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Hebrews 12

Heb. 12:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
Wherefore
toigaroun (Greek #5105)
truly for then, i.e. consequently
KJV usage: there-(where-)fore.
Pronounce: toy-gar-oon'
Origin: from 5104 and 1063 and 3767
seeing
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
we
hemeis (Greek #2249)
we (only used when emphatic)
KJV usage: us, we (ourselves).
Pronounce: hay-mice'
Origin: nominative plural of 1473
also
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
are compassed about with
perikeimai (Greek #4029)
to lie all around, i.e. inclose, encircle, hamper (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: be bound (compassed) with, hang about.
Pronounce: per-ik'-i-mahee
Origin: from 4012 and 2749
so great
hemin (Greek #2254)
to (or for, with, by) us
KJV usage: our, (for) us, we.
Pronounce: hay-meen'
Origin: dative case plural of 1473
tosoutos (Greek #5118)
so vast as this, i.e. such (in quantity, amount, number of space)
KJV usage: as large, so great (long, many, much), these many.
Pronounce: tos-oo'-tos
Origin: from τόσος (so much; apparently from 3588 and 3739) and 3778 (including its variations)
a cloud
nephos (Greek #3509)
a cloud
KJV usage: cloud.
Pronounce: nef'-os
Origin: apparently a primary word
of witnesses
martus (Greek #3144)
a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a "martyr"
KJV usage: martyr, record, witness.
Pronounce: mar'-toos
Origin: of uncertain affinity
, let us lay aside
apotithemi (Greek #659)
to put away (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: cast off, lay apart (aside, down), put away (off).
Pronounce: ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee
Origin: from 575 and 5087
g every
pas (Greek #3956)
apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole
KJV usage: all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
Pronounce: pas
Origin: including all the forms of declension
weight
ogkos (Greek #3591)
a mass (as bending or bulging by its load), i.e. burden (hindrance)
KJV usage: weight.
Pronounce: ong'-kos
Origin: probably from the same as 43
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
the sin
hamartia (Greek #266)
a sin (properly abstract)
KJV usage: offence, sin(-ful).
Pronounce: ham-ar-tee'-ah
Origin: from 264
which doth so easily beset
euperistatos (Greek #2139)
well standing around, i.e. (a competitor) thwarting (a racer) in every direction (figuratively, of sin in genitive case)
KJV usage: which doth so easily beset.
Pronounce: yoo-per-is'-tat-os
Origin: from 2095 and a derivative of a presumed compound of 4012 and 2476
us, and let us run
trecho (Greek #5143)
which uses δρέμω (drem'-o) (the base of 1408) as alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: have course, run.
Pronounce: trekh'-o
Origin: apparently a primary verb (properly, τρέχω; compare 2359)
with
dia (Greek #1223)
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
KJV usage: after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
Pronounce: dee-ah'
Origin: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act
patience
hupomone (Greek #5281)
cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy
KJV usage: enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
Pronounce: hoop-om-on-ay'
Origin: from 5278
the race
agon (Greek #73)
properly, a place of assembly (as if led), i.e. (by implication) a contest (held there); figuratively, an effort or anxiety
KJV usage: conflict, contention, fight, race.
Pronounce: ag-one'
Origin: from 71
that is set before
prokeimai (Greek #4295)
to lie before the view, i.e. (figuratively) to be present (to the mind), to stand forth (as an example or reward)
KJV usage: be first, set before (forth).
Pronounce: prok'-i-mahee
Origin: from 4253 and 2749
us
hemin (Greek #2254)
to (or for, with, by) us
KJV usage: our, (for) us, we.
Pronounce: hay-meen'
Origin: dative case plural of 1473
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ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections

