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Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 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; God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by [a]gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.

For not unto angels did he subject [b]the world to come, whereof we speak. But one hath somewhere testified, saying,

[c]What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Thou madest him [d]a little lower than the angels;
Thou crownedst him with glory and honor,
[e]And didst set him over the works of thy hands:
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. But we behold him who hath been made [f]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. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, [g]in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the [h]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]I will declare thy name unto my brethren,
In the midst of the [j]congregation will I sing thy praise.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, [k]Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me. 14 Since then the children are sharers in [l]flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he [m]might bring to nought him that [n]had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and [o]might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 [p]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 [q]For [r]in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:4 Greek distributions.
  2. Hebrews 2:5 Greek the inhabited earth.
  3. Hebrews 2:6 Ps. 8:4ff.
  4. Hebrews 2:7 Or, for a little while lower
  5. Hebrews 2:7 Many authorities omit And didst . . . hands
  6. Hebrews 2:9 Or, for a little while lower
  7. Hebrews 2:10 Or, having brought
  8. Hebrews 2:10 Or, captain
  9. Hebrews 2:12 Ps. 22:22.
  10. Hebrews 2:12 Or, church
  11. Hebrews 2:13 Isa. 8:17f.
  12. Hebrews 2:14 Greek blood and flesh. Eph. 6:12.
  13. Hebrews 2:14 Or, may
  14. Hebrews 2:14 Or, hath
  15. Hebrews 2:15 Or, may
  16. Hebrews 2:16 Greek For verily not of angels doth he take hold, but he taketh hold of etc. Compare Isa. 41:9; Ecclus. 4:11; 8:9 (in the Greek).
  17. Hebrews 2:18 Or, For having been himself tempted in that wherein he hath suffered
  18. Hebrews 2:18 Or, wherein

Warning to Pay Attention

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.(A) For since the message spoken(B) through angels(C) was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,(D) how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?(E) This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,(F) was confirmed to us by those who heard him.(G) God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,(H) and by gifts of the Holy Spirit(I) distributed according to his will.(J)

Jesus Made Fully Human

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone(K) has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?(L)
You made them a little[a] lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor
    and put everything under their feet.”[b][c](M)

In putting everything under them,[d] God left nothing that is not subject to them.[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[f] But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor(N) because he suffered death,(O) so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.(P)

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,(Q) should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.(R) 11 Both the one who makes people holy(S) and those who are made holy(T) are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[g](U) 12 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[h](V)

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”[i](W)

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”[j](X)

14 Since the children have flesh and blood,(Y) he too shared in their humanity(Z) so that by his death he might break the power(AA) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil(AB) 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear(AC) of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.(AD) 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[k](AE) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful(AF) and faithful high priest(AG) in service to God,(AH) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.(AI) 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:7 Or them for a little while
  2. Hebrews 2:8 Psalm 8:4-6
  3. Hebrews 2:8 Or You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ and put everything under his feet.”
  4. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  5. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  6. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  7. Hebrews 2:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 12; and in 3:1, 12; 10:19; 13:22.
  8. Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:22
  9. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:17
  10. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18
  11. Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers