13:6

So that we may be of good courage: The phrase “may be of good courage” renders a single Greek word that can refer to having courage and confidence. (Compare 2Co 5:6, 8; 7:16.) In the preceding verse, Paul cites Jehovah’s promise that He will never leave any of his servants. (Heb 13:5) Knowing this, the Hebrew Christians could have absolute confidence that Jehovah would be with them in any adversity they might face.​—Heb 10:32-35.

Jehovah: In this quote from Ps 118:6, the divine name, represented by four Hebrew consonants (transliterated YHWH), occurs in the original Hebrew text. Therefore, the divine name is used here in the main text.​—See App. C1 and C2.

Jehovah is my helper: With these words, Paul gives the Hebrew Christians one of the strongest reasons to hang on to their faith no matter what situation they faced. He is quoting from Ps 118:6, which reads “Jehovah is on my side” in the Hebrew text, and “Jehovah is my helper” in the Greek Septuagint (Ps 117:6, LXX). The Greek word for “helper” (bo·e·thosʹ) used here occurs only once in the Christian Greek Scriptures, but it is frequently used in the Septuagint to describe Jehovah. (Some examples are Ps 33:20 [32:20, LXX]; 119:114 [118:114, LXX]; 146:5 [145:5, LXX].) The related Greek verb meaning “to help” can literally convey the idea of someone who comes running when a person cries for help. Such a description fits Jehovah well. (Compare Ps 38:22.) Regarding God’s support of his people, one reference work says: “In the Bible God is frequently described as the ‘helper,’ the one who does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, the one who meets our needs.”​—Ex 18:4; Ps 33:20.