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Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?

For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels. But one has somewhere testified, saying,

“What is man, that you think of him?
    Or the son of man, that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the angels.
    You crowned him with glory and honor.[a]
    You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”Psalm 8:4-6

For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet. But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers,[b] 12 saying,

“I will declare your name to my brothers.
    Among the congregation I will sing your praise.”Psalm 22:22

13 Again, “I will put my trust in him.” Again, “Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me.”Isaiah 8:18 14 Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring[c] of Abraham. 17 Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Footnotes

  1. 2:7 TR adds “and set him over the works of your hands”
  2. 2:11 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
  3. 2:16 or, seed

Warning to Pay Attention

Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message declared through angels proved valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty,(A) 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) 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

Now God[a] did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels.(D) But someone has testified somewhere,

“What are humans that you are mindful of them[b]
    or mortals that you care for them?[c](E)
You have made them for a little while lower[d] than the angels;
    you have crowned them with glory and honor,[e]
    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) 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