12:7 Endure your suffering 1 as discipline; 2 God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 12:8 But if you do not experience discipline, 3 something all sons 4 have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 12:9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from 5 our earthly fathers 6 and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? 7 12:10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 12:11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. 8 But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness 9 for those trained by it. 12:12 Therefore, strengthen 10 your listless hands and your weak knees, 11
1 tn Grk “endure,” with the object (“your suffering”) understood from the context.
2 tn Or “in order to become disciplined.”
3 tn Grk “you are without discipline.”
4 tn Grk “all”; “sons” is implied by the context.
5 tn Grk “we had our earthly fathers as discipliners.”
6 tn Grk “the fathers of our flesh.” In Hebrews, “flesh” is a characteristic way of speaking about outward, physical, earthly life (cf. Heb 5:7; 9:10, 13), as opposed to the inward or spiritual dimensions of life.
7 tn Grk “and live.”
8 tn Grk “all discipline at the time does not seem to be of joy, but of sorrow.”
9 tn Grk “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
10 tn Or “straighten.”
11 sn A quotation from Isa 35:3. Strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees refers to the readers’ need for renewed resolve and fresh strength in their struggles (cf. Heb 10:36-39; 12:1-3).