A Great Cloud

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us,

Τοιγαροῦνconsequently, therefore καὶand, also ἡμεῖς,I τοσοῦτονso great ἔχοντεςI have, hold, possess περικείμενονI surround, am surrounded with ἡμῖνI νέφοςa cloud, multitude, great company μαρτύρων,a witness ὄγκονa weight, burden ἀποθέμενοιI lay off or aside, renounce πάνταall, the whole, every kind of καὶand, also τὴνthe εὐπερίστατονeasily encircling ἁμαρτίαν,a sin δι’through ὑπομονῆςendurance, steadfastness τρέχωμενI run, exercise myself τὸνthe προκείμενονI am set before ἡμῖνI ἀγῶνα,a contest

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

ἀφορῶντεςI look away from εἰςinto, so that τὸνthe τῆςthe πίστεωςfaith, trust ἀρχηγὸνoriginator, author, founder καὶand, also τελειωτὴνa perfecter, completer Ἰησοῦν,Jesus ὃςwho, which ἀντὶinstead of, for τῆςthe προκειμένηςI am set before αὐτῷhe, his, it χαρᾶςjoy, gladness ὑπέμεινενI remain behind, endure σταυρὸνa cross αἰσχύνηςshame καταφρονήσας,I despise, scorn ἐνin, by δεξιᾷon the right hand, right hand, right τεand, both τοῦthe θρόνουa throne, seat τοῦthe θεοῦGod κεκάθικεν.I set, make to sit

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

ἈναλογίσασθεI think upon, consider attentively γὰρfor τὸνthe τοιαύτηνof such a kind, such ὑπομεμενηκόταI remain behind, endure ὑπὸby, under, about τῶνthe ἁμαρτωλῶνsinning, sinful, a sinner εἰςinto, so that ἑαυτοὺςhimself, herself, itself ἀντιλογίαν,contradiction, contention, rebellion ἵναin order that, so that μὴnot κάμητεI am weary, ill ταῖςthe ψυχαῖςthe soul, life, self ὑμῶνyou ἐκλυόμενοι. 

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

οὔπωnot yet μέχρις  αἵματοςblood ἀντικατέστητεI resist πρὸςto, towards, with τὴνthe ἁμαρτίανa sin ἀνταγωνιζόμενοι,I resist, strive against

And you have forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he corrects you,

καὶand, also ἐκλέλησθε  τῆςthe παρακλήσεως,exhortation, entreaty, encouragement, comfort ἥτιςwhosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever ὑμῖνyou ὡςas, like as, how, while, so that υἱοῖςa son, descendent διαλέγεται,I converse, address, preach, lecture Υἱέa son, descendent μου,I μὴnot ὀλιγώρειI despise, make light of παιδείαςdiscipline κυρίου,lord, Lord, master, sir μηδὲand not, not even ἐκλύου  ὑπ’by, under, about αὐτοῦhe, his, it ἐλεγχόμενος·I rebuke, expose

for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he punishes every son he accepts.'

ὃνwho, which γὰρfor ἀγαπᾷI love κύριοςlord, Lord, master, sir παιδεύει,I discipline, educate, train, chastise μαστιγοῖI flog, scourge δὲnow, but πάνταall, the whole, every kind of υἱὸνa son, descendent ὃνwho, which παραδέχεται.I receive, accept, acknowledge

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

εἰςinto, so that παιδείανdiscipline ὑπομένετε·I remain behind, endure ὡςas, like as, how, while, so that υἱοῖςa son, descendent ὑμῖνyou προσφέρεταιto offer, bring ὁthe θεός·God τίςany one, some one γὰρfor υἱὸςa son, descendent ὃνwho, which οὐnot παιδεύειI discipline, educate, train, chastise πατήρ;father, Father, ancestor

If you are without discipline, which everyone shares in, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

εἰif δὲnow, but χωρίςwithout, apart from ἐστεto be παιδείαςdiscipline ἧςwho, which μέτοχοιa sharer, partner γεγόνασιto come to be, be made πάντες,all, the whole, every kind of ἄραa prayer or prayer for evil, a curse, imprecation νόθοιillegitimate, bastard καὶand, also οὐχnot υἱοίa son, descendent ἐστε.to be

Besides, we had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Shall we not much more submit to the Father of spirits and live?

εἶταthen, thereafter, next τοὺςthe μὲνtruly, indeed τῆςthe σαρκὸςflesh, body ἡμῶνI πατέραςfather, Father, ancestor εἴχομενI have, hold, possess παιδευτὰςan instructor καὶand, also ἐνετρεπόμεθα·I turn to confusion, put to shame, reverence οὐnot πολὺmuch, great; here 'better, greater' μᾶλλονmore, rather ὑποταγησόμεθαI place under, subject to τῷthe πατρὶfather, Father, ancestor τῶνthe πνευμάτωνwind, breath, spirit καὶand, also ζήσομεν;I live

They disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but he does it for our good, so that we may share in his holiness.

οἱthe μὲνtruly, indeed γὰρfor πρὸςto, towards, with ὀλίγαςsmall, brief, few, soon ἡμέραςa day κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τὸthe δοκοῦνI think, seem, appear, it seems αὐτοῖςhe, his, it ἐπαίδευον,I discipline, educate, train, chastise ὁthe δὲnow, but ἐπὶupon, concerning τὸthe συμφέρονI collect, am profitable to εἰςinto, so that τὸthe μεταλαβεῖνI share in, partake of τῆςthe ἁγιότητοςholiness αὐτοῦ.he, his, it

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

πᾶσαall, the whole, every kind of δὲnow, but παιδείαdiscipline πρὸςto, towards, with μὲνtruly, indeed τὸthe παρὸνI am present, am near οὐnot δοκεῖI think, seem, appear, it seems χαρᾶςjoy, gladness εἶναιto be ἀλλὰbut, except λύπης,pain, grief ὕστερονlastly, afterward δὲnow, but καρπὸνfruit, result, gain εἰρηνικὸνpeaceable, disposed to peace τοῖςthe δι’through αὐτῆςhe, his, it γεγυμνασμένοιςI train by physical exercise ἀποδίδωσινI give back, return, sell δικαιοσύνης.justice, justness, righteousness

So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees,

Διὸwherefore τὰςthe παρειμέναςI neglect, omit, slacken χεῖραςa hand καὶand, also τὰthe παραλελυμένα  γόναταa knee ἀνορθώσατε,I make straight again, rear again, restore

and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but healed instead.

καὶand, also τροχιὰςthe track of a wheel, a path ὀρθὰςupright, straight ποιεῖτεI do, make τοῖςthe ποσὶνthe foot ὑμῶν,you ἵναin order that, so that μὴnot τὸthe χωλὸνlame, deprived of a foot ἐκτραπῇ,  ἰαθῇI heal δὲnow, but μᾶλλον.more, rather

Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Εἰρήνηνpeace, peace of mind διώκετεI pursue, persecute μετὰwith, after πάντων,all, the whole, every kind of καὶand, also τὸνthe ἁγιασμόν,sanctification, holiness οὗwho, which χωρὶςwithout, apart from οὐδεὶςno one, none, nothing ὄψεταιto see τὸνthe κύριον,lord, Lord, master, sir

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.

ἐπισκοποῦντεςI exercise oversight, care for μήnot τιςany one, some one ὑστερῶνI am lacking, fall short, suffer need ἀπὸfrom, away from τῆςthe χάριτοςgrace, favor, kindness τοῦthe θεοῦ,God μήnot τιςany one, some one ῥίζαa root, that which comes from the root πικρίαςbitterness ἄνωup, above, things above, heaven φύουσαI grow, grow up ἐνοχλῇI disturb, cause tumult καὶand, also δι’through αὐτῆςhe, his, it μιανθῶσινI stain, pollute, defile πολλοί,much, great; here 'better, greater'

See that no one is sexually immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

μήnot τιςany one, some one πόρνοςa fornicator ἢor, than βέβηλοςprofane, secular, unspiritual, godless, worldly ὡςas, like as, how, while, so that Ἠσαῦ,Esau ὃςwho, which ἀντὶinstead of, for βρώσεωςeating, food, a meal, rust μιᾶςinto, in, among, till, for ἀπέδετοI give back, return, sell τὰthe πρωτοτόκιαthe birthright ἑαυτοῦ.himself, herself, itself

For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He found no opportunity for repentance, even though he sought the blessing with tears.

ἴστεI know, remember γὰρfor ὅτιthat καὶand, also μετέπειταafterwards θέλωνI will, wish, desire κληρονομῆσαιI inherit, obtain τὴνthe εὐλογίανadulation, praise, blessing ἀπεδοκιμάσθη,I reject after testing, I disqualify μετανοίαςrepentance, a change of mind γὰρfor τόπονa place οὐχnot εὗρεν,to find καίπερalthough μετὰwith, after δακρύωνa tear ἐκζητήσαςto seek out αὐτήν.he, his, it

For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom and storm,

Οὐnot γὰρfor προσεληλύθατεto come to, approach ψηλαφωμένῳI feel, touch, handle, grope for καὶand, also κεκαυμένῳI ignite, light, burn πυρὶfire, trials καὶand, also γνόφῳdarkness, gloom καὶand, also ζόφῳdarkness, murkiness καὶand, also θυέλλῃa storm, tempest

to a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words, which made those who heard it beg that no further word be spoken to them,

καὶand, also σάλπιγγοςa trumpet ἤχῳa sound, rumor καὶand, also φωνῇa sound, noise, voice ῥημάτων,spoken word ἧςwho, which οἱthe ἀκούσαντεςI hear, listen παρῃτήσαντοI make excuse, refuse, reject μὴnot προστεθῆναιI put to, add, do again αὐτοῖςhe, his, it λόγον·a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy

because they could not bear what was commanded: 'If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.'