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Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-21:  An exhortation to constant faith, patience, and godliness.
22-29:  A commendation of the new testament above the old.
seeing.
Heb. 11:2‑38• 2For in the power of this the elders have obtained testimony.
3By faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that that which is seen should not take its origin from things which appear.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony of being righteous, God bearing testimony to his gifts, and by it, having died, he yet speaks.
5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he has the testimony that he had pleased God.
6But without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that draws near to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them who seek him out.
7By faith, Noah, oracularly warned concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out into the place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and went out, not knowing where he was going.
9By faith he sojourned as a stranger in the land of promise as a foreign country, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
10for he waited for the city which has foundations, of which God is the artificer and constructor.
11By faith also Sarah herself received strength for the conception of seed, and that beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who promised.
12Wherefore also there have been born of one, and that of one become dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand which is by the sea shore.
13All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
14For they who say such things shew clearly that they seek their country.
15And if they had called to mind that from whence they went out, they had had opportunity to have returned;
16but now they seek a better, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city.
17By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received to himself the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18as to whom it had been said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19counting that God was able to raise him even from among the dead, whence also he received him in a figure.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob when dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped on the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph when dying called to mind the going forth of the sons of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23By faith Moses, being born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child beautiful; and they did not fear the injunction of the king.
24By faith Moses, when he had become great, refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25choosing rather to suffer affliction along with the people of God than to have the temporary pleasure of sin;
26esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect to the recompense.
27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as seeing him who is invisible.
28By faith he celebrated the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red sea as through dry land; of which the Egyptians having made trial were swallowed up.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled for seven days.
31By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with the unbelieving, having received the spies in peace.
32And what more do I say? For the time would fail me telling of Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthah, and David and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33who by faith overcame kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped lions' mouths,
34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, became strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, made the armies of strangers give way.
35Women received their dead again by resurrection; and others were tortured, not having accepted deliverance, that they might get a better resurrection;
36and others underwent trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, and of bonds and imprisonment.
37They were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, died by the death of the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, evil treated,
38(of whom the world was not worthy,) wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caverns of the earth.
(Heb. 11:2‑38)
a cloud.
witnesses.
let us lay.
Matt. 10:37‑38• 37He who loves father or mother above me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter above me is not worthy of me.
38And he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.
(Matt. 10:37‑38)
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Luke 8:14• 14But that that fell where the thorns were, these are they who having heard go away and are choked under cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection. (Luke 8:14)
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Luke 9:59‑62• 59And he said to another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, allow me to go first and bury my father.
60But Jesus said to him, Suffer the dead to bury their own dead, but do *thou* go and announce the kingdom of God.
61And another also said, I will follow thee, Lord, but first allow me to bid adieu to those at my house.
62But Jesus said to him, No one having laid his hand on the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.
(Luke 9:59‑62)
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Luke 12:15• 15And he said to them, Take heed and keep yourselves from all covetousness, for it is not because a man is in abundance that his life is in his possessions. (Luke 12:15)
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Luke 14:26‑33• 26If any man come to me, and shall not hate his own father and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yea, and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple;
27and whoever does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
28For which of you, desirous of building a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, if he have what is needed to complete it;
29in order that, having laid the foundation of it, and not being able to finish it, all who see it do not begin to mock at him,
30saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish?
31Or what king, going on his way to engage in war with another king, does not, sitting down first, take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him coming against him with twenty thousand?
32and if not, while he is yet far off, having sent an embassy, he asks for terms of peace.
33Thus then every one of you who forsakes not all that is his own cannot be my disciple.
(Luke 14:26‑33)
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Luke 18:22‑25• 22And when Jesus had heard this, he said to him, One thing is lacking to thee yet: Sell all that thou hast and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in the heavens, and come, follow me.
23But when he heard this he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
24But when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, he said, How difficultly shall those who have riches enter into the kingdom of God;
25for it is easier for a camel to enter through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
(Luke 18:22‑25)
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Luke 21:34• 34But take heed to yourselves lest possibly your hearts be laden with surfeiting and drinking and cares of life, and that day come upon you suddenly unawares; (Luke 21:34)
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Rom. 13:11‑14• 11This also, knowing the time, that it is already time that *we* should be aroused out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12The night is far spent, and the day is near; let us cast away therefore the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13As in the day, let us walk becomingly; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and lasciviousness, not in strife and emulation.
14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not take forethought for the flesh to fulfil its lusts.
(Rom. 13:11‑14)
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2 Cor. 7:1• 1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in God's fear. (2 Cor. 7:1)
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Eph. 4:22‑24• 22namely your having put off according to the former conversation the old man which corrupts itself according to the deceitful lusts;
23and being renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24and your having put on the new man, which according to God is created in truthful righteousness and holiness.
(Eph. 4:22‑24)
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Col. 3:5‑8• 5Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, vile passions, evil lust, and unbridled desire, which is idolatry.
6On account of which things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7In which *ye* also once walked when ye lived in these things.
8But now, put off, *ye* also, all these things, wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, vile language out of your mouth.
(Col. 3:5‑8)
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1 Tim. 6:9‑10• 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many unwise and hurtful lusts, which plunge men into destruction and ruin.
