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Hebrews 2

Hebrews 2 joins a warning against neglecting salvation to an account of the suffering Savior who shares human life.

The unnamed writer warns the hearers against drifting from the salvation announced by the Lord and confirmed by witnesses, with God adding signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The focus then turns from angels to Jesus, who shared human flesh and blood and suffered death. Drawing on Scripture, the writer explains how Jesus brings God’s children to glory, breaks death’s bondage, and becomes a merciful high priest who helps those facing temptation.

temptationdeath and what comes afterfeeling distant from God
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1Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.
2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,
3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard,
4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
5For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels.
6But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?
7You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.
8You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t yet see all things subjected to him.
9But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.
10For it became him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
12saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13Again, “I will put my trust in him.” Again, “Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me.”
14Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham.
17Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
18For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Hebrews 2:1The opening warning makes attention to the message urgent, naming drift as a danger for those who have heard.
Hebrews 2:3The question about escape underscores salvation’s weight, grounding the warning in the Lord’s message and its confirmation by witnesses.
Hebrews 2:14Jesus shares flesh and blood so that his death can break the devil’s power over those held in bondage.
Where this chapter reaches

Hebrews quotes Psalm on humanity’s promised rule and praise among brothers, and Isaiah on trust in God and the children God has given. John shares the theme of the Son taking human flesh, while Romans also connects Christ’s death with deliverance from sin.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What does the warning about drifting lead you to notice about your attention to the message of salvation?

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How does Jesus’ sharing in flesh and blood shape your understanding of his help when you face temptation?

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Questions people ask about Hebrews 2

Why does Hebrews 2:10 say Jesus was made perfect through suffering?

The phrase concerns Jesus’ fitness to bring God’s children to glory. His suffering carries his saving work to its intended completion. The chapter describes him sharing human life, tasting death, and becoming a merciful high priest. It gives no suggestion that he needed correction for sin.

Why does Hebrews 2 say Jesus was made lower than the angels?

The writer applies Psalm’s words about humanity to Jesus, who shares flesh and blood and undergoes death. Being made lower than the angels describes his human lowliness and exposure to suffering. The same passage presents him crowned with glory and honor because of his suffering of death.

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Hebrews · 13 chapters
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What the Bible says about temptation →What the Bible says about death →What the Bible says about doubt →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).