Hebrews 2:17

Hebrews 2:17 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Context of Hebrews 2:17

15and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives. 16For, as we all know, He (Christ) does not take hold of [the fallen] angels [to give them a helping hand], but He does take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [extending to them His hand of deliverance]. Therefore, it was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins [thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind]. 18Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.

Hebrews 2:17 word by word

ὅθεν ὤφειλεν κατὰ πάντα τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ὁμοιωθῆναι, ἵνα ἐλεήμων γένηται καὶ πιστὸς ἀρχιερεὺς τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν εἰς τὸ ἱλάσκεσθαι τὰς ἁμαρτίας τοῦ λαοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereforeὅθενhothen · whenceG3606
• inκατάkata · according toG2596
• all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• it behoved himὀφείλωopheilō opheileō · to oweG3784
• to be made likeὁμοιόωhomoioō · to likenG3666
• untoὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• untoἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• he might beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• aἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
• mercifulἐλεήμωνeleēmōn · mercifulG1655
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• faithfulπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
• in thingsπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• make reconciliation forἱλάσκομαιhilaskomai · to propitiateG2433
• the sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• of the peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992

Cross-references for Hebrews 2:17

• Hebrews 2:11Both Jesus who sanctifies and those who are sanctified [that is, spiritually transformed, made holy, and set apart for God’s purpose] are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
• Philippians 2:7but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].
• Hebrews 3:2He was faithful to Him who appointed Him [Apostle and High Priest], as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.
• Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.
• Hebrews 5:1For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed [to act] on behalf of men in things relating to God, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
• Isaiah 11:5And righteousness will be the belt around His loins, And faithfulness the belt around His waist.
• Leviticus 6:30But no sin offering from which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place shall be eaten; it shall be [completely] burned in the fire.
• Leviticus 8:15Next Moses killed it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar and purified it [from sin]. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it.
• 2 Chronicles 29:24The priests slaughtered them and cleansed the altar from sin with their blood to atone for all Israel, because the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering be made for all Israel.
• Ezekiel 45:15and [you shall offer] one sheep out of every flock of two hundred from the watering places of Israel—for a grain offering, for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings to make atonement for [those who brought] them,” says the Lord God.
• Daniel 9:24“Seventy weeks [of years, or 490 years] have been decreed for your people and for your holy city (Jerusalem), to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make atonement (reconciliation) for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness (right-standing with God), to seal up vision and prophecy and prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
• Romans 5:10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].
• 2 Corinthians 5:18But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him],
• Ephesians 2:16And [that He] might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile, united] in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility.
• Colossians 1:21And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things,

Commentaries on Hebrews 2:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Wherefore in all things - Because he thus laid hold on man in order to redeem him, it was necessary that he should in all things become like to man, that he might suffer in his stead, and make an atonement in his nature. That he might be a merciful and faithful high priest - ̔ · That he might be merciful - that he might be affected with a feeling of our infirmities, that, partaking of our nature with all its innocent infirmities and afflictions, he might…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Wherefore in all things - In respect to his body; his soul; his rank and character. There was a propriety that he should be like them, and should partake of their nature. The meaning is, that there was a fitness that nothing should be wanting in him in reference to the innocent propensities and sympathies of human nature. It behoved him - It became him; or there was a fitness and propriety in it. The reason why it was proper, the apostle proceeds to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-18Verses 14-18 The angels fell, and remained without hope or help. Christ never designed to be the Saviour of the fallen angels, therefore he did not take their nature; and the nature of angels could not be an atoning sacrifice for the sin of man. Here is a price paid, enough for all, and suitable to all, for it was in our nature. Here the wonderful love of God appeared, that, when Christ knew what he must suffer in our nature, and how he must die in it…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18These verses introduce Jesus as our kind and loyal high priest, a role fully explained in the main part of Hebrews (Hebrews 4:14–10:25). He needed to share our human experience (see 5:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Wherefore--Greek, "Whence." Found in Paul's speech, Ac 26:19. in all things--which are incidental to manhood, the being born, nourished, growing up, suffering. Sin is not, in the original constitution of man, a necessary attendant of manhood, so He had no sin. it behooved him--by moral necessity, considering what the justice and love of God required of Him as Mediator (compare He 5:3), the office which He had voluntarily undertaken in order to "help"…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 2:17

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Atonement
• Jesus Continued
• Reconciliation
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• High priest
• Bondage
• Brother
• Heed
• Humiliation of Christ
• Intercession of Christ
• Mediator
• Neglect

Commentaries on Hebrews 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings