Hebrews 2:1

Hebrews 2:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
• New International Version (NIV)We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

Context of Hebrews 2:1

For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. 2For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, 3how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

Hebrews 2:1 word by word

Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως προσέχειν ἡμᾶς τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρυῶμεν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thereforeδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• to giveπροσέχωprosechō · to watch outG4337
• the more earnestπερισσῶςperissōs · excessivelyG4057
• to the things which we have heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• lest at any timeμήποτεmēpote mē pote · lestG3379
• we should letπαραρρέωpararrhueō · to drift awayG3901
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Hebrews 2:1

• Hebrews 2:2For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment,
• Hebrews 1:1Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
• Hebrews 12:25See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.
• Deuteronomy 4:9“Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.
• Deuteronomy 32:46he said to them, “Take to heart all these words I am giving as a warning to you today, so that you may command your children to follow all the words of this law carefully.
• Joshua 23:11So diligently watch yourselves! Love the Lord your God!
• 1 Chronicles 22:13Then you will succeed if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.
• Psalms 119:9How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.
• Proverbs 2:1My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
• Proverbs 3:21Maintain sound wisdom and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them.
• Proverbs 4:1Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
• Proverbs 7:1My son, obey my words, and treasure my commands.
• Luke 8:15But the seed in the good ground — these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.
• Luke 9:44“Let these words sink in: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”
• Hebrews 12:5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him,
• Matthew 16:9Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you collected?

Commentaries on Hebrews 2:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Therefore - Because God has spoken to us by his Son; and because that Son is so great and glorious a personage; and because the subject which is addressed to us is of such infinite importance to our welfare. We ought to give the more earnest heed - We should hear the doctrine of Christ with care, candour, and deep concern. Lest at any time we should let them slip - ̔· "Lest at any time we should leak out." This is a metaphor taken from unstanch vessels…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Therefore - Greek “On account of this” - ͂ Dia touto- that is, on account of the exalted dignity and rank of the Messiah as stated in the previous chapter. The sense is: “Since Christ, the author of the new dispensation, is so far exalted above the prophets, and even the angels, we ought to give the more earnest attention to all that has been spoken.” We ought - It is suitable or proper (Greek ̀ dei) that we should attend to those things. When the Son of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The duty of stedfastly adhering to Christ and his gospel. (1-4) His sufferings are no objection against his pre-eminence. (5-9) The reason of his sufferings, and the fitness of them. (10-13) Christ's taking the nature of man, and not his taking the nature of angels, was necessary to his priestly office. (14-18) Verses 1-4 Christ being proved to be superior to the angels, this doctrine is applied. Our minds and memories are like a leaky vessel, they do…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1What we have heard is the message of salvation delivered through Christ (Hebrews 2:3). So that we do not drift away is like a ship going off course. Here, it means losing spiritual focus by not paying close attention to the Good News.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-181. Therefore--Because Christ the Mediator of the new covenant is so far (He 1:5-14) above all angels, the mediators of the old covenant. the more earnest--Greek, "the more abundantly." heard--spoken by God (He 1:1); and by the Lord (He 2:3). let them slip--literally "flow past them" (He 4:1).Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 2:1

• Decision
• Judgments
• Perseverance
• Watchfulness
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Bondage
• Heed
• Neglect
• Recompense
• Reconciliation
• Taste
• Congregation
• Ebionism; Ebionites
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Faithful; Faithfulness

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