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Hebrews 2
New International Version

Warning to Pay Attention

2 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.(A) 2 For since the message spoken(B) through angels(C) was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,(D) 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?(E) This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,(F) was confirmed to us by those who heard him.(G) 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,(H) and by gifts of the Holy Spirit(I) distributed according to his will.(J)

Jesus Made Fully Human

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone(K) has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?(L)
7 You made them a little[a] lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor
8     and put everything under their feet.”[b][c](M)

In putting everything under them,[d] God left nothing that is not subject to them.[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[f] 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor(N) because he suffered death,(O) so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.(P)

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,(Q) should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.(R) 11 Both the one who makes people holy(S) and those who are made holy(T) are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[g](U) 12 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[h](V)

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”[i](W)

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”[j](X)

14 Since the children have flesh and blood,(Y) he too shared in their humanity(Z) so that by his death he might break the power(AA) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil(AB)— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear(AC) of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.(AD) 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[k](AE) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful(AF) and faithful high priest(AG) in service to God,(AH) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.(AI) 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:7 Or them for a little while
  2. Hebrews 2:8 Psalm 8:4-6
  3. Hebrews 2:8 Or 7 You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ 8 and put everything under his feet.”
  4. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  5. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  6. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  7. Hebrews 2:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 12; and in 3:1, 12; 10:19; 13:22.
  8. Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:22
  9. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:17
  10. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18
  11. Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers
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Hebrews 2
New King James Version

Do Not Neglect Salvation

2 Therefore we must give [a]the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word (A)spoken through angels proved steadfast, and (B)every transgression and disobedience received a just [b]reward, 3 (C)how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, (D)which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was (E)confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 (F)God also bearing witness (G)both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and (H)gifts[c] of the Holy Spirit, (I)according to His own will?

The Son Made Lower than Angels(J)

5 For He has not put (K)the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:

(L)“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
7 You have made him [d]a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
[e]And set him over the works of Your hands.
8 (M)You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now (N)we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, (O)who was made [f]a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death (P)crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death (Q)for everyone.

Bringing Many Sons to Glory

10 For it was fitting for Him, (R)for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation (S)perfect through sufferings. 11 For (T)both He who [g]sanctifies and those who are being sanctified (U)are all of one, for which reason (V)He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:

(W)“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”

13 And again:

(X)“I will put My trust in Him.”

And again:

(Y)“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He (Z)Himself likewise shared in the same, (AA)that through death He might destroy him who had the power of (AB)death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who (AC)through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not [h]give aid to angels, but He does [i]give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had (AD)to be made like His brethren, that He might be (AE)a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 (AF)For in that He Himself has suffered, being [j]tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:1 all the more careful attention
  2. Hebrews 2:2 retribution or penalty
  3. Hebrews 2:4 distributions
  4. Hebrews 2:7 Or for a little while
  5. Hebrews 2:7 NU, M omit the rest of v. 7.
  6. Hebrews 2:9 Or for a little while
  7. Hebrews 2:11 sets apart
  8. Hebrews 2:16 Or take on the nature of
  9. Hebrews 2:16 Or take on
  10. Hebrews 2:18 tested
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Hebrews 2
Good News Translation

The Great Salvation

2 That is why we must hold on all the more firmly to the truths we have heard, so that we will not be carried away. 2 The message given to our ancestors by the angels was shown to be true, and those who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment they deserved. 3 How, then, shall we escape if we pay no attention to such a great salvation? The Lord himself first announced this salvation, and those who heard him proved to us that it is true. 4 At the same time God added his witness to theirs by performing all kinds of miracles and wonders and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will.

The One Who Leads Us to Salvation

5 God has not placed the angels as rulers over the new world to come—the world of which we speak. 6 (A)Instead, as it is said somewhere in the Scriptures:

“What are human beings, O God, that you should think of them;
    mere human beings, that you should care for them?
7 You made them for a little while lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor,[a]
8     and made them rulers over all things.”

It says that God made them “rulers over all things”; this clearly includes everything. We do not, however, see human beings ruling over all things now. 9 But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, so that through God's grace he should die for everyone. We see him now crowned with glory and honor because of the death he suffered. 10 It was only right that God, who creates and preserves all things, should make Jesus perfect through suffering, in order to bring many children to share his glory. For Jesus is the one who leads them to salvation.

11 He purifies people from their sins, and both he and those who are made pure all have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his family. 12 (B)He says to God,

“I will tell my people what you have done;
    I will praise you in their meeting.”

13 (C)He also says, “I will put my trust in God.” And he also says, “Here I am with the children that God has given me.”

14 Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, 15 and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. 16 (D)For it is clear that it is not the angels that he helps. Instead, he helps the descendants of Abraham. 17 This means that he had to become like his people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people's sins would be forgiven. 18 And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself was tempted and suffered.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:7 Many manuscripts add: You made them rulers over everything you made (see Ps 8.6).
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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

  1. 2.5 Gk he
  2. 2.6 Gk What is man that you are mindful of him?
  3. 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
  4. 2.7 Or them only a little lower
  5. 2.7 Other ancient authorities add and set them over the works of your hands
  6. 2.8 Gk he
  7. 2.9 Or who was made a little lower
  8. 2.9 Other ancient authorities read apart from God
  9. 2.10 Gk he
  10. 2.11 Gk are all of one
  11. 2.11 Gk he
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