Hebrews 2 - New International Version (NIV)

Warning to Pay Attention

2 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.(A) 2 For since the message spoken(B) through angels(C) was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,(D) 3 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) 4 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

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 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)
7 You made them a little[a] lower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
8 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] 9 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 7 You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ 8 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

Cross references

  1. Hebrews 2:1 : S Ro 11:22
  2. Hebrews 2:2 : S Heb 1:1
  3. Hebrews 2:2 : Dt 33:2; Ac 7:53; Gal 3:19
  4. Hebrews 2:2 : Heb 10:28
  5. Hebrews 2:3 : Heb 10:29; 12:25
  6. Hebrews 2:3 : Heb 1:2
  7. Hebrews 2:3 : S Lk 1:2
  8. Hebrews 2:4 : Mk 16:20; S Jn 4:48
  9. Hebrews 2:4 : S 1Co 12:4
  10. Hebrews 2:4 : S Eph 1:5
  11. Hebrews 2:6 : Heb 4:4
  12. Hebrews 2:6 : Job 7:17; Ps 144:3
  13. Hebrews 2:8 : Ps 8:4-6; S Mt 22:44
  14. Hebrews 2:9 : ver 7; Ac 3:13; S Php 2:9
  15. Hebrews 2:9 : Php 2:7-9
  16. Hebrews 2:9 : 2Co 5:15
  17. Hebrews 2:10 : S Ro 11:36
  18. Hebrews 2:10 : Lk 24:26; Heb 5:8, 9; 7:28
  19. Hebrews 2:11 : Heb 13:12
  20. Hebrews 2:11 : S Eph 5:26
  21. Hebrews 2:11 : S Mt 28:10
  22. Hebrews 2:12 : Ps 22:22; 68:26
  23. Hebrews 2:13 : Isa 8:17
  24. Hebrews 2:13 : Isa 8:18; Jn 10:29
  25. Hebrews 2:14 : 1Co 15:50; Eph 6:12
  26. Hebrews 2:14 : S Jn 1:14
  27. Hebrews 2:14 : Ge 3:15; 1Co 15:54-57; 2Ti 1:10
  28. Hebrews 2:14 : 1Jn 3:8
  29. Hebrews 2:15 : S 2Ti 1:7
  30. Hebrews 2:16 : S Lk 3:8
  31. Hebrews 2:17 : ver 14; S Php 2:7
  32. Hebrews 2:17 : Heb 5:2
  33. Hebrews 2:17 : Heb 3:1; 4:14, 15; 5:5, 10; 7:26, 28; 8:1, 3; 9:11
  34. Hebrews 2:17 : Heb 5:1
  35. Hebrews 2:17 : S Ro 3:25
  36. Hebrews 2:18 : Heb 4:15

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