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Hebrews 6:4-6 – NASB vs. HCSB vs. ESV
Hebrews 6:6 NASB and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
Hebrews 6:6 HCSB and who have fallen away, because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt.
Hebrews 6:6 ESV and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
“Optimal Equivalence” does the HCSB a great disservice in Hebrews 6:4-6. While the reading and understanding in the HCSB is fine, by taking words out of verse 6 and putting them into verse 4, it makes using the HCSB while teaching and commenting difficult. As a preacher or teacher, while using the HCSB, if I say “in verse 4, the Bible says, ‘it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened,’” I will confuse anyone following along in other translations. The confusion is not found because of different words used, but because the HCSB moved words from one verse to another. The word “renew” is found in verse 6 in most Bibles because that is the verse assigned to it in the Greek. This makes using the HCSB in this section as a teaching Bible or even as the source for a critical commentary more difficult.
The NASB also moves a word – impossible – by taking it from v.4 and tacking it on to v.6. My opinion on this is the same as with the HCSB. It creates a more readable thought, but creates unnecessary confusion.
Another qualm I have with the HCSB is that, apparently in the name of “Optimal Equivalence” they considered it redundant to use both the words “renew” and “again.” And yet the using both gives a force in the original to the situation that is missing in the HCSB. Repetition is not always a bad thing, especially when it emphasizes a dramatic truth.
I see that the NASB moved the word “impossible” from verse 4 to verse 6, also apparently to improve readability. Given that the three verses combine to form a single sentence, and that 2 of these 3 versions were guilty of moving words around, I’m struggling to understand the concern. Can’t you just say “in verses 4-6 the Bible says …”?
Kevin, thank you for pointing out something that I missed. I will edit my notes and the post to indicate that the NASB moved a word too. In that, it appears that the ESV is the most accurate among the three translations in this section. Moving a word from one verse to another does not make the translation unreliable. I actually use the HCSB as my main teaching and preaching Bible. But moving words can cause in my opinion unnecessary confusion. Again, it is nothing more than an opinion. Thanks again for the additional thoughts. I hope you continue to read the blog as I periodically compare these three translations.