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Hebrews 2

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A Great Salvation 1–4

1
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. ​
2
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; ​
3
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; ​
4
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? ​

The Son Rules the World to Come 5–9

5
For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. ​
6
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? ​
7
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:
8
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. ​
9
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. ​

Jesus Made Perfect Through Suffering 10–13

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.

The Son Became Human 14–18

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. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · 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).