the proclamation about so great a salvation? Which proclamation about salvation]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα, λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας Ἥτις ἀρχήν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διά τοῦ Κυρίου ὑπό τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμάς ἐβεβαιώθη)

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 was chosen and spoken rather than on the person doing the choosing and speaking. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that “God” did the choosing and the Lord did the speaking. Alternate translation: [God having chosen the Lord to speak it first]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη

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 was confirmed rather than on the people doing the confirming. Alternate translation: [those who heard confirmed to us]

Parallel HEB 2:3