HEB 4:2 Parallel Verse View

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

OET (OET-RV) because we’ve already had the good message preached to us just like them, but the message they heard didn’t benefit them because they weren’t united in faith with the others who listened.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
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 For we also are having good news proclaimed to us just as to them also. But the message of the hearing did not benefit them, not having been joined in faith with the ones having heard it. [fn]

Other versions read, But the message of the hearing, not having been joined with faith in those who heard it, did not benefit them.

UST We need to make sure of this, because we heard the good news just like they did. However, because they were not among those people who believed in what they heard, what they heard did not help them.

BSB For we also received the good news just as they [did]; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended [it].[fn]

4:2 Literally not having been united in the faith of those who heard

BLB And indeed we are those having had the gospel preached just as they did; but the message of their hearing did not profit them, not having been united with the faith of those having heard.

AICNT For we have been given the good news just as they were; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith in those who heard.

OEB For we have had the good news told us just as they had. But the message which they heard did them no good, since they did not share the faith of those who were attentive to it.

WEBBE For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith.

LSV for we also are having good news proclaimed, even as they, but the word heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard,

FBV For we've heard the good news just like they did, but it didn't help them because they didn't accept and trust in what they heard.

TCNT For we also have received good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since [fn]they were not united by faith with those who listened.

4:2 they were not united by faith with those who listened ¦ it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it TR

T4T We have heard the message about Christ, just like the Israelites heard what God promised. But just like the message did not benefit most of those who heard it because they did not believe it as Joshua and Caleb did, it will not benefit us eternally if we do not keep believing it.

LEB _⌊For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us_⌋[fn], just as those also did, but the message _⌊they heard_⌋[fn] did not benefit them, because they[fn] were not united with those who heard it in faith.

4:2 Literally “for we are also having had the good news proclaimed”

4:2 Literally “of hearing”

4:2 *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“united”) which is understood as causal

BBE And, truly, the good news came to us, even as it did to them; but the hearing of the word did them no good, because they were not united in faith with the true hearers.

Moff For we have had the good news as well as they; only, the message they heard was of no use to them, because it did not meet with faith in the hearers.

Wymth For Good News has been brought to us as truly as to them; but the message they heard failed to benefit them, because they were not one in faith with those who gave heed to it.

ASV For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard.

DRA For unto us also it hath been declared, in like manner as unto them. But the word of hearing did not profit them, not being mixed with faith of those things they heard.

YLT for we also are having good news proclaimed, even as they, but the word heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard,

Drby For indeed we have had glad tidings presented to us, even as they also; but the word of the report did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard.

RV For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because they were not united by faith with them that heard.
(For indeed we have had good tidings/news preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because they were not united by faith with them that heard. )

SLT For we also were announced of the good news, as well as they: but the word of the report profited them not, not being mixed with faith to them having heard.

Wbstr For to us was the gospel preached, as well as to them: but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it .

KJB-1769 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

KJB-1611 For vnto vs was the Gospel preached, as well as vnto thē: but [fn]the word preached did not profit them, [fn]not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
(For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto thē: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.)

4:2 Gr. the word of hearing.

4:2 Or, because they were not vnited by faith to.

Bshps For vnto vs was the Gospell preached, aswell as vnto them: But the worde whiche they hearde dyd not profite them, not beyng coupled with fayth to them that hearde.
(For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: But the word which they heard did not profit them, not being coupled with faith to them that heard.)

Gnva For vnto vs was the Gospel preached as also vnto them: but the worde that they heard, profited not them, because it was not mixed with faith in those that heard it.
(For unto us was the Gospel preached as also unto them: but the word that they heard, profited not them, because it was not mixed with faith in those that heard it. )

Cvdl for it is declared vnto vs as well as vnto the. But the worde of preachinge helped not the, wha they that herde it, beleued it not.
(for it is declared unto us as well as unto them. But the word of preaching helped not them, what they that herd/heard it, believed it not.)

TNT For vnto vs was it declared as well as vnto them. But it proffited not them that they hearde the worde because they which hearde it coupled it not with fayth.
(For unto us was it declared as well as unto them. But it proffited not them that they heard the word because they which heard it coupled it not with faith. )

Wycl For it is told also to vs, as to hem. And the word that was herd profitide not to hem, not meynd to feith of tho thingis that thei herden.
(For it is told also to us, as to hem. And the word that was heard profited not to hem, not meynd to faith of those things that they heard.)

