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

15Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. 16We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. 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. 18Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

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 2:11So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
• Philippians 2:7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,
• Hebrews 3:2For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house.
• Hebrews 4:15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
• Hebrews 5:1Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.
• Isaiah 11:5He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.
• Leviticus 6:30But the offering for sin may not be eaten if its blood was brought into the Tabernacle as an offering for purification in the Holy Place. It must be completely burned with fire.
• Leviticus 8:15and Moses slaughtered it. Moses took some of the blood, and with his finger he put it on the four horns of the altar to purify it. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. Through this process, he made the altar holy by purifying it.
• 2 Chronicles 29:24The priests then killed the goats as a sin offering and sprinkled their blood on the altar to make atonement for the sins of all Israel. The king had specifically commanded that this burnt offering and sin offering should be made for all Israel.
• Ezekiel 45:15and one sheep or goat for every 200 in your flocks in Israel. These will be the grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings that will make atonement for the people who bring them, says the Sovereign Lord.
• Daniel 9:24“A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
• Romans 5:10For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
• 2 Corinthians 5:18And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
• Ephesians 2:16Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
• Colossians 1:21This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.

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