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Hebrews 13
Hebrews 13:1
Connecting Statement:
In this closing section, the author gives specific instructions to believers on how they are supposed to live.
Let brotherly love continue
"Continue to show your love for other believers as you would for a member of your family"
Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "Be sure to remember" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-litotes)
hospitality for strangers
"to welcome and show kindness to strangers"
Hebrews 13:3
as if you were bound with them
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "as if you were tied up along with them" or "as if you were in prison with them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
who are mistreated
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "whom others are mistreating" or "who are suffering" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
as if you also were them in the body
This phrase encourages believers to think about other people's suffering as they would think about their own suffering. Alternate translation: "as if you were the one suffering" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Hebrews 13:4
Let marriage be held in honor by all
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Everyone should hold marriage in honor" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
let the marriage bed be kept pure
This refers to the act of sexual union as if it were the bed on which that act takes place. Alternate translation: "Let husbands and wives honor their marriage relationship to one another and engage in sexual activity with other people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hebrews 13:5
Let your conduct be free from the love of money
Here "conduct" refers to a person's character or the way he lives, and "free from the love of money" refers to not greatly desiring to have more money. A person who loves money is not content with the amount of money he has. Alternate translation: "Let your conduct not be affected by the love of money" or "Do not greatly wish to have more money"
Be content
"Be satisfied"
Hebrews 13:6
The Lord is my helper ... do to me
This is a quotation from the book of Psalms in the Old Testament. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
I will not be afraid. What can a man do to me?
The author uses a question to emphasize that he does not fear people because God is helping him. Here "man" means any person in general. Alternate translation: "I will not fear what any person can do to me!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-gendernotations)
Hebrews 13:7
spoke God's word to you
"told you what God has said"
the result of their conduct
"the outcome of the way they behave"
Imitate their faith
Here the trust in God and the way of life led by these leaders are spoken of as "their faith." Alternate translation: "Trust and obey God in the same way they do" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hebrews 13:8
is the same yesterday, today, and forever
Here "yesterday" means all times in the past. Alternate translation: "is the same in the past, the present, and in the future forever" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by various strange teachings
Being persuaded by various teachings is spoken of as if a person were being carried away by a force. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Do not let others persuade you to believe their various strange teachings" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
various strange teachings
"many, different teachings that are not the good news we told you"
it is good that the heart should be strengthened by grace, not by foods that do not help those who walk by them
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "we become stronger when we think of how God has been kind to us, but we do not become stronger by obeying rules about food" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
the heart should be strengthened
Here "heart" is a metonym for the "inner being." Alternate translation: "we should be strengthened inwardly" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
foods
Here "foods" stands for rules about food. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
those who walk by them
Living is spoken of as if it were walking. Alternate translation: "those who live by them" or "those who regulate their lives by them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 13:10
We have an altar from which
Here, "altar" is a metaphor. The Christians did not literally have an altar, nor did they offer animal sacrifices. The author means that Christians have a relationship with God that the Jews who work in the tabernacle do not know about. Alternate translation: "We have an altar, so to speak, from which" or "What we have is like an altar from which" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 13:11
General Information:
This verse refers to animal sacrifices made by believers in God in Old Testament times, which covered their sins temporarily until the death of Christ came about.
the blood of the animals killed for sins is brought by the high priest into the holy place
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the high priest brings into the holy place the blood of the animals that the priests killed for sins" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
while their bodies are burned
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "while the priests burn the animals' bodies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
outside the camp
"away from where the people live"
Hebrews 13:12
Connecting Statement:
There is a comparison here between Jesus's sacrifice and the tabernacle sacrifices of the Old Testament.
So
"In the same way" or "Because the bodies of the sacrifices were burned outside the camp" (Hebrews 13:11)
outside the city gate
This stands for "outside the city." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hebrews 13:13
Let us therefore go to him outside the camp
Obeying Jesus is spoken of as if a person were leaving the camp to go out where Jesus is. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
bearing his reproach
Reproach is spoken of as if it were an object that has to be carried in one's hands or on one's back. Alternate translation: "while allowing others to insult us just like people insulted him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 13:14
looking for
"waiting for"
Hebrews 13:15
sacrifices of praise
Praise is spoken of as if it were incense or sacrifices of animals. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
praise that is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name
Praise is spoken of as if it were fruit produced by the lips of people. Alternate translation: "praise that is produced by the lips of those who acknowledge his name" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
lips that acknowledge his name
Here "lips" represents people who speak. Alternate translation: "the lips of those who acknowledge his name" or "those who acknowledge his name" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
his name
A person's name represents that person. Alternate translation: "him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hebrews 13:16
Let us not forget doing good and sharing
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "Let us always remember to do good and share our goods with one another"
with such sacrifices
Doing good and helping others is spoken of as if they were sacrifices on an altar. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 13:17
keep watch over your souls
The believers' souls, that is, the believers' spiritual well-being, are spoken of as if they were objects or animals that guards could keep watch over. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
not with groaning
Here "groaning" stands for sadness or grief. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us
Here "us" refers to the author and his companions, but not to the readers. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
we are convinced that we have a good conscience
Here "good" stands for being free from guilt. Alternate translation: "we are certain that we have no guilt" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 13:19
that I will be returned to you sooner
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that God will quickly remove the things that stop my coming to you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Hebrews 13:20
Connecting Statement:
The author closes with a blessing and greetings.
Now
This marks a new section of the letter. Here the author praises God and gives a final prayer for his readers.
brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus
"raised the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, to life"
from the dead
"from among all those who have died." The expression "the dead" describes all dead people together in the underworld. To raise someone from among them speaks of causing that person to become alive again.
the great shepherd of the sheep
Christ in his role of leader and protector of those who believe in him is spoken of as if he were a shepherd of sheep. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
by the blood of the eternal covenant
Here "blood" stands for the death of Jesus, which is the basis for the covenant that will last forever between God and all believers in Christ. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hebrews 13:21
equip you with everything good to do his will
"give you every good thing you need in order to do his will" or "make you capable of doing every good thing according to his will"
working in us
The word "us" refers to the author and the readers. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
to whom be the glory forever
"whom all people will praise forever"
Hebrews 13:22
Now
This marks a new section of the letter. Here the author gives his final comments to his audience.
brothers
This refers to all the believers to whom he is writing, whether male or female. Alternate translation: "fellow believers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-gendernotations)
to bear with the word of encouragement that I have briefly written to you
"to patiently consider what I have just briefly written to encourage you"
the word of encouragement
Here "word" stands for a message. Alternate translation: "the encouraging message" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hebrews 13:23
has been set free
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "is no longer in prison" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Hebrews 13:24
Those from Italy greet you
Possible meanings are 1) the author is not in Italy, but there is a group of believers with him who have come from Italy or 2) the author is in Italy while writing this letter.
Italy
This is the name of a region at that time. Rome is the capital city of Italy. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Hebrews 13:25
General Information:
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