Hebrews 2
American Standard Version
2 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard; 4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by [a]gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.
5 For not unto angels did he subject [b]the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one hath somewhere testified, saying,
[c]What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest him [d]a little lower than the angels;
Thou crownedst him with glory and honor,
[e]And didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8 Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet.
For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him. 9 But we behold him who hath been made [f]a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, [g]in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the [h]author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying,
[i]I will declare thy name unto my brethren,
In the midst of the [j]congregation will I sing thy praise.
13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, [k]Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me. 14 Since then the children are sharers in [l]flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he [m]might bring to nought him that [n]had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and [o]might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 [p]For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 [q]For [r]in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:4 Greek distributions.
- Hebrews 2:5 Greek the inhabited earth.
- Hebrews 2:6 Ps. 8:4ff.
- Hebrews 2:7 Or, for a little while lower
- Hebrews 2:7 Many authorities omit And didst . . . hands
- Hebrews 2:9 Or, for a little while lower
- Hebrews 2:10 Or, having brought
- Hebrews 2:10 Or, captain
- Hebrews 2:12 Ps. 22:22.
- Hebrews 2:12 Or, church
- Hebrews 2:13 Isa. 8:17f.
- Hebrews 2:14 Greek blood and flesh. Eph. 6:12.
- Hebrews 2:14 Or, may
- Hebrews 2:14 Or, hath
- Hebrews 2:15 Or, may
- Hebrews 2:16 Greek For verily not of angels doth he take hold, but he taketh hold of etc. Compare Isa. 41:9; Ecclus. 4:11; 8:9 (in the Greek).
- Hebrews 2:18 Or, For having been himself tempted in that wherein he hath suffered
- Hebrews 2:18 Or, wherein
Hebrews 2
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Warning to Pay Attention
2 Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message declared through angels proved valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty,(A) 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was confirmed for us by those who heard him,(B) 4 while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.(C)
Exaltation through Abasement
5 Now God[a] did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels.(D) 6 But someone has testified somewhere,
“What are humans that you are mindful of them[b]
or mortals that you care for them?[c](E)
7 You have made them for a little while lower[d] than the angels;
you have crowned them with glory and honor,[e]
8 subjecting all things under their feet.”
Now in subjecting all things to them, God[f] left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them,(F) 9 but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower[g] than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God[h] he might taste death for everyone.(G)
10 It was fitting that God,[i] for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.(H) 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.[j] For this reason Jesus[k] is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,(I) 12 saying,
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”(J)
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”(K)
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,(L) 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.(M) 16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.(N) 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.(O)
Footnotes
- 2.5 Gk he
- 2.6 Gk What is man that you are mindful of him?
- 2.6 Gk or the son of man that you care for him? In the Hebrew of Psalm 8.4–6 both man and son of man refer to all humankind
- 2.7 Or them only a little lower
- 2.7 Other ancient authorities add and set them over the works of your hands
- 2.8 Gk he
- 2.9 Or who was made a little lower
- 2.9 Other ancient authorities read apart from God
- 2.10 Gk he
- 2.11 Gk are all of one
- 2.11 Gk he
Hebrews 2
English Standard Version
Warning Against Neglecting Salvation
2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since (A)the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and (B)every transgression or disobedience received a just (C)retribution, 3 (D)how shall we escape if we (E)neglect such a great salvation? It was (F)declared at first by the Lord, and it was (G)attested to us (H)by those who heard, 4 (I)while God also bore witness (J)by signs and wonders and various miracles and by (K)gifts of the Holy Spirit (L)distributed according to his will.
The Founder of Salvation
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world (M)to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
(N)“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,[a]
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, (O)we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him (P)who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, (Q)crowned with glory and honor (R)because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might (S)taste death (T)for everyone.
10 For it (U)was fitting that he, (V)for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons (W)to glory, should make the (X)founder of their salvation (Y)perfect through suffering. 11 For (Z)he who sanctifies and (AA)those who are sanctified (AB)all have one source.[b] That is why he is not ashamed to call them (AC)brothers,[c] 12 saying,
(AD)“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the (AE)congregation I will sing your praise.”
13 And again,
(AF)“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise (AI)partook of the same things, that (AJ)through death he might (AK)destroy (AL)the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who (AM)through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he (AN)helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had (AO)to be made like his brothers in every respect, (AP)so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest (AQ)in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered (AR)when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:7 Some manuscripts insert and set him over the works of your hands
- Hebrews 2:11 Greek all are of one
- Hebrews 2:11 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 12
Hebrews 2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 2
Exhortation to Faithfulness.[a] 1 Therefore, we must attend all the more to what we have heard, so that we may not be carried away. 2 For if the word announced through angels proved firm, and every transgression and disobedience received its just recompense,(A) 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Announced originally through the Lord, it was confirmed for us by those who had heard.(B) 4 God added his testimony by signs, wonders, various acts of power, and distribution of the gifts of the holy Spirit according to his will.(C)
Exaltation Through Abasement.[b] 5 For it was not to angels that he subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 Instead, someone has testified somewhere:
“What is man that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man that you care for him?(D)
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honor,
8 subjecting all things under his feet.”
In “subjecting” all things [to him], he left nothing not “subject to him.” Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,”(E) 9 but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death, he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,” that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.(F)
10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.(G) 11 He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers,” 12 saying:
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers,
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you”;(H)
13 and again:
“I will put my trust in him”;
and again:
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”(I)
14 Now since the children share in blood and flesh, he likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,(J) 15 and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. 16 Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; 17 therefore, he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people.(K) 18 Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Footnotes
- 2:1–4 The author now makes a transition into exhortation, using an a fortiori argument (as at Hb 7:21–22; 9:13–14; 10:28–29; 12:25). The word announced through angels (Hb 2:2), the Mosaic law, is contrasted with the more powerful word that Christians have received (Hb 2:3–4). Christ’s supremacy strengthens Christians against being carried away from their faith.
- 2:5–18 The humanity and the suffering of Jesus do not constitute a valid reason for relinquishing the Christian faith. Ps 8:6–7 is also applied to Jesus in 1 Cor 15:27; Eph 1:22; and probably 1 Pt 3:22. This christological interpretation, therefore, probably reflects a common early Christian tradition, which may have originated in the expression the son of man (Hb 2:6). The psalm contrasts God’s greatness with man’s relative insignificance but also stresses the superiority of man to the rest of creation, of which he is lord. Hebrews applies this christologically: Jesus lived a truly human existence, lower than the angels, in the days of his earthly life, particularly in his suffering and death; now, crowned with glory and honor, he is raised above all creation. The author considers all things as already subject to him because of his exaltation (Hb 2:8–9), though we do not see this yet. The reference to Jesus as leader (Hb 2:10) sounds the first note of an important leitmotif in Hebrews: the journey of the people of God to the sabbath rest (Hb 4:9), the heavenly sanctuary, following Jesus, their “forerunner” (Hb 6:20). It was fitting that God should make him perfect through suffering, consecrated by obedient suffering. Because he is perfected as high priest, Jesus is then able to consecrate his people (Hb 2:11); access to God is made possible by each of these two consecrations. If Jesus is able to help human beings, it is because he has become one of us; we are his “brothers.” The author then cites three Old Testament texts as proofs of this unity between ourselves and the Son. Ps 22:23 is interpreted so as to make Jesus the singer of this lament, which ends with joyful praise of the Lord in the assembly of “brothers.” The other two texts are from Is 8:17, 18. The first of these seems intended to display in Jesus an example of the trust in God that his followers should emulate. The second curiously calls these followers “children”; probably this is to be understood to mean children of Adam, but the point is our solidarity with Jesus. By sharing human nature, including the ban of death, Jesus broke the power of the devil over death (Hb 2:14); the author shares the view of Hellenistic Judaism that death was not intended by God and that it had been introduced into the world by the devil. The fear of death (Hb 2:15) is a religious fear based on the false conception that death marks the end of a person’s relations with God (cf. Ps 115:17–18; Is 38:18). Jesus deliberately allied himself with the descendants of Abraham (Hb 2:16) in order to be a merciful and faithful high priest. This is the first appearance of the central theme of Hebrews, Jesus the great high priest expiating the sins of the people (Hb 2:17), as one who experienced the same tests as they (Hb 2:18).
Hebrews 2
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Warning against Neglect
2 We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding[a](A) and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment,(B) 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.(C) 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will.(D)
Jesus and Humanity
5 For He has not subjected to angels the world to come that we are talking about. 6 But one has somewhere testified:
What is man that You remember him,
or the son of man that You care for him?
7 You made him lower than the angels
for a short time;
You crowned him with glory and honor[b]
8 and subjected everything under his feet.[c]
For in subjecting everything to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.(E) 9 But we do see Jesus—made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace He might taste death for everyone—crowned with glory and honor(F) because of His suffering in death.(G)
10 For in bringing many sons to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—all things exist for Him and through Him—should make the source[d] of their salvation perfect through sufferings.(H) 11 For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.[e] That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers,(I) 12 saying:
13 Again, I will trust in Him.[g] And again, Here I am with the children God gave Me.(K)[h]
14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil(L)— 15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.(M) 16 For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. 17 Therefore, He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service[i] to God, to make propitiation(N) for the sins of the people.(O) 18 For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:2 Or valid, or reliable
- Hebrews 2:7 Other mss add and set him over the works of your hands
- Hebrews 2:8 Ps 8:5-7 LXX
- Hebrews 2:10 Or pioneer, or leader
- Hebrews 2:11 Or father, or origin, or all are of one
- Hebrews 2:12 Ps 22:22
- Hebrews 2:13 2Sm 22:3 LXX; Is 8:17 LXX; 12:2 LXX
- Hebrews 2:13 Is 8:18 LXX
- Hebrews 2:17 Lit things
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