Hebrews 2:1

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore {G1223}{G5124} we {G2248} ought {G1163} to give the more earnest {G4056} heed {G4337} to the things which we have heard {G191}, lest at any time {G3379} we should let them slip {G3901}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Therefore, we must pay much more careful heed to the things we have heard, so that we will not drift away.

Berean Standard Bible

We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

American Standard Version

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 2:1 serves as a profound and urgent exhortation, directly flowing from the preceding chapter's revelation of Christ's unparalleled supremacy. It implores believers to pay exceptionally diligent attention to the message of salvation received through God's Son, emphasizing the critical necessity of holding fast to these truths to prevent a gradual, perilous drift away from the faith. This verse underscores both the immense privilege of such a divine revelation and the grave responsibility that accompanies it, warning against the spiritual complacency that can lead to apostasy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** The opening "Therefore" (Greek: `διὰ τοῦτο`, _dia touto_) in [Hebrews 2:1](/hebrews/2-1 "Hebrews 2:1 - A Call to Heed") is a crucial logical connector, tying this urgent warning directly to the monumental theological exposition of [Hebrews 1](/hebrews/1 "Hebrews 1 - The Supremacy of Christ"). Chapter 1 masterfully establishes the absolute superiority of Jesus Christ over all creation, particularly over angels, who were instrumental in mediating the Old Covenant Law. The author meticulously demonstrates Christ's divine nature, His role as Creator and Sustainer, and His ultimate heirship, presenting Him as God's final and most glorious revelation. If the Law, delivered by angels, commanded strict obedience and brought judgment for disobedience, the author argues, how much more serious is the responsibility to heed the message delivered by God's own Son? This verse thus marks a pivotal transition from Christological doctrine to practical application, highlighting the immense privilege and grave responsibility of having received such a divine and authoritative revelation.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The original recipients of the Epistle to the Hebrews were likely Jewish Christians facing significant persecution and social pressure, possibly contemplating a return to Judaism to escape suffering. This context illuminates the urgency of the warning against "drifting away." The Old Covenant, with its elaborate rituals, temple worship, and ancestral traditions, held a strong pull. The author's detailed comparison of Christ's superiority to angels, Moses, and the Levitical priesthood was designed to solidify their faith in Christ as the fulfillment and ultimate reality of all that the Old Covenant foreshadowed. The danger of "letting slip" was not merely intellectual apathy but a practical temptation to abandon the demanding path of Christian discipleship for the perceived safety and familiarity of their former religious practices. The imagery of a ship drifting without an anchor would have resonated with a maritime culture, symbolizing the peril of losing one's spiritual moorings.

