Hebrews 2

KJV · Chapter 2/13

¹Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

²For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

³How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

⁴God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

⁵For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

⁶But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

⁷Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

⁸Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

⁹But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

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

¹¹For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

¹²Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

¹³And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

¹⁴Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

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

¹⁶For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

¹⁷Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

¹⁸For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

The author warns against neglecting the great salvation announced by Jesus, and explains why the Son of God had to become human: to conquer death and become a compassionate high priest. He quotes Psalm 8 to show the place that humanity and Christ occupy in God's plan.

Explanation

The chapter's logic follows a 'greater to lesser' argument: if the message delivered by angels already demanded serious obedience in the Old Testament, how much more the message of salvation brought by the Son of God himself. Jesus' incarnation — becoming fully human, subject to death — is explained as necessary so that he could free humanity from the fear of death and become a high priest who understands human weaknesses from personal experience. Today's practical application is that Jesus does not observe human suffering from a distance, but understands it because he lived it too.

Fun facts

The quotation of Psalm 8 about man being made 'a little lower than the angels' (2:7) is reinterpreted here specifically about Jesus, showing how the New Testament often reads the Psalms in light of Christ's life.

Verse-by-verse explanation

Hebrews 2:1Having shown that Jesus is superior to the angels, the letter makes the first of several practical pauses: since the message is so great, it's necessary to pay closer attention to it, so as not to let it slip away.
Hebrews 2:2The letter recalls that, according to Jewish tradition, the law had been delivered through angels, and even so every act of disobedience to it already carried a serious consequence.
Hebrews 2:3If disobeying a lesser message, delivered by angels, already brought punishment, the question is: how can anyone escape after ignoring so much greater a salvation, announced by the Lord Himself and confirmed by those who heard Him?
Hebrews 2:4The letter recalls that God confirmed this message with signs, wonders, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to His own will, reinforcing the authenticity of what had been announced.
Hebrews 2:5The letter picks the main argument back up: it isn't the angels who will govern the world that is still to come — that's what the rest of the chapter goes on to discuss.
Hebrews 2:6A quotation from Psalm 8 is used here, a question that originally refers to any human being: why would God care so much about so small a creature?
Hebrews 2:7It's a quotation from Psalm 8, which originally speaks of humanity in general — made “a little lower” than the heavenly beings, yet crowned with glory and honor. The letter uses this psalm about humanity and, in the next verse, applies it specifically to Jesus, showing how He became human to represent everyone.
Hebrews 2:8The citation continues, saying that everything was placed under humanity's feet, but the letter observes: in the real world, we don't yet see that fully fulfilled, which sets up the next argument about Jesus.
Hebrews 2:9Here it becomes clear that “a little lower than the angels” describes Jesus taking on the human condition, including the possibility of dying — something angels normally don't face. He goes through this “by the grace of God,” to taste death on behalf of everyone, not as a defeat, but as part of the mission.
Hebrews 2:10The letter explains why it made sense for the “captain of their salvation,” Jesus, to go through suffering: He was bringing many sons to glory, and that required this path.
Hebrews 2:11Calling Jesus and those He saves “all of one,” of the same origin, is what allows Him, according to the letter, to call them brothers without any shame.
Hebrews 2:12The letter quotes another psalm, placed in Jesus' mouth, announcing God's name among His brothers, as if He were singing along with the congregation.
Hebrews 2:13Two short quotations follow, reinforcing Jesus' trust in God and His identification with those the letter calls “the children which God hath given me,” further proof of the bond between Him and humanity.
Hebrews 2:14Calling the devil the one who “had the power of death” doesn't mean he decides who dies, but that the fear of death kept people in a kind of slavery. Jesus, by taking on human flesh and blood and dying, strips that power from fear, freeing those who had lived dominated by it.
Hebrews 2:15The purpose of Jesus facing death, according to the letter, was to free those who had lived their whole lives enslaved by the fear of it, a fear that held people captive even without their realizing it.
Hebrews 2:16Saying that Jesus “took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham” means He didn't come to rescue heavenly beings, but took on the human condition, tied to Abraham's lineage — He became one of us, not a disguised angel. It's this closeness that allows Him, in the next verse, to act as a merciful high priest.
Hebrews 2:17In Judaism, the high priest was the only person authorized to enter the temple's most sacred space to deal with the people's sins before God. The letter calls Jesus this for the first time here, saying that He carries out this role with mercy because He too suffered as a human being — a theme that dominates the rest of the book.
Hebrews 2:18Closing the chapter, the letter explains why Jesus is able to help those being tempted: because He Himself has already gone through temptation and suffering, and knows from experience what it costs.

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