Bible Gateway passage: Hebrews 2 - New International Version (2024)

Warning to Pay Attention

2We 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

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

¹⁰In 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)

¹³And 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)

¹⁴Since 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)— ¹⁵and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear^(AC) of death. ¹⁶For 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 ⁷You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ ⁸and 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