English · ASV

Hebrews 2

Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

A Great Salvation 1–4

1
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. ​
2
For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; ​
3
how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard; ​
4
God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will. ​

The Son Rules the World to Come 5–9

5
For not unto angels did he subject the world to come, whereof we speak. ​
6
But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him? ​
7
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8
Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him. ​
9
But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man. ​

Jesus Made Perfect Through Suffering 10–13

10
For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ​
11
For both he that sanctifieth and they that 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 congregation will I sing thy praise. ​
13
And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me.

The Son Became Human 14–18

14
Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; ​
15
and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. ​
16
For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham. ​
17
Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ​
18
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Hebrews 2

Verse 1

let them slip — Pararreo, to flow past, to drift away, occurs only here. 'Therefore' points back to 1:2, 'God… hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son', and the warning is against letting what has been 'heard' drift off. 'More earnest heed' (prosecho) is the closer attention owed to so great a speaker.

Verse 2

the word spoken by angels — The law at Sinai was 'received… by the disposition of angels' (Acts 7:53) and 'ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator' (Gal 3:19). 'Stedfast' is bebaios, firm. 'Disobedience' (parakoe) occurs only here, Rom 5:19 and 2 Cor 10:6, and 'recompence of reward' (misthapodosia) only here and at Heb 10:35 and 11:26.

Verse 3

so great salvation — 'So great' (telikoutos) is used elsewhere only of 'so great a death' (2 Cor 1:10), the ship's size (James 3:4) and the great earthquake (Rev 16:18). 'Neglect' is ameleo, to give no care. 'Confirmed' is bebaioo, the verb of 'stedfast' in v.2: the law was firm, and the gospel is made firm by those 'that heard him'.

Verse 4

signs and wonders, and with divers miracles — The three words are semeia, terata and dunameis, together as in Acts 2:22 and 2 Cor 12:12. 'Bearing them witness' is sunepimartureo, found only here. Mark 16:20 describes the same: the Lord 'confirming the word with signs following'. 'Gifts' (merismos) are distributions of the Spirit, 'according to his own will'.

Verse 5

the world to come — 'World' is oikoumene, the inhabited earth, the word of 1:6 where the firstbegotten is brought 'into the world'. 'To come' is literally 'about to be'. This coming order is not put under angels, who are 'ministering spirits' (1:14); the Psalm quoted next puts it under man.

Verse 6

What is man — The words are Ps 8:4, introduced by 'in a certain place', the formula of 4:4. 'Testified' is diamarturomai, to bear solemn witness, the verb of the charge in 2 Tim 4:1. 'Visitest' (episkeptomai) is God's own word for coming to his people: 'he hath visited and redeemed his people' (Luke 1:68).

Verse 8

under his feet — The quotation of Ps 8:6 says 'all things', and the verse takes those words at their full extent: 'he left nothing that is not put under him'. 'But now we see not yet all things put under him' leaves the promise unfinished, and 1 Cor 15:25–27 shows it fulfilled in Christ: 'he hath put all things under his feet'.

Verse 9

taste death for every man — 'Taste' (geuomai) is to experience, as in 'shall not taste of death' (Matt 16:28). The words of Ps 8:5 are given to Jesus: 'made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death', then 'crowned with glory and honour', as Phil 2:8–9 gives the same order, death and then exaltation.

Verse 10

the captain of their salvation — Archegos, a leader who goes first, is rendered 'Prince of life' (Acts 3:15), 'Prince and a Saviour' (Acts 5:31) and 'author' (Heb 12:2); it occurs only these four times. 'Perfect' (teleioo) is to bring to completion, the verb of 5:9, 'being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation'.

Verse 11

he that sanctifieth — Hagiazo, to make holy, is what 10:10 says is done 'through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all'. Sanctifier and sanctified are 'all of one', and so 'he is not ashamed' (epaischunomai) to call them brethren, as God 'is not ashamed to be called their God' (Heb 11:16).

Verse 12

I will declare thy name unto my brethren — The words are Ps 22:22, from the Psalm whose first verse Christ cried on the cross, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' (Matt 27:46). The Psalm turns from that cry to praise 'in the midst of the congregation'. 'Declare thy name' is also his own account: 'I have manifested thy name' (John 17:6).

Verse 14

partakers of flesh and blood — 'Took part' (metecho) of 'the same', 'likewise' (paraplesios, found only here), shows that he shared their nature. 'Destroy' is katargeo, to make powerless, the verb of 2 Tim 1:10, 'hath abolished death'. 'The power of death' (kratos) is answered by 'the keys of hell and of death' (Rev 1:18); see also 1 John 3:8.

Verse 15

subject to bondage — 'Subject' is enochos, held fast, the word for being 'in danger of' judgment (Matt 5:21); 'bondage' (douleia) is the word of Rom 8:15, 'the spirit of bondage again to fear'. 'Deliver' is apallasso, to release. The fear lasted 'all their lifetime', and the release is from that fear of death.

Verse 16

the seed of Abraham — 'Took on him' is epilambanomai, to take hold of, the verb of Heb 8:9, 'I took them by the hand', and of Christ catching Peter (Matt 14:31). 'Seed' is the line of Gen 22:18, 'in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed', which Gal 3:29 extends to those who are Christ's.

Verse 17

a merciful and faithful high priest — The first mention of Christ as high priest in Hebrews, taken up in 4:14–15. 'Merciful' (eleemon) is elsewhere only in Matt 5:7. 'Reconciliation' is hilaskomai, the verb of the publican's prayer 'God be merciful to me a sinner' (Luke 18:13). 'Faithful' recalls 3:2, 'faithful to him that appointed him'.

Verse 18

able to succour — Boetheo, to run to a cry for help, is the word of 'Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief' (Mark 9:24) and of 'Come over into Macedonia, and help us' (Acts 16:9). He suffered 'being tempted' (peirazo), 'in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin' (Heb 4:15).