Hebrews 2:16

Hebrews 2:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
• New International Version (NIV)For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.

Context of Hebrews 2:16

14So, those people who become God's children are human. They have human bodies. Because of that, Jesus himself became human like us. In that way, when he died he was able to destroy the Devil. It is the Devil who has power over death. 15Before, we were like slaves all our lives because we were afraid of death. But now, Jesus' death makes us free. It is clear that Jesus did not come to help the angels. He came to help people who are from Abraham's family. 17Because of that, it was necessary for Jesus to become completely like us, his brothers and sisters. He had to become God's servant on our behalf, like God's most important priest. In that way, he could serve God well and be kind to us. He died as a sacrifice so that God could forgive us for our sins. 18While Jesus lived on earth, the Devil tried to make him do wrong things. This caused Jesus to have much pain and trouble. But because of that, he can now help us not to do wrong things.

Hebrews 2:16 word by word

οὐ γὰρ δήπου ἀγγέλων ἐπιλαμβάνεται, ἀλλὰ σπέρματος Ἀβραὰμ ἐπιλαμβάνεται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• verilyδήπουdēpou · surelyG1222
• he tookἐπιλαμβάνωepilambanomai · to catchG1949
• notοὐou · noG3756
• angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• the seed ofσπέρμαsperma · seed: offspringG4690
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11

Cross-references for Hebrews 2:16

• Hebrews 6:16When someone makes a strong promise, he uses the authority of a person who is greater than himself. This shows that he will certainly obey his promise. Then nobody can argue about it.
• Hebrews 12:10Our human fathers punished us for a few years. They did this in a way that they thought was good. But God punishes us in a way that will really help us. As a result, we can become completely good, like he is.
• Romans 2:25As a Jewish man, you are proud that someone has circumcised you. That is a help to you, if you obey God's Law in your life. But if you do not obey God's Law, then it is worth nothing. You have become like a Gentile that nobody has ever circumcised.
• 1 Peter 1:20Before the world began, God had already chosen Christ. But now, during these last days of the world, God has shown Christ to people. God did that so that he could help you.
• Genesis 22:18I will bless all the nations on the earth through your descendants. I will do this because you have obeyed me.’
• Matthew 1:1This is a list of the ancestors of Jesus Christ. Jesus was from the family of King David. David was from the family of Abraham.
• Romans 4:16So God gives us his promise as a gift, because he is very kind. We receive it when we trust him. If we believe in God like Abraham did, then God accepts us. That is God's promise to all of Abraham's family. If we believe in God, we can call Abraham our ancestor. We can all receive what God has promised. It is not only for those who have Moses' Law to obey.
• Galatians 3:16In the same way, God promised to bless Abraham and Abraham's descendant. The Bible does not say ‘descendants’. It does not speak about ‘many people’. No, God promised to bless Abraham's descendant. He speaks about one person, and that person is Christ.

Commentaries on Hebrews 2:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For verily he took not on him the nature of angels - , · Moreover, he doth not at all take hold of angels; but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold. This is the marginal reading, and is greatly to be preferred to that in the text Jesus Christ, intending not to redeem angels, but to redeem man, did not assume the angelic nature, but was made man, coming directly by the seed or posterity of Abraham, with whom the original covenant was made, that in his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For verily - Truly. He took not on him the nature of angels - Margin, “He taketh not hold of angels, but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold.” The word used here - ̓́ epilambanetai- means, to take hold upon; to seize; to surprise; to take hold with a view to detain for oneself. Robinson. Then it means to take hold of one as by the hand - with a view to aid, conduct, or succour; Mark 8:23; Acts 23:19. It is rendered “took,” Mark 8:23; Luke 9:47; Luke…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. 16descendants of Abraham: Jesus died on the cross for those who inherit God's promises to Abraham, not for the angels.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. For verily--Greek, "For as we all know"; "For as you will doubtless grant." Paul probably alludes to Is 41:8; Jr 31:32, Septuagint, from which all Jews would know well that the fact here stated as to Messiah was what the prophets had led them to expect. took not on him, &c.--rather, "It is not angels that He is helping (the present tense implies duration); but it is the seed of Abraham that He is helping." The verb is literally, to help by taking one…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 2:16

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Angel (a Spirit)
• Jesus Continued
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Abraham, Abram
• Bondage
• Heed
• Neglect
• Recompense
• Reconciliation
• Taste
• Congregation
• Ebionism; Ebionites

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