Add parallel Print Page Options

For this reason we should give heed more abundantly to the things [we have] heard, lest in any way we should slip away.

For if the word which was spoken by angels was firm, and every transgression and disobedience received just retribution,

how shall *we* escape if we have been negligent of so great salvation, which, having had its commencement in being spoken [of] by the Lord, has been confirmed to us by those who have heard;

God bearing, besides, witness with [them] to [it], both by signs and wonders, and various acts of power, and distributions of [the] Holy Spirit, according to his will?

For he has not subjected to angels the habitable world which is to come, of which we speak;

but one has testified somewhere, saying, What is man, that thou rememberest him, or son of man that thou visitest him?

Thou hast made him some little inferior to the angels; thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, [and hast set him over the works of thy hands;]

thou hast subjected all things under his feet. For in subjecting all things to him, he has left nothing unsubject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to *him*,

but we see Jesus, who [was] made some little inferior to angels on account of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; so that by the grace of God he should taste death for every thing.

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

11 For both he that sanctifies and those sanctified [are] all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 saying, I will declare thy name to my brethren; in [the] midst of [the] assembly will I sing thy praises.

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

14 Since therefore the children partake of blood and flesh, he also, in like manner, took part in the same, that through death he might annul him who has the might of death, that is, the devil;

15 and might set free all those who through fear of death through the whole of their life were subject to bondage.

16 For he does not indeed take hold of angels [by the hand], but he takes hold of the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore it behoved him in all things to be made like to [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people;

18 for, in that himself has suffered, being tempted, he is able to help those that are being tempted.

Do Not Neglect Salvation

Therefore we must give [a]the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word (A)spoken through angels proved steadfast, and (B)every transgression and disobedience received a just [b]reward, (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, (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)

For He has not put (K)the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 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?
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.
(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. 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

The Great Salvation

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. 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. 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. 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

God has not placed the angels as rulers over the new world to come—the world of which we speak. (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?
You made them for a little while lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor,[a]
    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. 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).