Hebrews 2 KJV
Warning to Pay Attention
Hebrews Chapter 2: Warning to Pay Attention
The chapter deploys a rabbinic-style qal wahomer argument by contrasting the Torah delivered through angels with the greater salvation announced by the Lord, underscoring why drifting away carries stricter judgment than Old Covenant violations.
1herefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How 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;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 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?
7 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:
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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,
12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
14 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;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 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.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
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Did You Know?
The chapter deploys a rabbinic-style qal wahomer argument by contrasting the Torah delivered through angels with the greater salvation announced by the Lord, underscoring why drifting away carries stricter judgment than Old Covenant violations.
Hebrews 2:16 narrows Christโs identification from generic humanity to specifically โthe seed of Abraham,โ deliberately invoking the Abrahamic covenant and excluding angelic participation in redemption.
By placing Psalm 22:22 on Jesusโ lips in 2:12, the text presents the risen Christ as the worship leader who sings praise amid the gathered แผฮบฮบฮปฮทฯฮฏฮฑ, an image unique in the New Testament.
The phrase โcaptain of their salvationโ (2:10) renders แผฯฯฮทฮณฯฯ, a term carrying both pioneer and military commander connotations, framing Christโs suffering as the path that opens and leads others into glory.
Verse 14โs claim that Christโs death renders the devil โpowerlessโ (ฮบฮฑฯฮฑฯฮณฮญฯ) over death reverses the serpentโs role in Genesis 3, portraying the incarnation as the decisive reversal of the fallโs lethal consequences.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain Therefore โ Because Christ the Mediator of the new covenant is so far (Heb 1:5-14) above all angels, the mediators of the old covenant. the more earnest โ Greek, "the more abundantโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on Hebrews 2 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Danger of neglecting so great salvation, first spoken by Christ; To whom, not to angels, the new dispensation was subjected; Though he was for a time humbled below the angels: this humiliation took place by divine necessity for our salvation.
- 1
- Therefore โ Because Christ the Mediator of the new covenant is so far (Heb 1:5-14) above all angels, the mediators of the old covenant. the more earnest โ Greek, "the more abundantly." heard โ spoken by God (Heb 1:1); and by the Lord (Heb 2:3). let them slip โ literally "flow past them" (Heb 4:1).
- 2
- (Compare Heb 2:3.) Argument a fortiori. spoken by angels โ the Mosaic law spoken by the ministration of angels (De 33:2; Ps 68:17; Ac 7:53; Ga 3:19). When it is said, Ex 20:1, "God spake," it is meant He spake by angels as His mouthpiece, or at least angels repeating in unison with His voice the words of the Decalogue; whereas the Gospel was first spoken by the Lord alone. was steadfast โ Greek, "was made steadfast," or "confirmed": was enforced by penalties on those violating it. transgression โ by doing evil; literally, overstepping its bounds: a positive violation of it. disobedience โ by neglecting to do good: a negative violation of it. recompense โ (De 32:35).
Read all 18 notes on Hebrews 2 โ