fury of fire

The now commonly-used German expression Feuereifer, which today is used for a strong engagement for something, especially a cause of some kind, was first coined in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. Since the meaning of that expression has now changed into something positive, the current edition of Luther’s translation (publ. 2017) uses wütendes Feuer — “raging fire.” Source: Günther 2017, p. 67)

For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.

complete verse (Hebrews 10:27)

Following are a number of back-translations of Hebrews 10:27:

  • Uma: “If our actions are like that, we will certainly be afraid waiting for the time God will judge our case, we will be afraid of his punishment that is like a flaming fire–for severe/great is his punishment punishing people who oppose him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “People like that have nothing to expect/hope for in the future except fear in waiting for the judgment that God will send to them and (for the) hot fire that God will use to destroy those that oppose him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The person who does this, where he will wind up be the very terrible judgment and very hot fire which God will use to punish all of those who resist Him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There is nothing else to be awaited but God’s fearful judgment of us and the fearful fire that keeps-burning all who oppose God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Rather, all we would be waiting for, trembling-with-fear, is God’s judgment which is like a huge-wall of fire which completely-consumes all who oppose him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Rather only the terrible fire burning fiercely which is where God will place his enemies when he judges, is what they will meet up with.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Hebrews 10:27

This verse recalls Isaiah 26.11 in the Septuagint. A literal translation of all that is left may be confusing, since it might suggest that something has been “left” in the sense of being abandoned. The meaning is simply “the only thing we can do” or “there is nothing else for us to do but.”

To wait in fear for the coming Judgment repeats in more detail the reference to the “Day” in verse 25. The Greek contains an element of indefiniteness which King James Version translates “a certain fearful looking for of judgment.” The judgment is certain, but exactly what it will involve is not. The Greek for “fearful” means “causing fear” or “(rightly) to be feared.” See also 10.31 and 12.21.

To wait: the Greek noun here which Revised Standard Version translates “prospect,” and New English Bible more literally “expectation,” is related in form and meaning to the verb translated waits in 10.13 and waiting in 11.10.

The phrase to wait in fear may need to be expressed by two verbs; for example, “to wait and to fear” or “while we are waiting, to fear.”

For the coming Judgment may be expressed as “God’s judging will soon happen” or “the time when God will judge is near.”

The fierce fire may be expressed as “the hot fire” or “the very hot fire,” but it may be better to speak of the fire in terms of its extent; for example, “the very great fire” or “the exceedingly large fire.”

Destroy is literally “eat” (Translator’s New Testament “devour”), but clearly in an extended meaning, making fire assume the figure of a wild beast.

Those who oppose God may be rendered as “those who are enemies of God” or “those who fight against God.” However, the writer avoids the common Greek word for “enemies,” except in quotations from the Old Testament; a somewhat milder word such as “adversaries” (Revised Standard Version) may be appropriate in translation. In those who oppose God, in the Greek God is implied as in Isaiah 26.11, to which the writer may be referring; Hebrews 10.29 suggests that opposition to Christ may also be included.

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 .