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

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

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

A Warning to Pay Attention

So we must pay the most careful attention to what we have heard. Then we will not drift away from it. Even the message God spoke through angels had to be obeyed. Every time people broke the Law, they were punished. Every time they didn’t obey, they were punished. Then how will we escape if we don’t pay attention to God’s great salvation? The Lord first announced this salvation. Those who heard him gave us the message about it. God showed that this message is true by signs and wonders. He showed that it’s true by different kinds of miracles. God also showed that this message is true by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God gave them out as it pleased him.

Jesus Was Made Fully Human

God has not put angels in charge of the world that is going to come. We are talking about that world. There is a place where someone has spoken about this. He said,

“What are human beings that you think about them?
    What is a son of man that you take care of him?
You made them a little lower than the angels.
    You placed on them a crown of glory and honor.
    You have put everything under their control.” (Psalm 8:4–6)

So God has put everything under his Son. Everything is under his control. We do not now see everything under his control. But we do see Jesus already given a crown of glory and honor. He was made lower than the angels for a little while. He suffered death. By the grace of God, he tasted death for everyone. That is why he was given his crown.

10 God has made everything. He is now bringing his many sons and daughters to share in his glory. It is only right that Jesus is the one to lead them into their salvation. That’s because God made him perfect by his sufferings. 11 And Jesus, who makes people holy, and the people he makes holy belong to the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 12 He says,

“I will announce your name to my brothers and sisters.
    I will sing your praises among those who worship you.” (Psalm 22:22)

13 Again he says,

“I will put my trust in him.” (Isaiah 8:17)

And again he says,

“Here I am. Here are the children God has given me.” (Isaiah 8:18)

14 Those children have bodies made out of flesh and blood. So Jesus became human like them in order to die for them. By doing this, he could break the power of the devil. The devil is the one who rules over the kingdom of death. 15 Jesus could set people free who were afraid of death. All their lives they were held as slaves by that fear. 16 It is certainly Abraham’s children that he helps. He doesn’t help angels. 17 So he had to be made like people, fully human in every way. Then he could serve God as a kind and faithful high priest. And then he could pay for the sins of the people by dying for them. 18 He himself suffered when he was tempted. Now he is able to help others who are being tempted.