οὐκnot ἔφερονI carry, bear, bring, lead γὰρfor τὸthe διαστελλόμενον·I give a commission, order Κἂνand if, even if θηρίονa wild beast, animal θίγῃI touch, handle τοῦthe ὄρους,a mountain λιθοβοληθήσεται·I stone, cast stones at

The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, 'I am trembling with fear.'

καί,and, also οὕτω  φοβερὸνfearful, dreadful ἦνto be τὸthe φανταζόμενον,  Μωϋσῆς  εἶπεν·I say, speak Ἔκφοβόςgreatly terrified εἰμιto be καὶand, also ἔντρομος.trembling through fear

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to thousands upon thousands of angels in festive gathering,

ἀλλὰbut, except προσεληλύθατεto come to, approach ΣιὼνZion ὄρειa mountain καὶand, also πόλειa city θεοῦGod ζῶντος,I live ἸερουσαλὴμJerusalem ἐπουρανίῳ,heavenly, celestial καὶand, also μυριάσινa myriad, ten thousand ἀγγέλων,an angel, messenger πανηγύρειa festival assembly

to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

καὶand, also ἐκκλησίᾳan assembly, congregation, church πρωτοτόκωνfirst-born ἀπογεγραμμένωνI enroll, inscribe in a register ἐνin, by οὐρανοῖς,the sky, the heaven καὶand, also κριτῇa judge θεῷGod πάντων,all, the whole, every kind of καὶand, also πνεύμασιwind, breath, spirit δικαίωνrighteous τετελειωμένων,I complete, accomplish, make perfect

to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

καὶand, also διαθήκηςa covenant, will, testament νέαςyoung, new, fresh μεσίτῃa mediator, go-between Ἰησοῦ,Jesus καὶand, also αἵματιblood ῥαντισμοῦsprinkling, purification κρεῖττονstronger, more excellent λαλοῦντιto speak παρὰthan, beside τὸνthe Ἅβελ.Abel

See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking. For if those who refused the one who warned them on earth did not escape, how much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who warns us from heaven?

Βλέπετεto see μὴnot παραιτήσησθεI make excuse, refuse, reject τὸνthe λαλοῦντα·to speak εἰif γὰρfor ἐκεῖνοιthat, that one there, yonder οὐκnot ἐξέφυγονI flee out, away, I escape ἐπὶupon, concerning γῆςthe earth, soil, land παραιτησάμενοιI make excuse, refuse, reject τὸνthe χρηματίζοντα,I warn, am publicly called πολὺmuch, great; here 'better, greater' μᾶλλονmore, rather ἡμεῖςI οἱthe τὸνthe ἀπ’from, away from οὐρανῶνthe sky, the heaven ἀποστρεφόμενοι·I turn away, restore, reject

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.'

οὗwho, which ἡthe φωνὴa sound, noise, voice τὴνthe γῆνthe earth, soil, land ἐσάλευσενI shake, excite τότε,then νῦνnow, already, at present δὲnow, but ἐπήγγελταιI promise, profess λέγων·I say, speak Ἔτιstill, yet ἅπαξonce, once for all ἐγὼI σείσωI shake οὐnot μόνονonly, solitary, desolate τὴνthe γῆνthe earth, soil, land ἀλλὰbut, except καὶand, also τὸνthe οὐρανόν.the sky, the heaven

The words 'once more' indicate the removal of what can be shaken, that is, created things, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

τὸthe δὲnow, but Ἔτιstill, yet ἅπαξonce, once for all δηλοῖI show, make clear, reveal τῶνthe σαλευομένωνI shake, excite μετάθεσινremoval, taking away ὡςas, like as, how, while, so that πεποιημένων,I do, make ἵναin order that, so that μείνῃI remain, abide τὰthe μὴnot σαλευόμενα.I shake, excite

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

διὸwherefore βασιλείανkingship, sovereignty, authority, rule, kingdom ἀσάλευτονunshaken, immovable παραλαμβάνοντεςI take, receive ἔχωμενI have, hold, possess χάριν,grace, favor, kindness δι’through ἧςwho, which λατρεύωμενI serve, worship εὐαρέστωςacceptably τῷthe θεῷGod μετὰwith, after εὐλαβείαςreverence, piety καὶand, also δέους, 

for our God is a consuming fire.

καὶand, also γὰρfor ὁthe θεὸςGod ἡμῶνI πῦρfire, trials καταναλίσκον.I consume utterly