Hebrews 2 - Amplified Bible (AMP)

Give Heed

2 [a]For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth. 2 For if the message given [b]through angels [the Law given to Moses] was authentic and unalterable, and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty, 3 how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak], 4 [and besides this evidence] God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Earth Subject to Man

5 It was not to angels that God subjected the [inhabited] world of the future [when Christ reigns], about which we are speaking. 6 But one has [solemnly] testified somewhere [in Scripture], saying,

What is man, that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man, that You graciously care for him?
7
You have made him for a little while lower [in status] than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
[c]And set him over the works of Your hands;
8
You have put all things in subjection under his feet [confirming his supremacy].”

Now in putting all things in subjection to man, He left nothing outside his control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him.(A)

Jesus Briefly Humbled

9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while [by taking on the limitations of humanity], crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering of death, so that by the grace of God [extended to sinners] He might experience death for [the sins of] everyone.

10 For it was fitting for God [that is, an act worthy of His divine nature] that He, for whose sake are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the [d]author and founder of their salvation perfect through suffering [bringing to maturity the human experience necessary for Him to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest]. 11 Both Jesus who sanctifies and those who are sanctified [that is, spiritually transformed, made holy, and set apart for God’s purpose] are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them [e]brothers and sisters, 12 saying,

“I will declare Your (the Father’s) name to My brethren (believers),
In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”(B)

13 And again [[f]He says],

My trust and confident hope will be placed in Him.”

And again,

Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me.”(C)

14 Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives. 16 For, as we all know, He (Christ) does not take hold of [the fallen] angels [to give them a helping hand], but He does take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [extending to them His hand of deliverance].(D) 17 Therefore, it was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins [thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind]. 18 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:1 This refers back to all of ch 1, not just the final verse.
  2. Hebrews 2:2 It was a tradition in Judaism that angels, whom the Jews highly regarded, had an important role in God’s giving of the Law to Moses. See Acts 7:38; Gal 3:19.
  3. Hebrews 2:7 Two early mss do not contain “And...hands.”
  4. Hebrews 2:10 Or pioneer, originator, champion.
  5. Hebrews 2:11 Lit brethren.
  6. Hebrews 2:13 By placing these two OT quotations on the lips of Jesus the author illustrates: 1) his high view of Scripture, and 2) that he views even written Scripture as the words of Jesus.

Cross references

  1. Hebrews 2:8 : Ps 8:4-6
  2. Hebrews 2:12 : Ps 22:22
  3. Hebrews 2:13 : Is 8:17, 18
  4. Hebrews 2:16 : Is 41:8, 9

You Might Also Like:

Hebrews 2 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

2 Because of this it behoveth [us] more abundantly to take heed to the things heard, lest we may glide aside, 2 for if the word being spoken through messengers did become stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience did receive a just recompense, 3 how shall we escape, having neglected so grea...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

2 Therefore more plenteously it behooveth us to keep those things [Therefore it behooveth us to keep more plenteously those things], that we have heard, lest peradventure we float away. 2 For if that word that was said by angels, was made firm, and each breaking of the law and unobedience [and each...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

2 That is why we must listen very carefully to the things we have heard. We must never forget them. 2 What the angels said proved to be true. Every one who broke the law, and who did not obey it, was punished as he should be punished. 3 If that is so, then we will not get away without being punished...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - World English Bible (WEB)

2 Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the ...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - The Voice (VOICE)

2 That is why we ought to pay even closer attention to the voice that has been speaking so that we will never drift away from it. 2 For if the words of instruction and inspiration brought by heaven’s messengers were valid, and if we live in a universe where sin and disobedience receive their just r...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Warning Not to Drift Away2 For this reason it is necessary for us to pay especially close attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved to be firm, and every violation and disobedience received a just payback, 3 how shall we escape if...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Warning to Pay Attention2 Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For if the message declared by angels[a] was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvati...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Warning to Pay Attention2 Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

2 Therefore we ought to diligently pay attention to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation (which a...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Don’t Neglect God’s Salvation!2 So, then, we must pay all the closer attention to what we heard, in case we drift away from it. 2 You see, if the word which was spoken through angels was reliable, with appropriate and just punishment every time anyone broke it or disobeyed it, 3 how shall we escap...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Warning to Pay Attention2 Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how can we escape if we neglect so great a salva...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Warning to Pay Attention2 Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message declared through angels proved valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty,(A)3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

He exhorts us to be obedient to the new law that Christ has given us, and not to be offended at the infirmity and low degree of Christ, because it was necessary that for our sakes he should take such a humble state upon him, so that he could be like his brethren. 2 Therefore we ought to give the mor...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - New Living Translation (NLT)

A Warning against Drifting Away2 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - New Life Version (NLV)

Do Not Wait to Be Saved from the Punishment of Sin2 That is why we must listen all the more to the truths we have been told. If we do not, we may slip away from them. 2 These truths given by the angels proved to be true. People were punished when they did not obey them. 3 God was so good to make a...
Read More

Hebrews 2 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Do Not Neglect Salvation2 Therefore we must give [a]the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word (A)spoken through angels proved steadfast, and (B)every transgression and disobedience received a just [b]reward, 3 (C)how shall we escape if we neglect so g...
Read More