Luth Denn es ist uns auch verkündiget gleichwie jenen; aber das Wort der Predigt half jenen nichts, da nicht glaubeten die, so es höreten.
(Because it is us/to_us/ourselves also announced same_as those; but the word the/of_the sermon helped/assisted those nothing, there not believed that, so it heard.)

ClVg Etenim et nobis nuntiatum est, quemadmodum et illis: sed non profuit illis sermo auditus, non admistus fidei ex iis quæ audierunt.[fn]
(Indeed and us announced it_is, how/just_like and to_them: but not/no profuit to_them speech hearing, not/no admistus of_faith from to_them which they_heard. )

4.2 Non profuit, etc. Egressi enim de Ægypto, cum multam viam perambulassent, et multa indicia virtutis Dei accepissent in Ægypto, in mari Rubro, in eremo, consilium fecerunt mittere speculatores qui deberent inspicere naturam terræ. Quæ audierunt. Exploratoribus; qui mala retulerunt, non crediderunt; vel ita distingue, fidei sumptæ ex his quæ audierunt.

4.2 Not/No profuit, etc. Egressi because from/about to_Egypt, when/with a_lot way/road bagbulassent, and fine indicia of_virtue of_God to_have_receivednt in/into/on to_Egypt, in/into/on of_the_sea Red, in/into/on desert, advice they_did to_send watchtowertores who/which to_have_tont to_inspect nature of_the_earth/land. Which they_heard. Exploratoribus; who/which evil rethey_took, not/no they_believed; or so/thus distingue, of_faith sumptæ from his which they_heard.

UGNT καὶ γάρ ἐσμεν εὐηγγελισμένοι καθάπερ κἀκεῖνοι; ἀλλ’ οὐκ ὠφέλησεν ὁ λόγος τῆς ἀκοῆς ἐκείνους, μὴ συνκεκερασμένους τῇ πίστει τοῖς ἀκούσασιν.
(kai gar esmen euaʸngelismenoi kathaper kakeinoi; all’ ouk ōfelaʸsen ho logos taʸs akoaʸs ekeinous, maʸ sunkekerasmenous taʸ pistei tois akousasin.)

SBL-GNT καὶ γάρ ἐσμεν εὐηγγελισμένοι καθάπερ κἀκεῖνοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ὠφέλησεν ὁ λόγος τῆς ἀκοῆς ἐκείνους, μὴ ⸀συγκεκερασμένους τῇ πίστει τοῖς ἀκούσασιν.
(kai gar esmen euaʸngelismenoi kathaper kakeinoi, allʼ ouk ōfelaʸsen ho logos taʸs akoaʸs ekeinous, maʸ ⸀sugkekerasmenous taʸ pistei tois akousasin.)

RP-GNT Καὶ γάρ ἐσμεν εὐηγγελισμένοι, καθάπερ κἀκεῖνοι· ἀλλ' οὐκ ὠφέλησεν ὁ λόγος τῆς ἀκοῆς ἐκείνους, μὴ συγκεκραμένους τῇ πίστει τοῖς ἀκούσασιν.
(Kai gar esmen euaʸngelismenoi, kathaper kakeinoi; all' ouk ōfelaʸsen ho logos taʸs akoaʸs ekeinous, maʸ sugkekramenous taʸ pistei tois akousasin.)

TC-GNT Καὶ γάρ ἐσμεν εὐηγγελισμένοι, καθάπερ κἀκεῖνοι· ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ὠφέλησεν ὁ λόγος τῆς ἀκοῆς ἐκείνους, μὴ [fn]συγκεκραμένους τῇ πίστει τοῖς ἀκούσασιν.
(Kai gar esmen euaʸngelismenoi, kathaper kakeinoi; all ouk ōfelaʸsen ho logos taʸs akoaʸs ekeinous, maʸ sugkekramenous taʸ pistei tois akousasin. )

4:2 συγκεκραμενους ¦ συγκεκραμενος TR ¦ συγκεκερασμενους NA SBL ¦ συνκεκερασμενους TH WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–13: We must have faith in God and enter his rest

The word “rest” is used in 4:1, and it is the important topic that connects chapter 4 to chapter 3.It is the link between chapters 3 and 4, just as 2:1 was the link between chapter 1 and chapter 2, and 3:1 was a link between chapter 2 and chapter 3. The author used the word “rest” in a figurative way to refer to depending on God. God wants his people to rest from their own work, as God rested from his work on the seventh day after he created the world. In chapter 3, God promised the people of Israel a place to rest. In chapter 4, the author used a special time of rest as a symbol. This time was one day each week, which the people called the Sabbath Day (seventh day). Both the place and the time of rest are symbols of the rest that God’s people have when they depend on him for everything.

Two sentences in this section are especially important in stating this theme:

4:9	There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (BSB)
4:11	Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, (BSB)

The theme of this section is clear: God has planned a good life of rest for believers when they depend on him. We must be careful to believe and obey him so that we do not miss the life of rest that he promised. Some words that are connected to this theme in chapters 3 and 4 are “faith,” “believe,” “unbelief,” and “disobedience.”

Some other examples of headings for this section are:

God’s people can still experience God’s rest

We should trust God and receive his promise of rest

Paragraph 4:1–5

At the end of chapter 3, the author indicated that the people of Israel whom God led out of Egypt refused to enter his rest (3:19). Chapter 4 begins by saying that God still offers that rest to people who believe him (4:1a). Connect chapter 4 with chapter 3 in a natural way in your language. Notice the examples in the note on “Therefore” in 4:1a.

4:2

The BSB translates 4:2a–c as one sentence. In some languages it is more natural to use more than one sentence. For example:

We heard the good news, as our ancestors did. But the message did not help our ancestors because they did not join those who accepted it with faith.

4:2a

For we also received the good news just as they did;

For good news has been proclaimed/told to us^(incl), just as it was to them,
For we^(incl), too, heard that good news, as our ancestors did.

For…also: This part of the verse begins with two Greek conjunctions that the BSB translates literally as For and also. Some versions translate also as “indeed” here, because it emphasizes the statement in 4:2a. The word For indicates that 4:2c will explain why the good news did not help the Israelites who heard it (as 4:2b says). Connect the clauses in this verse in a natural way in your language.

we…received the good news just as they did: The Greek phrase which the BSB translates as we…received the good news just as they did is more literally “we were evangelized.” It uses a passive verb form, implying that someone told the listeners good news.

In this context the good news refers to the promise of rest that God offers his people. It does not refer specifically here to the gospel of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The phrase just as they did indicates that the Israelites whom Moses led out of Egypt (3:16) were also told good news.

Some ways to translate the phrases in 4:2a are:

Use passive verbs. For example:
The good news was told to us, just as it was told to them
Use verbs that focus on receiving the good news. For example:
We received the good news just as they did.
We have heard the good news just as they have.
Use active verbs and supply subjects. For example:
Someone told us the good news, just as someone told the good news to them.

Translate the verbs in a natural way in your language. A different form of the same verb is used again in 4:6.

we: The pronoun we refers to both the author and the readers.

just as they did: The phrase just as they did indicates that the readers and hearers of Hebrews received good news, just as the Israel people whom “Moses led out of Egypt” (3:16) also received good news. In some languages it may be helpful to refer to they more specifically. For example:

our ancestors

those Israel people of long ago

Refer back to them in a natural way in your language.

4:2b

but the message they heard was of no value to them,

but what they heard did not benefit/help them,
But although they heard the message, it did not help them at all,

but: The word but introduces a contrast. Both the readers of this letter and their ancestors received good news, but their ancestors failed to profit from the good news.

the message they heard was of no value to them: This clause indicates that hearing the message without believing it did not help the people of Israel. Some ways to translate this meaning are:

they listened to the message but they received no help from it

They heard his word but they gained nothing from hearing it

the message they heard: The phrase the message they heard refers to the good news that was told to the people of Israel (4:2a). It was God’s promise that he would give them rest in the land to which he was leading them. Indicate clearly that the message and the “good news” refer to the same message. For example:

this message that they heard

that good news that they heard

4:2c

since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

because they did not believe it and join/unite with the others who accepted it.
since they did not accept/share the faith of those who believed it.

since: The word since introduces the reason that God’s message did not benefit the people of Israel.

they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it: There is a textual issue concerning the word that the BSB translates as share. The form of this word causes scholars to interpret 4:2c in different ways. The two textual options are:

In some Greek manuscripts the verb share is plural. The clause indicates that the people who did not enter God’s rest (3:19) did not “join" with the people who listened to what God said. For example:
they did not share the faith of those who did listen (NJB) (BSB, NRSV, NJB, ESV, NASB, NET, NLT, NIV)
In other Greek manuscripts the word share is singular. The clause indicates that the message was heard but was not combined with faith in some people. For example:
it was not combined with faith in those who heard it (REB) (GNT, JBP, REB, NCV, CEV, NIV84)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It is followed by many Greek manuscripts, including some of the oldest and most reliable ones.Metzger (2^nd Edition, page 595) says about this textual issue, “Among the bewildering variety of readings preserved among the manuscripts…the one that best explains the origin of the others is [this one]…Supported by early and diverse testimony representing both the Alexandrian and the Western types of text…, as the most difficult reading it would naturally have been altered to the easier nominative singular.” However, many scholars also support option (2), and it is also acceptable.