* **Key Themes:** [Hebrews 2:1](/hebrews/2-1 "Hebrews 2:1 - The Danger of Drifting") contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Hebrews. Foremost is the **Superiority of Christ's Revelation**, underscoring that because the message came through Christ, it demands greater and more urgent attention than any previous revelation, including the Law given through angels (as seen in [Hebrews 1:1-3](/hebrews/1-1-3 "Hebrews 1:1-3 - God's Final Word in His Son")). This leads directly to the theme of the **Danger of Spiritual Drifting**, which is the core warning—not a sudden, dramatic fall, but a gradual, imperceptible slipping away from the foundational truths of the gospel. The phrase "we ought to give the more earnest heed" emphasizes **Personal Responsibility**, placing the onus on the believer to actively engage with and hold fast to the gospel, echoing the call for diligence found in passages like [Hebrews 4:11](/hebrews/4-11 "Hebrews 4:11 - Striving to Enter God's Rest"). Implicit in this is the theme of **Perseverance in Faith**, calling for sustained attention and unwavering commitment to the foundational truths of Christianity to avoid falling away from salvation, a theme powerfully developed throughout the book, particularly in warnings like [Hebrews 3:12-13](/hebrews/3-12-13 "Hebrews 3:12-13 - The Deceitfulness of Sin").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **ought (Greek, _deî'_):** This word, often translated as "must" or "it is necessary," conveys a sense of divine obligation or binding necessity. It is not merely a suggestion but a moral imperative, indicating that the action of giving earnest heed is absolutely required given the context of Christ's supreme revelation. The form used here implies a continuous, ongoing necessity.
* **heed (Greek, _proséchō'_):** Literally meaning "to hold the mind towards," this verb implies active, focused attention, diligence, and steadfast application. It is not a passive listening but an intentional engagement, a conscious effort to adhere to and guard the truth. This term is often used in the New Testament to describe paying attention to teaching or warnings.
* **let them slip (Greek, _pararrhyéō'_):** This vivid term literally means "to flow by," "to glide past," or "to drift away." It was used in ancient Greek for a ship drifting past its moorings or a stream flowing past its banks. It powerfully illustrates a subtle, often unintentional, movement away from truth, rather than a deliberate turning away or conscious rejection. It suggests a passive neglect or inattention that can lead to spiritual apathy and potential loss of conviction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed":** This opening clause establishes the logical consequence of the preceding chapter's revelation of Christ's supremacy. The "therefore" signifies a call to action based on profound theological truth. The phrase "we ought" (Greek: _deî_) conveys a strong sense of divine necessity and moral obligation. "The more earnest heed" (Greek: _perissotérōs proséchō_) intensifies this call, demanding a heightened, superabundant level of attention and diligence. It implies that the message received through Christ requires a greater degree of focus and commitment than any previous revelation.
* **"to the things which we have heard":** This refers specifically to the gospel message, the revelation of salvation through Jesus Christ, which the recipients have already received and presumably assented to. It encompasses the entirety of the New Covenant truths concerning Christ's person, work, and the salvation He offers. The implication is that this message is of unparalleled importance and divine origin, making its neglect inexcusable.
* **"lest at any time we should let [them] slip":** This final clause presents the grave warning and the consequence of failing to give earnest heed. The Greek word _mḗpote_ (lest at any time) indicates a real and present danger. The verb "let slip" (Greek: _pararrhyéō_) paints a powerful picture of a gradual, almost imperceptible drifting away, like a ship slowly unmoored from its dock. It suggests that spiritual decline is often not a sudden, dramatic abandonment but a slow, passive neglect that leads to a loss of grip on the truths that provide spiritual security and direction.

#### Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews employs several powerful literary devices in [Hebrews 2:1](/hebrews/2-1 "Hebrews 2:1 - A Call to Diligence") to convey the urgency and gravity of the warning. The most prominent is **Metaphor**. The phrase "let them slip" (Greek: _pararrhyéō_) is a vivid **nautical metaphor**, likening the spiritual state of believers to a ship that drifts away from its moorings. This imagery suggests a gradual, often unnoticed, movement away from a secure position, rather than a sudden, deliberate departure. It emphasizes the insidious nature of spiritual apathy and neglect. Furthermore, the use of **Logical Conjunction** ("Therefore") creates a strong sense of **Cause and Effect**, linking the profound theological truths of Christ's supremacy in [Hebrews 1](/hebrews/1 "Hebrews 1 - The Superiority of Christ") directly to the ethical imperative of diligent attention in [Hebrews 2:1](/hebrews/2-1 "Hebrews 2:1 - The Consequence of Neglect"). This logical progression heightens the stakes, implying that to neglect such a great salvation, delivered by such a great Son, is an act of profound spiritual folly. The **Intensifier** "more earnest" (Greek: _perissotérōs_) also serves as a rhetorical device, emphasizing the extraordinary degree of attention required, thereby highlighting the unparalleled value and authority of the message received.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 2:1 stands as a crucial theological pivot, transforming the profound Christological declarations of [Hebrews 1](/hebrews/1 "Hebrews 1 - Christ's Divine Authority") into a compelling call for practical spiritual vigilance. The core theological implication is that the greater the revelation, the greater the responsibility. Because God has spoken definitively and supremely through His Son—a revelation far surpassing any prior communication, including that delivered by angels—the consequences of neglecting this ultimate word are commensurately severe. This verse underscores the active role of the believer in maintaining their spiritual footing, emphasizing that salvation, while sovereignly given, requires diligent heed and perseverance. It highlights the real danger of spiritual apathy and the insidious nature of drifting, which can lead to a loss of conviction and ultimately, a falling away from the living God. The warning is not against a single, dramatic sin, but a gradual, passive neglect of the profound truths that anchor the soul.

