Discovery BoxHebrews 9:7 
Context9:7 But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, 1 and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 2
Hebrews 12:9
Context12:9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from 3 our earthly fathers 4 and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? 5
Hebrews 12:17
Context12:17 For you know that 6 later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing 7 with tears.
1 tn Grk “the second tent.”
2 tn Or perhaps “the unintentional sins of the people”; Grk “the ignorances of the people.” Cf. BDAG 13 s.v. ἀγνόημα, “sin committed in ignorance/unintentionally.” This term seems to be simply a synonym for “sins” (cf. Heb 5:2) and does not pick up the distinction made in Num 15:22-31 between unwitting sin and “high-handed” sin. The Day of Atonement ritual in Lev 16 covered all the sins of the people, not just the unwitting ones.
3 tn Grk “we had our earthly fathers as discipliners.”
4 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.
5 tn Grk “and live.”
sn Submit ourselves…to the Father of spirits and receive life. This idea is drawn from Proverbs, where the Lord’s discipline brings life, while resistance to it leads to death (cf. Prov 4:13; 6:23; 10:17; 16:17).
6 tn Or a command: “for understand that.”
7 tn Grk “it,” referring either to the repentance or the blessing. But the account in Gen 27:34-41 (which the author appeals to here) makes it clear that the blessing is what Esau sought. Thus in the translation the referent (the blessing) is specified for clarity.
