Hebrews 2 (BHT-ATN)

“We Must Pay Even More Careful Attention to the Things We Have Been Taught”

1 That is the reason why we must pay even more careful attention to the things we have been taught,+ so that we don’t drift away. 2 If the instruction+ delivered through angels, you see,+ proved so binding that every violation and act of disobedience received its just penalty, 3 how will we ourselves possibly escape punishment if we neglect so mighty a salvation—a salvation which, after first having been communicated through the Lord,+ was confirmed to us as true and reliable by the very people who heard him, 4 as God kept adding his own testimony to theirs by performing signs and wonders and various miracles and by distributing gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will?

5 It is not angels, you see, whom God+ planned+ to put in charge of the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 Rather, as it is solemnly declared somewhere in the Scriptures:+

“What is man, that you are so concerned about him,

or the son of man, that you come to his aid?

7 You have made him for a short time lower than the angels,

yet have planned+ to place on him a crown+ of glory and honor;+

8 you will surely subject under his feet the whole creation.”+

When it says here that God will “subject to him the whole creation,” it means that there isn’t anything that God will not put in subjection to mankind.+ At the present time, however, we still don’t see “the whole creation” to mankind “subjected.”9 Even so, we do have an example+ of one “made lower than the angels” for a “short time,” namely, Jesus, now crowned with “glory and honor” because of the death he suffered.+ He was made lower than the angels for a short time+ so that he could experience death, by the gift of God,+ on behalf of+ all mankind.+ 10 It wasn’t out of place for God,+ you see, for whom and through whom the whole creation exists, in order to bring to glory many sons, to use suffering to fully and finally consecrate for priestly service+ the pioneer+ of their salvation. 11 Indeed, the one who sets people apart as a special holy possession and for sacred service,+ and those who are so set apart: It is the same stock+ from which they all come, for which reason Jesus+ is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters:+

12 “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters;

it is in the midst of the assembly that I will sing in praise of what you have done.+”+

13 And again,

“I will place my trust in him,”

that is,+ “I and the disciples+ God has entrusted to my care.+”+

14 Since “the disciples,” therefore, share in a weak and mortal nature,+ he himself likewise took on the same, so that by his death he could break the power of the one who has such fierce ability to bring about death+ (that is, the devil), 15 and set free those who, because of their fear of death, throughout their entire lives were subject to slavery.+ 16 It isn’t angels, you see, as one would agree, to whose aid Jesus+ comes, but the seed of Abraham. 17 That is why it was necessary for him to be made like his brothers and sisters in indeed every respect, so that he could become in his service to God a merciful and trustworthy+ high priest, so that he could turn God’s wrath away from the people and remove the guilt of their sins by making atonement for them.+ 18 Indeed, because Jesus+ himself was tempted and knows what it is to suffer,+ he is able to help those who are being tempted.

+1:1Or various times, or various portions, or little by little. Cf Jn 3:34.+1:1Or forefathers. Lit fathers.+1:2Or last.+1:3Or word.+1:3Lit Having made/performed purification of sins. ME(OTB)/IT (see JFB, 2:441; LALS, sv καθαρισμός; UBSHS [Heb], 10; translation and notes at 2 Pt 1:9) See also Timothy Miller, “Paul’s Priestly Mission and Salvation from the Coming Wrath: A Missiological Probe of Romans 15:16 and the Question of Divine Anger through the Worldview of Leviticus” (PhD diss., Columbia International University, 2024). Cf, eg, Lv 4:20, 4:31, 6:7, 16:1-34; Nu 15:28; Jb 7:21.+1:3Lit of the majesty. ME (see L-N, 12.5).+1:4Lit having becoming superior in rank to the angels. ME (see UBSHS [Heb], 13).+1:4Or a name. Cf DuCL; UBSHS (Heb), 13.+1:5Lit he. Cf CJB, ISV, NET, NIV, NLT, TEV.+1:5Unless otherwise marked (through superscript—ˢyou), all second person pronouns are in the second person plural.+1:5Lit I today have fathered you, or I today have begotten you. ME(OTB/H) (see translation and notes at Ac 13:33).+1:5Ps 2:7+1:52 Sm 7:14+1:6Cf Ps 89:27; Col 1:15-18; Re 1:5.+1:6Dt 32:43 (LXX); cf Ps 97:7.+1:7The Greek word used here can mean “wind,” “spirit,” or “breath.”+1:7Ps 104:4. Cf, eg, Jb 1-2; Ps 148:8; Ga 4:3, 9; Col 2:8, 20; Re 7:1, 14:18, 16:5.+1:8Lit that [will be] the scepter of. ME (see UBSHS [Heb], 19). Cf CJB, NCV, NLT.+1:9Lit That is the reason why. ME(OTB)/IT (see translation and notes at Mt 10:37, 22:32; Lk 14:26; Jn 12:5; 1 Co 16:22; Ga 3:6; Jm 1:12).+1:9Lit the God of you. ME(OTB)/IT. Covenantal connotations have been activated by “love” and “hate” in this context (see translation and notes at Mt 10:37, 22:32; Lk 14:26; Jn 12:5; 1 Co 16:22; Jm 1:12).+1:9Lit has anointed you with the oil of joy above your companions. ME/IT (see UBSHS [Heb], 20). Cf GeCL; TEV.+1:9Ps 45:6-7+1:12Or roll them up.+1:12Ps 102:25-27+1:13Lit he.+1:13Ps 110:1+1:14Or winds.+2:1Or have learned, or have heard. Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+2:2Or word, or teaching. ME(H/OTB)/IT (see UBSHS [Heb], 28). Cf Knox, TNT.+2:2Cf, eg, Ac 7:53.+2:3Lit which a beginning having received to be spoken through the Lord. ME/IT (see UBSHS [Heb], 27-9). Cf NET. The argument here is a from-lesser-to-greater argument. Cf, eg, Jn 7:16-17, 8:28, 12:49, 14:10, 14:24.+2:5Lit he.+2:5See translation and notes at Jn 17:22-24 and Rm 8:28-30. The same applies here. Cf NCV, NLT.+2:6Lit But someone solemnly testifies somewhere. ME (see UBSHS [Heb], 33). Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+2:7See translation and notes at Jn 17:22-24 and Rm 8:28-30. Cf also 1 Co 2:7.+2:7Lit crowned him.+2:7Cf Jn 17:22-24; Rm 8:28-30; 1 Co 2:7.+2:8Ps 8:5-7 (LXX)+2:8Lit he left nothing unsubjected to him. ME (see BDAG, 91, sv ἀνυπότακτος 1; UBSHS [Rm], 36).+2:9Lit we see. ME (see Heb 12:1-3). Cf UBSHS (Heb), 37.+2:9Lit because of the suffering of death. ME (see BDAG, 747, sv πάθημα 1). Cf TEV.+2:9The purpose clause here is logically connected to “made lower” (see UBSHS [Heb], 37-8), and therefore “made lower than the angels for a short time” has been restated in translation here for the sake of clarity. Cf TEV.+2:9Cf Is 53:9.+2:9Or for the sake of.+2:9Cf Is 53.+2:10Lit It was proper/appropriate/fitting for him.+2:10In this context, τελειόω ( teleiō) is referring to consecration and appointment for priestly service (see BDAG, 996, sv τελειόω 3; NBC, 1327; UBSHS [Heb], 39). Cf, eg, the LXX at Ex 29:9-35; Lv 8:33, 16:32, 21:10; Nu 3:3. Cf also Jn 17:17-19. The connotations of perfection, completeness, and ultimacy activated by this cognate family, however, are also relevant here within the overall context of Hebrews, in which a telic argument is sustained throughout on behalf of the perfection of the priesly service/cult renered by Jesus. Hence the inclusion of “perfect” here and throughout the translation of Hebrews.+2:10Or author, or leader, or founder, or source.+2:11Lit who sanctifies. ME/IT (see Timothy Miller, “Paul’s Priestly Mission and Salvation from the Coming Wrath: A Missiological Probe of Romans 15:16 and the Question of Divine Anger through the Worldview of Leviticus” [PhD diss., Columbia International University, 2024]).+2:11Or the same Father, or the same man, or the same origin. Lit from one thing, or from one man/person/being. Cf NJB, REB in ESS (Heb), 66.+2:11Lit he. Cf ISV, NIV, TEV.+2:11Lit brothers, saying.+2:12Lit sing in praise of you. ME/IT (see UBSHS [Heb], 43). Cf TEV.+2:12Ps 22:22+2:13Is 8:13-18 was interpreted Messianically in the early church (see NAC [Heb], 218). Accordingly, Is 8:17 is referring to the Messiah, and v 18 is referring to the Messiah with his children (ie, his disciples; see the following note). Following the lead of the NLT in translation here, so that the connection between the Messiah and his disciples is clear.+2:13Lit children. ME (see L-N, 9.46, 36.39). Cf Is 8:16.+2:13Translating in a way similar to how I’ve translated at Jn 6:37 (see translation and notes there).+2:13Is 8:17-18+2:14Lit share in flesh and blood. ME(OTB/I/F) (see BDAG, 26, sv αἷμα 1.a.; Ibid, 915, sv σάρξ 3.a.; translation and notes at 1 Co 15:50; Php 2:7; Rm 8:3; FBT Chart F, G).+2:14Lit who holds the power/might/control of death. ME (see UBSHS [Heb], 45; translation and notes at Re 9:3). Cf Gn 3; Mt 6:13, 26:41; 1 Co 10:13; 2 Co 2:11, 11:3.+2:15Cf, eg, Ps 3:5, 4:8, 6:5, 9:13, 13:3, 16:10, 18:4-5, 22:15, 30:3, 30:9, 33:19; 49:14-15, 68:20, 86:13, 88:3, 89:48, 116:3, 118:17-18, 139:8+2:16Lit he. Cf NCV.+2:17Or faithful, or reliable.+2:17Lit to make propitiation for/expiate the sins of the people. ME(OTB)/IT (see translation and notes at Lk 18:13, Rm 3:25, and 1 Jn 2:2).+2:18Lit he.+2:18The perfect tense here signals ongoing relevance at the time of the speaker. I’ve tried to convey this in translation.