* [Hebrews 4:1](/hebrews/4-1 "Fear of Falling Short")
* [1 Corinthians 10:12](/1_corinthians/10-12 "Stand Firm")
* [2 Peter 3:17](/2_peter/3-17 "Beware of Drifting")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 2:1 serves as a timeless and urgent warning for all believers across generations. In a world saturated with distractions, competing ideologies, and the relentless pressures of daily life, it is remarkably easy to become complacent, allowing the profound and life-altering truths of the gospel to recede into the background of our consciousness. This verse is a clarion call to active engagement, not passive reception. It challenges us to move beyond merely hearing the Word of God to diligently studying it, meditating on its truths, and intentionally applying its principles to every facet of our lives. The danger of "letting slip" is not always a dramatic rejection of faith, but often a subtle, unnoticed erosion of conviction, a slow drift from the spiritual moorings that keep us anchored in Christ. Therefore, we are exhorted to cultivate a spirit of vigilance against spiritual lethargy, indifference, or a lack of earnestness. Recognizing the supreme value and divine authority of the message delivered by Jesus Christ, we are called to give it our utmost attention, reverence, and unwavering commitment. This requires regularly revisiting foundational truths, actively pursuing spiritual growth, and intentionally remaining anchored in Christ through prayer, community, and consistent engagement with His Word, lest we lose the profound benefits and assurance of our salvation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific "things which we have heard" are you currently neglecting or taking for granted in your spiritual life?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be subtly "drifting away" from the earnest heed required by the gospel?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to "give the more earnest heed" to God's Word and the truths of your faith?**

### FAQ
**What does "let them slip" mean in the context of Hebrews 2:1?**

Answer: The phrase "let them slip" translates the Greek word _pararrhyéō_, which literally means "to flow past" or "to drift away." It conveys the idea of a ship drifting from its moorings or a stream flowing past its banks. In the context of [Hebrews 2:1](/hebrews/2-1 "Hebrews 2:1 - The Danger of Neglect"), it signifies a gradual, often unintentional, spiritual neglect or apathy that leads to a slow, imperceptible movement away from the truths of the gospel. It's not necessarily a conscious rejection or dramatic fall, but a passive inattention that can result in a loss of spiritual conviction and direction. This drifting is contrasted with the active, diligent attention ("earnest heed") that believers are called to maintain.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 2:1 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not merely as a warning, but as an urgent call rooted in the unparalleled person and work of Jesus Christ Himself. The "therefore" points directly back to [Hebrews 1](/hebrews/1 "Hebrews 1 - Christ's Supremacy"), which establishes Christ as the Son of God, the radiance of God's glory, the exact imprint of His nature, and the one who upholds the universe by the word of His power. He is superior to angels, prophets, and all creation. Because the message of salvation has been delivered by such an infinitely glorious and authoritative figure, the Son who is God's final and complete revelation ([Hebrews 1:1-3](/hebrews/1-1-3 "Hebrews 1:1-3 - God Has Spoken Through His Son")), the responsibility to heed it is commensurately immense. To "let slip" such a message is to disregard the very voice of God, spoken through His Son, who is both the messenger and the message itself. Christ is not only the one who delivers the "things which we have heard" but He is the very content of those things – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), the High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Our Sympathetic High Priest")), and the author and perfecter of our faith ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Looking to Jesus")). Thus, the warning to "give the more earnest heed" is ultimately a call to anchor our lives firmly in Christ, recognizing that He alone is the secure mooring in a world prone to spiritual drift, and His finished work on the cross is the foundational truth upon which all our hope and perseverance depend ([Colossians 2:6-7](/colossians/2-6-7 "Colossians 2:6-7 - Rooted in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 8:15

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience.

2 Peter 1:12

¶ Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know [them], and be established in the present truth.

2 Peter 1:13

Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting [you] in remembrance;

Proverbs 7:1

¶ My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

Proverbs 7:2

Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

Proverbs 2:1

¶ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

Proverbs 2:6

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding.