en_tn/heb/12/01.md

General Information:

The words "we" and "us" refer to the author and his readers. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive)

Connecting Statement:

Because of this great number of Old Testament believers, the author talks of the life of faith that believers should live.

we are surrounded by such a large cloud of witnesses

The writer speaks about the Old Testament believers as if they were a cloud that surrounds the present-day believers. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "such a large cloud of witnesses surrounds us" or "there are so many examples of faithful people about whom we learn in the scriptures" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive)

witnesses

Here "witnesses" refers to the Old Testament believers in chapter 11 who lived before the race of faith that believers now run.

let us lay aside every weight and easily entangling sin

Here "weight" and "easily entangling sin" are spoken of as if a person could take them off himself and put them down. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

every weight

Attitudes or habits that keep believers from trusting and obeying God are spoken of as if they were loads that would make it difficult for a person to run while carrying. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

easily entangling sin

Sin is spoken of as if it were a net or something else that can trip people up and make them fall. Alternate translation: "sin that makes obeying God difficult" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

Let us patiently run the race that is placed before us

Following Jesus is spoken of as if it were running a race. Alternate translation: "Let us continue obeying what God has commanded us, just like a runner keeps going until the race is over" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)