Hebrews 2:5-18

Earth Subject to Man

5 For He did not subject to angels [a]1the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.
6 But one has testified 2somewhere, saying, "3WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?
7 "4YOU HAVE MADE HIM [b]FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
8 5YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now 6we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Jesus Briefly Humbled

9 But we do see Him who was 7made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, 8because of the suffering of death 9crowned with glory and honor, so that 10by the grace of God He might 11taste death 12for everyone.
10 For 13it was fitting for Him, 14for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to 15perfect the 16author of their salvation through sufferings.
11 For both He who 17sanctifies and those who 18are sanctified are all 19from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them 20brethren,
12 saying, "21I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE."
13 And again, "22I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again, "23BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."
14 Therefore, since the children share in 24flesh and blood, 25He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that 26through death He might render powerless 27him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and might free those who through 28fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
17 Therefore, He had 29to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might 30become a merciful and faithful 31high priest in 32things pertaining to God, to 33make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For since He Himself was 34tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Hebrews 2:5-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HEBREWS 2

In this chapter the apostle, from the superior excellency of Christ, by whom the Gospel revelation is come, discoursed of in the preceding, urges the believers he writes to, to a more diligent attention to the Gospel, and the doctrines of it; to which he adds another motive inducing thereunto, lest those things should be let slip, and be lost, Heb 2:1 and then, by another argument from the less to the greater, that if the law, which was given by angels, could not be broken with impunity, then how should such escape divine punishment that neglected and despised the Gospel, which is a doctrine of salvation, was delivered by the Lord himself, and confirmed by various testimonies and miracles, Heb 2:2-4. And besides the Gospel dispensation is not put into the hands of angels, but into the hands of Christ, to whom all things are subject, which is proved out of Ps 8:4-6 and which proof shows, that though Christ, on account of his sufferings and death, was for a while made lower than the angels, yet being now crowned with glory and honour, he is above them, and they are subject to him, since all things are, Heb 2:5-9. And this anticipates an objection that might be taken from hence against what the apostle had asserted in the foregoing chapter, concerning the superiority of Christ to angels; and this leads him on to observe the reason of the sufferings and death of Christ, and also of his incarnation; that the moving cause of Christ's sufferings and death was the grace and good will of God; that he did not suffer for himself, but for others, for everyone of those described in the context; that inasmuch as he was the surety of those persons, it was agreeable to the justice of God, and it could not be otherwise, but he must be made perfect through suffering; and this was the way to bring many sons to glory, Heb 2:9,10 and as for his incarnation, or his becoming man, that was necessary, that the sanctifier and the sanctified might be of the same nature, that he might be able to call them brethren and children, Heb 2:11-13 as he does, for which are cited \Ps 22:22 18:2 Isa 8:18\ and because the children he engaged to bring to glory were partakers of flesh and blood; and also that he might be capable of dying, and by dying destroy the devil, and deliver his timorous people, who, through fear of death, lived in a continual state of bondage, Heb 2:14,15 for which reason he did not take upon him the nature of angels, but of the seed of Abraham, Heb 2:16 And besides, it was necessary he should be in all things like unto his brethren, that he might be merciful to them, and faithful to God, and be in a state and condition capable of sympathizing with them, and succouring them under their temptations, which he was able to do by suffering through temptation himself, Heb 2:17,18.

Cross References 34

  • 1. Matthew 24:14; Hebrews 6:5
  • 2. Hebrews 4:4
  • 3. Psalms 8:4
  • 4. Psalms 8:5, 6
  • 5. Psalms 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:27
  • 6. 1 Corinthians 15:25
  • 7. Hebrews 2:7
  • 8. Acts 2:33; Acts 3:13; 1 Peter 1:21
  • 9. Philippians 2:9; Hebrews 1:9
  • 10. John 3:16
  • 11. Matthew 16:28; John 8:52
  • 12. Hebrews 7:25
  • 13. Luke 24:26
  • 14. Romans 11:36
  • 15. Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 7:28
  • 16. Acts 3:15; Acts 5:31
  • 17. Hebrews 13:12
  • 18. Hebrews 10:10
  • 19. Acts 17:28
  • 20. Matthew 25:40; Mark 3:34; John 20:17
  • 21. Psalms 22:22
  • 22. Isaiah 8:17
  • 23. Isaiah 8:18
  • 24. Matthew 16:17
  • 25. John 1:14
  • 26. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; 2 Timothy 1:10
  • 27. John 12:31; 1 John 3:8
  • 28. Romans 8:15
  • 29. Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14
  • 30. Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 5:2
  • 31. Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 5:5, 10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:26, 28; Hebrews 8:1, 3; Hebrews 9:11; Hebrews 10:21
  • 32. Romans 15:17; Hebrews 5:1
  • 33. Daniel 9:24; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10
  • 34. Hebrews 4:15

Footnotes 10

  • [a]. Lit "the inhabited earth"
  • [b]. Or "...him a little lower than..."
  • [c]. Two early mss do not contain "And...hands"
  • [d]. Or "a little lower"
  • [e]. Or "leader"
  • [f]. Or "being sanctified"
  • [g]. Lit "blood and flesh"
  • [h]. Lit "take hold of angels, but He takes hold of"
  • [i]. Lit "seed"
  • [j]. Lit "was obligated to be"
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