The Bible — World English Bible

Hebrews 2

In brief

Hebrews 2 speaks to believers who are tempted to drift away. The author urges them to hold on to what they have heard, then shows that Jesus, made a little lower than the angels for a time, is now crowned with glory. He shared our flesh and our death to set free those who were held in slavery by the fear of death. Made like his brothers, he is a merciful and faithful high priest, able to help those who are tempted.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-4Do not neglect so great a salvation
  2. v. 5-9The man crowned with glory: Jesus, made lower and then crowned
  3. v. 10-13The Author of salvation brings many sons to glory
  4. v. 14-16He shares our flesh to defeat death
  5. v. 17-18A merciful high priest who helps those who are tempted

1Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.

2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,

3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard,

4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?

5For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels.

6But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?

7You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.

8You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet.

9But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.

10For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

12saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the congregation I will sing your praise.”

13Again, “I will put my trust in him.” Again, “Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me.”

14Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

15and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham.

17Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

18For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Key verses

Verse 1
Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.

The chapter opens with a pastoral warning: spiritual drift is slow and quiet. The author asks us to pay closer attention to what we have heard about Christ, so that we are not carried away little by little.

Verse 3
how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard,

If the message given through angels carried weight, the question is asked with gravity: what happens to anyone who sets aside the salvation announced by the Lord himself? The key word is neglect, not loud rejection.

Verse 9
But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.

We do not yet see everything under human control, but we do see Jesus crowned. His death, offered for everyone by the grace of God, is the road that leads to that glory.

Verse 14-15
Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Jesus took on flesh and blood so that through death he could bring to nothing the one who has the power of death. The result is freedom: the fear of death no longer has to hold the believer in slavery.

Verse 18
For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Because he went through trial and temptation himself, Jesus does not watch our struggle from a distance. He understands, and he is able to come to our help.

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What the sermons say

Amazing Jesus: The One Who Surpasses All Other GloryThe preacher starts from Hebrews 2:1 to talk about spiritual drift, slow and silent, and invites us to add a concrete practice: fix our eyes on Jesus rather than let weariness or discouragement carry us off.Read the summary →Can You Lose Your Salvation?René Ouandji quotes the question of Hebrews 2:3 about neglecting so great a salvation, and places it in a message on perseverance and on the seriousness with which salvation is received.Read the summary →Spiritual Warfare Part 2: In Christ, You Are More Than a ConquerorGilles Bonneveau draws on Hebrews 2:14-15: by his death Jesus crushed the one who had the power of death and set free those who were held in slavery by the fear of death. The victory is won, and the fight then calls for being strengthened.Read the summary →Is Jesus Really God? Henri Blocher AnswersHenri Blocher follows the reasoning of Hebrews 2:14: the Son had to take on human nature in order to die and so triumph over the power of evil, which answers the question of the death of God.Read the summary →What Comfort Is There in the Face of Death? (Psalm 90)Starting from Psalm 90, the preacher recalls that Hebrews 2:14 gives the devil the power of death, while holding that God remains sovereign over every life. He draws comfort from this in the face of death.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Hebrews 2

What does “neglect so great a salvation” mean in Hebrews 2:3?

The author is not describing a dramatic rejection but an indifference that settles in: no longer paying attention to what Christ has done. He raises the question of responsibility for those who received a message greater than the one given through angels. Christian traditions understand the reach of the warning differently, but all read in it a call to stay attentive.

Why did Jesus have to become like his brothers?

Hebrews 2 answers that Jesus shared the flesh and blood of human beings so that he could die and defeat death. He thus became a merciful and faithful high priest, able to make atonement for sins. His humanity is not a detail: it makes him able to understand and to help.

What does Hebrews 2:14-15 say about the fear of death?

The text says that through his death Jesus defeated the one who held the power of death, the devil, in order to free those who were held in slavery by the fear of dying. Believers do not escape physical death, but death loses its power to terrify, because Christ went through it before them.

Articles quoting Hebrews 2

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World English Bible translation — public domain.