Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Thou hast 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 we see not yet all things put under him.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Warning to Pay Attention

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.(A) For since the message spoken(B) through angels(C) was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,(D) 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) 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

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 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)
You made them a little[a] lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor
    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] 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 You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ 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

The Great Salvation

Therefore we should be more attentive to what we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken by angels was true, and every sin and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, which was first declared by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him? God also bore them witness with signs and wonders and diverse miracles and with gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His own will.

The Pioneer of Salvation

For it was not to the angels that He has subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. But someone in a certain place testified, saying:

“What is man that You are mindful 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,
    and set him over the works of Your hands.
    You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”[a]

For in subjecting all things under him, He left nothing that is not subjected to him. Yet now we do not see all things subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels to suffer death, crowned with glory and honor, so that He, by the grace of God, should experience death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all of One. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying:

“I will declare Your name to My brothers;
    in the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to You.”[b]

13 And again:

“I will put My trust in Him.”[c]

And again:

“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”[d]

14 So then, as the children share in flesh and blood, He likewise took part in these, so that through death He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver those who through fear of death were throughout their lives subject to bondage. 16 For surely He does not help the angels, but He helps the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things it was necessary for Him to be made like His brothers, so that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in the things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself suffered while being tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

O mântuire atât de mare

De aceea, trebuie să dăm şi mai multă atenţie lucrurilor pe care le-am auzit, ca să nu fim îndepărtaţi de la ele. Căci dacă Cuvântul spus prin îngeri s-a dovedit sigur, iar fiecare abatere şi neascultare şi-a primit o pedeapsă dreaptă, cum vom scăpa noi, dacă suntem nepăsători faţă de o mântuire atât de mare?! Ea a fost spusă la început de Domnul şi ne-a fost adeverită de către cei ce L-au auzit, în timp ce Dumnezeu Îşi întărea mărturia prin semne şi diferite minuni şi prin darurile Duhului Sfânt, împărţite după voia Lui.

Isus, făcut asemenea fraţilor Săi

Nu îngerilor le-a supus El lumea viitoare, despre care vorbim, ci cineva a mărturisit solemn undeva, spunând:

„Ce este omul ca să-Ţi aminteşti de el
    şi fiul omului ca să-Ţi pese de el?
Totuşi, Tu l-ai făcut cu puţin[a] mai prejos decât pe îngeri
    şi l-ai încoronat cu slavă şi cu cinste;
i-ai pus totul sub picioare.“[b]

Dacă i le-a supus pe toate, n-a lăsat nimic care să nu-i fie supus, dar acum încă nu vedem că toate îi sunt supuse. Îl vedem însă pe Isus, Care a fost făcut cu puţin mai prejos decât îngerii, încoronat acum cu slavă şi onoare datorită morţii pe care a suferit-o, pentru ca, prin harul lui Dumnezeu, să guste moartea pentru toţi.

10 Cel pentru Care şi prin Care sunt toate a considerat potrivit ca, pentru a duce mulţi fii la slavă, să-L desăvârşească prin suferinţe pe Autorul mântuirii lor. 11 Căci atât Cel Ce sfinţeşte, cât şi cei ce sunt sfinţiţi sunt toţi din Unul. De aceea, Lui nu-I este ruşine să-i numească fraţi, 12 spunând:

„Voi vesti Numele Tău fraţilor Mei;
    Te voi lăuda în mijlocul adunării!“[c]

13 De asemenea, El spune:

„Îmi voi pune încrederea în El!“[d]

Şi, din nou, El spune:

„Iată-Mă, Eu şi copiii pe care Mi i-a dat Dumnezeu!“[e]

14 Aşadar, întrucât copiii sunt părtaşi sângelui şi cărnii, El a devenit asemănător cu ei, pentru ca, prin moarte, să-l distrugă pe cel ce are puterea morţii, care este diavolul[f], 15 şi să-i elibereze pe cei care toată viaţa lor erau ţinuţi în sclavie prin frica de moarte. 16 Este clar că El n-a venit să-i ajute pe îngeri, ci a venit să ajute[g] sămânţa[h] lui Avraam. 17 De aceea, El a trebuit să fie făcut în toate precum fraţii Lui, ca să poată fi un Mare Preot milos şi credincios în slujba lui Dumnezeu şi să facă ispăşire pentru păcatele poporului. 18 Pentru că El Însuşi a fost ispitit prin ceea ce a suferit, El poate să-i ajute pe cei care sunt încercaţi.

Footnotes

  1. Evrei 2:7 Sau: pentru puţină vreme, şi în v. 9
  2. Evrei 2:8 Vezi Ps. 8:4-6
  3. Evrei 2:12 Vezi Ps. 22:22
  4. Evrei 2:13 Vezi Is. 8:17
  5. Evrei 2:13 Vezi Is. 8:18
  6. Evrei 2:14 Gr.: diabolos, care înseamnă bârfitor, defăimător, calomniator
  7. Evrei 2:16 Sau: că El nu de îngeri este preocupat, ci de
  8. Evrei 2:16 Termenul grecesc pentru sămânţă este un singular care se poate referi atât la un singur urmaş, cât şi la toţi urmaşii de pe linia genealogică a unei persoane (colectiv). Este foarte probabil ca, în cele mai multe cazuri, termenul să exprime o ambiguitate intenţionată. Apostolul Pavel (Gal. 3:16) aplică acelaşi termen, sămânţă, lui Isus Cristos, demonstrând prin exegeza sa că promisiunea făcută lui Avraam îşi găseşte împlinirea ultimă în Isus Cristos