Hebrews 12:3

12:3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.

Hebrews 12:7-12

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 

[12:7]  ¹ tn Grk “endure,” with the object (“your suffering”) understood from the context.

[12:7]  ² tn Or “in order to become disciplined.”

[12:8]  ³ tn Grk “you are without discipline.”

[12:8]  ⁴ tn Grk “all”; “sons” is implied by the context.

[12:9]  ⁵ tn Grk “we had our earthly fathers as discipliners.”

[12:9]  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.

[12:9]  ⁷ tn Grk “and live.”

[12:11]  ⁸ tn Grk “all discipline at the time does not seem to be of joy, but of sorrow.”

[12:11]  ⁹ tn Grk “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

[12:12]  ¹⁰ tn Or “straighten.”

[12:12]  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).