10For the love of money is the root of every evil; which some having aspired after, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
(1 Tim. 6:9‑10)
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2 Tim. 2:4• 4No one going as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life, that he may please him who has enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Tim. 2:4)
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1 Peter 2:1• 1Laying aside therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil speakings, (1 Peter 2:1)
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1 Peter 4:2• 2no longer to live the rest of his time in the flesh to men's lusts, but to God's will. (1 Peter 4:2)
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1 John 2:15‑16• 15Love not the world, nor the things in the world. If any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him;
16because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
(1 John 2:15‑16)
and the sin.
and let us.
1 Cor. 9:24‑27• 24Know ye not that they who run in the race-course run all, but one receives the prize? Thus run in order that ye may obtain.
25But every one that contends for a prize is temperate in all things: *they* then indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown, but *we* an incorruptible.
26*I* therefore thus run, as not uncertainly; so I combat, as not beating the air.
27But I buffet my body, and lead it captive, lest after having preached to others I should be myself rejected.
(1 Cor. 9:24‑27)
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Gal. 5:7• 7Ye ran well; who has stopped you that ye should not obey the truth? (Gal. 5:7)
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Phil. 2:16• 16holding forth the word of life, so as to be a boast for me in Christ's day, that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain. (Phil. 2:16)
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Phil. 3:10‑14• 10to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,
11if any way I arrive at the resurrection from among the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained the prize, or am already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may get possession of it, seeing that also I have been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.
13Brethren, *I* do not count to have got possession myself; but one thing--forgetting the things behind, and stretching out to the things before,
14I pursue, looking towards the goal, for the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus.
(Phil. 3:10‑14)
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2 Tim. 4:7• 7I have combated the good combat, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Tim. 4:7)
with patience.
Heb. 6:15• 15and thus, having had long patience, he got the promise. (Heb. 6:15)
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Heb. 10:36• 36For ye have need of endurance in order that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise. (Heb. 10:36)
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Matt. 10:22• 22and ye shall be hated of all on account of my name. But he that has endured to the end, *he* shall be saved. (Matt. 10:22)
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Matt. 24:13• 13but he that has endured to the end, *he* shall be saved. (Matt. 24:13)
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Luke 8:15• 15But that in the good ground, these are they who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)
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Rom. 2:7• 7to them who, in patient continuance of good works, seek for glory and honour and incorruptibility, life eternal. (Rom. 2:7)
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Rom. 5:3‑5• 3And not only that, but we also boast in tribulations, knowing that tribulation works endurance;
4and endurance, experience; and experience, hope;
5and hope does not make ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us:
(Rom. 5:3‑5)
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Rom. 8:24‑25• 24For we have been saved in hope; but hope seen is not hope; for what any one sees, why does he also hope?
25But if what we see not we hope, we expect in patience.
(Rom. 8:24‑25)
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Rom. 12:12• 12As regards hope, rejoicing: as regards tribulation, enduring: as regards prayer, persevering: (Rom. 12:12)
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James 1:3• 3knowing that the proving of your faith works endurance. (James 1:3)
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James 5:7‑11• 7Have patience, therefore, brethren, till the coming of the Lord. Behold, the labourer awaits the precious fruit of the earth, having patience for it until it receive the early and the latter rain.
8*Ye* also have patience: stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is drawn nigh.
9Complain not one against another, brethren, that ye be not judged. Behold, the judge stands before the door.
10Take as an example, brethren, of suffering and having patience, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord.
11Behold, we call them blessed who have endured. Ye have heard of the endurance of Job, and seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is full of tender compassion and pitiful.
(James 5:7‑11)
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2 Peter 1:6• 6in knowledge temperance, in temperance endurance, in endurance godliness, (2 Peter 1:6)
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Rev. 1:9• 9I John, your brother and fellow-partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and patience, in Jesus, was in the island called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus. (Rev. 1:9)
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Rev. 3:10• 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, *I* also will keep thee out of the hour of trial, which is about to come upon the whole habitable world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Rev. 3:10)
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Rev. 13:10• 10If any one leads into captivity, he goes into captivity. If any one shall kill with the sword, he must with the sword be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints. (Rev. 13:10)
 Now and then, here and there, mainly of the chosen people, but carefully shown to have lived and suffered in faith before Abraham, they form a grand cloud, each characterized by some proved fidelity to God's will, a few by more than one, none more than "the friend of God." But what was he, variously tried and faithful, compared with "Jesus," as this Epistle often and with divine intent calls our Lord? (Hebrews 12:1-3 by W. Kelly)
 Surrounded with a cloud of witnesses like these of chapter 11, who all declared the advantages of a life of faith in promises still unfulfilled, they ought to feel themselves impelled to follow their steps. (Hebrews 12 by J.N. Darby)
 The flesh, the human heart, is occupied with cares and difficulties; and the more we think of them, the more we are burdened by them. It is enticed by the object of its desires, it does not free itself from them. The conflict is with a heart that loves the thing against which we strive; we do not separate ourselves from it in thought. (Hebrews 12 by J.N. Darby)
 It is not “a race” that we have to set before ourselves, but “the race that lies before us.” Many appear to think that, while there is only one way of being saved, there are many ways of traveling through this world; and that each Christian is at liberty to choose the way that he prefers. (God's Means to Keep Us in the Path of Faith: Hebrews 12 by H. Smith)
 Weights are not things morally wrong. Anything that hinders the soul from accepting God’s path or running with patience when in the path is a weight….Things that would be no weight in the ordinary life would become a weight on the racetrack. (God's Means to Keep Us in the Path of Faith: Hebrews 12 by H. Smith)
 “Let us run with endurance.” Running supposes spiritual energy, and combined with this we need endurance. It is easy to make an energetic start; it is hard to endure day by day in the presence of difficulties and discouragement. (God's Means to Keep Us in the Path of Faith: Hebrews 12 by H. Smith)

J. N. Darby Translation

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Let *us* also therefore, having so great a cloud of witnessesa surrounding us, laying aside every weight, and sinb which so easily entanglesc us, run with endurance the race that lies before us,

JND Translation Notes

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a
Witness, in English, has two senses. "seeing, so as to bear witness," and "giving testimony to." The last only I apprehend is in the Greek here.
b
Or "the sin."
c
Or "besets." The one Greek word here represents the whole phrase, "which so easily entangles us."

W. Kelly Translation

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Therefore let us also, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the readily besetting sin, run witha endurance the race that is set before us,

WK Translation Notes

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a
Or, "through."