Since both options are acceptable, you may want to include a footnote in your translation to mention the option that you decide not to follow. For example, the NRSV has this footnote:

Other ancient authorities read: “it did not meet with faith in those who listened.”

did not share the faith of those who comprehended it: This phrase refers to the time when most of the people of Israel did not believe the good news that God told them. He promised to give them rest in the land of Canaan. However, only Moses, Joshua, and Caleb trusted God to do what he said. The phrase did not share the faith indicates that most of the people refused to join the ones who listened to God and believed him.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

they did not join in with those who heard it in faith (NET)

they refused to unite with the ones who believed that good message

faith: In this context the word faith refers to believing the message that God was able to give the people rest in the land that he promised them. The people of Israel did not believe that this message was true. See the examples in the preceding note. For more information, see believe, sense C2, in KBT.

General Comment on 4:2b–c

In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of 4:2b–c. For example:

^2cThey, however, did not believe the good news that they heard, ^2band so it did not help them.

^2cbut they did not believe the good news which they heard, ^2band so it was not of any use to them

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γάρ

for

Here, the word For introduces a further explanation of why we should “be afraid” ([4:1](../04/01.md)). The author’s point is that they received the promise of rest, but they did not receive rest, because they disobeyed. Since we are in the same situation and have also received the promise of rest, we need to “be afraid” that what happened to them will happen to us. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation. Alternate translation: [That is especially true because] or [Indeed,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

καὶ & ἐσμεν εὐηγγελισμένοι καθάπερ κἀκεῖνοι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί γάρ ἐσμέν εὐηγγελισμένοι καθάπερ κἀκεῖνοι ἀλλʼ οὐκ ὠφέλησεν ὁ λόγος τῆς ἀκοῆς ἐκείνους μή συγκεκερασμένους τῇ πίστει τοῖς ἀκούσασιν)

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 those to whom the good news is proclaimed rather than on the person doing the proclaiming. If you must state who did the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [we also listened to the good news just as they did] or [someone proclaimed the good news to us also just as to them]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

καθάπερ κἀκεῖνοι

just_as also_those

The author is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the first half of the sentence. Alternate translation: [just as they also had good news proclaimed to them]

Note 4 topic: writing-pronouns

κἀκεῖνοι & ἐκείνους

also_those & those

Here, the word them refers to the Israelites whom God led out of Egypt and who died in the wilderness without entering the rest (See: [3:16–19](../03/16.md)). If your readers would not know to whom them refers, you could make it explicit. Alternate translation: [to the Israelite ancestors also … them] or [to that generation also … them]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ὁ λόγος τῆς ἀκοῆς

the word ˱of˲_their hearing

Here the author uses the possessive form to describe a message that someone, in this case the Israelite ancestors, “heard.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea without using a possessive form. Alternate translation: [the message that they heard]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

μὴ συνκεκερασμένους

Here, the phrase not having been joined introduces the reason why the message did not benefit them. If your readers not infer this relationship, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [since it had not been joined]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μὴ συνκεκερασμένους τῇ πίστει τοῖς ἀκούσασιν

Here, the phrase not having been joined describes them, who are not joined with those who heard as part of the group of those who believe. In this construction, the word faith can refer to: (1) what those who are joined have in common. Alternate translation: [not having been joined as people with faith to those who heard it] (2) what performs the “joining.” Alternate translation: [not having been joined by faith to those who heard it]

Note 8 topic: translate-textvariants

μὴ συνκεκερασμένους τῇ πίστει τοῖς ἀκούσασιν

Most early manuscripts make not having been joined refer back to them. However, a few early manuscripts make not having been joined refer back to the message. In this case, the clause would refer to how those who heard the message did not join faith to it when they heard it. In other words, they did not believe what they heard. However, the option that the ULT follows has the most support, so it is best to make not having been joined refer back to them.

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

μὴ συνκεκερασμένους

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 those who are joined rather than on the person doing the joining. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that God or they themselves did it. Alternate translation: [not having joined themselves] or [God not having joined them]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῇ πίστει

¬the ˱with˲_faith

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of faith, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “trust” or “believe.” Alternate translation: [in trusting it] or [in believing it]