Hebrews 2

1 Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.

2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,

3 how 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,

4 God 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?

5 For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels.

6 But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?

7 You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.

8 You 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.

9 But 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.

10 For 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.

11 For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

12 saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the congregation I will sing your praise.”

13 Again, “I will put my trust in him.” Again, “Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me.”

14 Since 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,

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

16 For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham.

17 Therefore 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.

18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Around Hebrews 2

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

Hebrews 2 · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this chapter says

After the grand claim of chapter 1, the writer gives a warning with a gentle edge: pay closer attention to what you have heard, “lest perhaps we drift away.” If the word spoken through angels held firm, how could anyone escape if they neglect so great a salvation?

Then the writer turns to the Psalms and asks what humanity is, that God should think of them. Humanity was made a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory and honor, yet we do not yet see everything under its feet. What we do see is Jesus, made a little lower than the angels for a time, crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he would taste death for everyone.

He shared flesh and blood to bring to nothing the one who had the power of death, and to free those who lived in lifelong fear of it. He was made like his brothers, a merciful and faithful high priest, and “he is able to help those who are tempted.”

Background

The warning in the first verses follows directly from the argument that the Son is greater than the angels. The writer quotes Psalm 8, which asks what a human being is, and reads it as fulfilled in Jesus. Christians have read the passage about the one who had the power of death in different ways, as a defeat of the devil, of death itself, or both. The audience seems to be Jewish Christians facing hardship, and the author is unknown. See Psalm 22 and Isaiah 8 for the other quotations.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 18 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes