Should I go on?: the translator has to make two decisions here. First, he must decide whether it is natural in his language to use a rhetorical question to begin this verse, or whether a strong negative statement such as “There is no need for me to say any more” is better. Or else it may begin “I could go on and on, but there isn’t enough time for me. For I haven’t yet mentioned….” Second, if a rhetorical question is used, the translator must decide what form it should take: (i) “What more need I say?” (Translator’s New Testament), “And what other examples should I give?” (Barclay ); or (ii) “Need I say more?” (New English Bible; similarly Good News Translation). Form (i) fits in better with the references to Gideon and the others; form (ii) fits in better with There isn’t enough time. The difference in meaning is slight, and the translator should choose whichever sounds more natural in his own language.

Speak does not mean “talk” in general; it means “tell the stories” (New English Bible), with the suggestion of a series or list. To speak of or “to mention” may need to be rendered as “to write about,” since this is a written text.

On prophets, see comments on 1.1.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .