harden

The Greek that is translated as “to harden” or similar in English is translated in Mwera as “to become stubborn.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also harden heart and hardness of heart..

complete verse (Hebrews 4:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of Hebrews 4:7:

  • Uma: “That’s why God determined/made-certain another day also, so that mankind [would] get rest with him. The day that he made-certain is today, relatives, on the day when we hear the voice of God. Because several hundred years after the prophet Musa, King Daud wrote the Word of God that we heard earlier that say: ‘Today, if you hear the voice of God, don’t any longer harden your hearts.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “We (dual) know this, because there is another day which God prearranged for people to enter. That day is called ‘This Day.’ Many years went by during the time of the people of old who did not believe, (when) Da’ud was caused by God to speak those words, he said, ‘When/if you hear God’s voice this day, don’t cause your livers to be hard.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason we know this is because there is still a time set by God when people will be able to enter in to the rest that He has prepared. For a long time after the time of those first people who didn’t believe, God inspired His word in King David and David said, ‘Today if you will listen to the word of God to you, it’s necessary that your breaths not become hard.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “there is another time that God has given to people so they will have-opportunity to enter, and now/today is that time. We know that, because when those people long ago didn’t enter, many years passed-by, then God caused-David -to-write what I told a-little-earlier which says, ‘Today, if you hear God’s words, don’t harden your minds.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore, in the time of king David, even though a long time had gone by since the time of those people who couldn’t be included, God made known that there was still time during that time of David in which people could be included in his rest. The proof of that is, David mentioned the word ‘now/today’ in the words that God caused him to write which say, ‘Now/today, if you have heard what God is saying, hopefully don’t harden your heads.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Until these days in which we live there hasn’t passed away the word God spoke to the people when he said: ‘Concerning this day,’ he said. In the past days God called the people there in the desert. Many many days later again God put in David’s mind the words which he wrote in the Holy Book which say: ‘Concerning this day, listen to the word God speaks to you. Do not reject the word God speaks now,’ he said.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Translation commentary on Hebrews 4:7

The Greek which Revised Standard Version translates “again” is not used here to introduce a quotation, as it is in verse 5, but has its usual meaning “once more” (compare 5.12; 6.1, 6). This is shown by the reference to another day in verse 8.

This refers to the statement in verse 6 that others … are allowed to receive this rest. It may be necessary to specify what This refers to by introducing an entire clause; for example, “That others are allowed to receive this rest is shown by the fact….”

Is shown by the fact may be expressed actively as “we know because of the fact that.”

The literal “sets again a day” is translated more naturally by sets another day. God sets another day must be rendered in some languages as “God decides upon another day” or “God designates another day.” In a number of languages a perfect form of a verb must be employed, since this is evidently something which took place in the past but which is still relevant; for example, “God has designated another day.”

The first Today can be related to the rest of the sentence in two ways: (a) as immediately interrupting the quotation (so Moffatt “To-day—as he says in ‘David’ …”; similarly New English Bible), or (b) as if the “certain day” which God sets is identified by the name “Today” (so common language translations; compare 3.13).

Which is called “Today” may be rendered as “which is spoken of in the holy writings as Today” or “which God speaks of as Today.”

Many years later is literally “After such a long time.”

Through David in Good News Translation fourth edition is better style than earlier editions’ by means of David. As in through the prophets (1.1), where the literal “in the prophets” may also mean “in the writings of the prophets,” so also in 4.7, “in David” would mean “in the Psalms” (so Moffatt, Translator’s New Testament). He spoke of it through David may be expressed as a causative; for example, “he caused David to speak of it” or “he used David to speak about it.”

In the scripture already quoted is literally “as it has been said before,” which may mean “as David said before” or “as God said before.” However, this is less likely, since the contrast is between the seventh day of creation and the “today” of Psalm 95.7, not between two situations in which Psalm 95.7 is applied. Psalm 95.7 was not fulfilled in the Old Testament, but it is to be fulfilled for Christians for the first time.

In the scripture already quoted may be expressed as “in that part of the holy writings already spoken about,” “… which I have already mentioned,” or “… which I have already written about.”

Each time this verse is quoted, different words in it are emphasized. In 3.8 the keywords are do not be stubborn (compare 3.12); in 3.15 the keyword is rebelled (compare 3.16); here the keyword is today.

Do not be stubborn may need to be related specifically to this particular context. Therefore one may translate “do not refuse to obey what God says.”

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 .