New King James Version
Hebrews 2:17
17Therefore, 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.
Context of Hebrews 2:17
15and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 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. 18For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Read all of Hebrews 2Hebrews 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 2:11For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
- Philippians 2:7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
- Hebrews 3:2who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.
- Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
- Hebrews 5:1For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
- Isaiah 11:5Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.
- Leviticus 6:30But no sin offering from which any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of meeting, to make atonement in the holy place, shall be eaten. It shall be burned in the fire.
- Leviticus 8:15and Moses killed it. Then he took the blood, and put some on the horns of the altar all around with his finger, and purified the altar. And he poured the blood at the base of the altar, and consecrated it, to make atonement for it.
- 2 Chronicles 29:24And the priests killed them; and they presented their blood on the altar as a sin offering to make an atonement for all Israel, for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering be made for all Israel.
- Ezekiel 45:15And one lamb shall be given from a flock of two hundred, from the rich pastures of Israel. These shall be for grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to make atonement for them,” says the Lord God.
- Daniel 9:24“Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
- Romans 5:10For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
- Ephesians 2:16and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
- Colossians 1:21And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries