5For it was not to angels that He subjected the coming inhabited world, concerning which we are speaking. [2:6] But someone has testified somewhere, saying: "What is man, that You are mindful of him? Or the son of man, that You care for him? [2:7] You made him lower by some little than the angels; with glory and honor You crowned him, and You appointed him over the works of Your hands. [2:8] All things You have put in subjection under his feet." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing unsubject to him. At present, however, we do not yet see all things subjected to him. [2:9] But we do see Jesus — the one made lower by some little than the angels — crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that apart from God He might taste death for everyone. [2:10] For it was fitting for Him — for whom are all things and through whom are all things — having brought many sons to glory, to make perfect the archetype of their salvation through sufferings. [2:11] For both the One sanctifying and those being sanctified are all of one; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers, [2:12] saying: "I will declare Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing praises to You." [2:13] And again: "I myself will be already trusting in Him." And again: "Behold, I myself and the children whom the God has given to Me." [2:14] Since therefore the children have partaken of blood and flesh, He Himself likewise took part in the same things, so that through death He might render powerless the one having the dominion of death — that is, the devil — [2:15] and might release those who, through fear of death, were throughout all their lives held in slavery. [2:16] For assuredly it is not of angels He takes hold, but of the offspring of Abraham He takes hold. [2:17] For this reason He was obligated to be made like His brothers in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [2:18] For in what He Himself suffered, having been tested, He is able to help those being tested.
HEB 2:5-18
Jesus like His Brothers
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Greco-Roman world, the concept of divine hierarchy and cosmic order was deeply ingrained. Angels were seen as intermediaries between the divine and human realms, often associated with power and authority. The author of Hebrews challenges this assumption by asserting that the coming world is not subjected to angels but to humanity, specifically through Jesus. This would have been striking to Jewish and Gentile listeners alike, as it elevates humanity’s role in God’s plan. The citation of Psalm 8:4-6 reinforces this, emphasizing humanity’s original dignity and dominion, though currently incomplete. Jesus, described as 'made lower than the angels' temporarily, embodies solidarity with humanity, sharing in their suffering and mortality. The term (leader, pioneer) underscores His role in leading humanity to glory, while (propitiation) highlights His priestly function in reconciling humanity to God. This would resonate with Jewish listeners familiar with Temple rituals and Gentile converts accustomed to Greco-Roman sacrificial practices.
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How other translations render this
HEB 2:5
- KJV
- For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
- BSB
- For it is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.
- Koinōnos
- For it was not to angels that He subjected the coming inhabited world, concerning which we are speaking.
HEB 2:6
- KJV
- But 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?
- BSB
- But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?
- Koinōnos
- But someone has testified somewhere, saying: "What is man, that You are mindful of him? Or the son of man, that You care for him?
HEB 2:7
- KJV
- Thou 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:
- BSB
- You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor
- Koinōnos
- You made him lower by some little than the angels; with glory and honor You crowned him, and You appointed him over the works of Your hands.
HEB 2:8
- KJV
- Thou 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.
- BSB
- and placed everything under his feet.” When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
- Koinōnos
- All things You have put in subjection under his feet." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing unsubject to him. At present, however, we do not yet see all things subjected to him.
HEB 2:9
- KJV
- But 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.
- BSB
- But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
- Koinōnos
- But we do see Jesus — the one made lower by some little than the angels — crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that apart from God He might taste death for everyone.
HEB 2:10
- KJV
- For 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.
- BSB
- In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
- Koinōnos
- For it was fitting for Him — for whom are all things and through whom are all things — having brought many sons to glory, to make perfect the archetype of their salvation through sufferings.
HEB 2:11
- KJV
- For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
- BSB
- For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
- Koinōnos
- For both the One sanctifying and those being sanctified are all of one; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers,
HEB 2:12
- KJV
- Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
- BSB
- He says: “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing Your praises in the assembly.”
- Koinōnos
- saying: "I will declare Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing praises to You.
HEB 2:13
- KJV
- And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
- BSB
- And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And once again: “Here am I, and the children God has given Me.”
- Koinōnos
- And again: "I myself will be already trusting in Him." And again: "Behold, I myself and the children whom the God has given to Me.
HEB 2:14
- KJV
- Forasmuch 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;
- BSB
- Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
- Koinōnos
- Since therefore the children have partaken of blood and flesh, He Himself likewise took part in the same things, so that through death He might render powerless the one having the dominion of death — that is, the devil —
HEB 2:15
- KJV
- And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
- BSB
- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
- Koinōnos
- and might release those who, through fear of death, were throughout all their lives held in slavery.
HEB 2:16
- KJV
- For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
- BSB
- For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham.
- Koinōnos
- For assuredly it is not of angels He takes hold, but of the offspring of Abraham He takes hold.
HEB 2:17
- KJV
- Wherefore 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.
- BSB
- For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.
- Koinōnos
- For this reason He was obligated to be made like His brothers in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
HEB 2:18
- KJV
- For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
- BSB
- Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
- Koinōnos
- For in what He Himself suffered, having been tested, He is able to help those being tested.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
HEB 2:5
- world:The word translated 'world' here refers specifically to the inhabited world, often with the implication of the Roman Empire or the known civilized lands, rather than the entire planet or cosmos.
HEB 2:9
- by [the] grace:The word translated 'by grace' more literally means 'apart from' or 'without.' The phrase indicates that Jesus tasted death for everyone, without exception or distinction.
HEB 2:10
- archetype:The word translated 'archetype' carries the sense of a 'founder' or 'originator,' someone who leads the way and establishes something new, rather than just a perfect example.
HEB 2:17
- to make propitiation for:The phrase 'to make propitiation for' describes an action that appeases divine wrath or makes atonement for sin, often involving a sacrifice to restore a right relationship with God.