HébreuxChapitre 2

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For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

For if the word spoken through angels proved binding, and every transgression and act of disobedience received its just penalty,

how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and confirmed to us by those who heard him,

while God bore witness along with them by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.

But someone has testified somewhere: "What is man, that you remember him, or the son of man, that you care for him?

You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor,

putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in subjecting all things to him, God left nothing outside his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subjected to him.

But we do see Jesus, who was made for a little while lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

For it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have the same origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

saying, "I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."

And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here I am, and the children God has given me."

Since, then, the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared fully in the same, so that through death he might break the power of the one who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—

and set free all those who through fear of death were held in slavery all their lives.

For surely it is not angels he helps, but the descendants of Abraham.

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 atonement for the sins of the people.

For he himself suffered when he was tempted, and so he is able to help those who are being tempted.

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Résumé2

Chapitre 2

Main Theme: Jesus had to become human in order to be a merciful high priest who saves his people.

Content: The chapter warns against neglecting the salvation that was proclaimed by the Lord and confirmed with signs and wonders. The coming world is not subject to angels, but to the Son of Man—fulfilled in Jesus, who was humbled, suffered death, and is now crowned with glory. By sharing human nature, he could through his death destroy the devil and free those who lived in slavery under the fear of death. As high priest, he atones for the people's sins and can help those who are tempted.

Key Words/Images:

High Priest (ἀρχιερεύς): Jesus had to become like his brothers to be a faithful and merciful high priest who atones for sin.
Author of Salvation (ἀρχηγός): Jesus is the leader who brings many sons to glory, having been made perfect through suffering.
Brothers (ἀδελφοί): Jesus is not ashamed to call believers brothers because they share the same origin.
Power of Death: Jesus defeated the devil, who held the power of death, and freed people from the fear of death.

Contexte historique

Historical and Cultural Context for Hebrews 2

Key Concepts

The Law Delivered Through Angels (v. 2)

The expression "ὁ δι᾽ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος" (the word spoken through angels) refers to a widespread Jewish tradition that the Mosaic law was given through the mediation of angels at Sinai. This tradition is found, among other places, in the Septuagint version of Deuteronomy 33:2, in the Book of Jubilees (1:27–29), in the writings of Philo of Alexandria, and in Josephus. The New Testament also confirms this belief (Acts 7:38, 53; Galatians 3:19). For Jewish-Christian readers, this underscored the high authority of the law—and thus how much greater the message of salvation in Christ must be.

"Signs and Wonders" (v. 4)

The phrase "σημείοις τε καὶ τέρασιν" (signs and wonders) is a fixed formula with roots in the Old Testament, especially connected to the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 7:3; Deuteronomy 4:34). In Jewish tradition, such signs marked God’s confirmation of His message and His messengers. Here the formula is used to show that the apostles’ preaching carried the same divine authorization as the Mosaic tradition.

"The World to Come" (v. 5)

The expression "τὴν οἰκουμένην τὴν μέλλουσαν" (the world to come) reflects the Jewish apocalyptic two-fold division between "this age" (olam hazeh) and "the age to come" (olam haba). In Jewish eschatology, it was common to speculate about the role of angels in the coming age. The author rejects the idea that angels will rule over this reality, instead attributing dominion to the "Son of Man"—a title with clear messianic overtones from Daniel 7.

"Abraham’s Offspring" (v. 16)

The expression "σπέρματος Ἀβραὰμ" (Abraham’s offspring) had deep resonance for Jewish readers. It connected to the covenant promises in Genesis and the concept of Israel as God’s chosen people. The author uses this to emphasize that Christ’s salvation applies to the covenant people—not angels—while at the same time, in the early Christian context, the term was expanded to include all who believe (cf. Galatians 3:29).

Events and Customs

The High Priest’s Atonement Function (v. 17)

The verse introduces a central theme in Hebrews: Jesus as "ἀρχιερεύς" (high priest). In the Jewish temple system, the high priest was the only one who could enter the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) to make atonement (ἱλάσκεσθαι) for the people’s sins. The ritual is described in Leviticus 16. This comparison between Jesus and the Levitical high priest was immediately relevant and potentially controversial for Jewish-Christian readers.

Fear of Death and Slavery (vv. 14–15)

The reference to those who "φόβῳ θανάτου διὰ παντὸς τοῦ ζῆν ἔνοχοι ἦσαν δουλείας" (through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives) reflects both Jewish and Greco-Roman ideas. In the Hellenistic world, death was often associated with a shadowy existence in Hades. Among Jews there were varying views on life after death, ranging from the Sadducees’ denial of resurrection to the Pharisees’ belief in it. The devil’s power over death (v. 14) connects with apocalyptic traditions in which Satan had been granted delegated authority in this age.

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