Hebrews 2:17
in Hebrews 2For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
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.
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This verse in Hebrews 2
Commentary
14 notes on this verseThe mystery of human redemption accomplished through the incarnate and crucified Word is the great sacrament of piety. I say that the incarnate Son of God assumed our poverty. What brought this about? Certainly piety. "Whence he ought in all things to be made like …
This site's exposition
a merciful and faithful high priest
on Hebrews 2:17-18
The Son had to be made like His brothers to become a merciful and faithful high priest, the first time the letter names this office. His own suffering under temptation grounds his help to the tempted, a point 4:15 takes up again.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"Therefore, he had to be made." Since he deemed it necessary to fully partake, from this point onward, he had to be in all respects made similar to humans. For he was born, he grew, he ate, he drank, he slept, he died, he rose …
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 2 -- On Faith · Written before 523.
proposed
For in this manner Jesus also wrought marvellous things, so that He might also bring Himself down to those whom, by His grace, He called, His "brethren"; and that it might not be grievous unto them that they were not answered until they had prayed …
"Wherefore it behooved Him in all things to be made like unto His brethren." What is this, "in all things"? He was born (he means), was brought up, grew, suffered all things necessary, at last He died. This is, "in all things to be made like unto His brethren." For after he had discoursed much concerning His majesty and the glory on high, he then begins concerning the dispensation. And consider with how great power he doth this. How he represents Him as having great zeal "to be made like unto us": which was a sign of much care. For having said above, "Inasmuch then as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner took part of the same"; in this place also he says, "in all things to be made like unto His brethren." Which is all but saying, He that is so great, He that is "the brightness of His glory," He that is "the express image of His person," He that "made the worlds," He that "sitteth on the right hand of the Father," He was willing and earnest to become our brother in all things, and for this cause did He leave the angels and the other powers, and come down to us, and took hold of us, and wrought innumerable good things. He destroyed Death, He cast out the devil from his tyranny, He freed us from bondage: not by brotherhood alone did He honor us, but also in other ways beyond number. For He was willing also to become our High Priest with the Father.
"That He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God." For this cause (he means) He took on Him our flesh, only for Love to man, that He might have mercy upon us. For neither is there any other cause of the economy, but this alone. For He saw us, cast on the ground, perishing, tyrannized over by Death, and He had compassion on us. "To make reconciliation," he says, "for the sins of the people. That He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest." What is "faithful"? True, able. For the Son is a faithful High Priest, able to deliver from their sins those whose High Priest He is. In order then that He might offer a sacrifice able to purify us, for this cause He has become man. Accordingly he added, "in things pertaining to God," - that is, for the sake of things in relation to God. We were become altogether enemies to God, (he would say) condemned, degraded, there was none who should offer sacrifice for us. He saw us in this condition, and had compassion on us, not appointing a High Priest for us, but Himself becoming a High Priest. In what sense He was "faithful," he added, namely, "to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."
Why said he not, of the world, instead of "the people"? for He bare away the sins of all. Because thus far his discourse was concerning them, the Hebrews. Since the Angel also said to Joseph, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people." For this too ought to have taken place first, and for this purpose He came, to save them and then through them the rest, although the contrary came to pass. This also the Apostles said at the first, "To you God having raised up His Son, sent Him to bless you"; and again, "To you was the word of this Salvation sent." Here he shows the noble birth of the Jews, in saying, "to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." For a while he speaks in this way. For that it is He who forgives the sins of all men, He declared both in the case of the paralytic, saying, "Thy sins are forgiven"; and also in that of Baptism: for He says to the disciples, "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
150. – Then (v. 17) he concludes to a likeness. As if to say: Therefore, because He did not assume an angel but the seed of Abraham, it behooved him in all things to become like unto his brethren. In all things, I say, in …
Since, he says, He was pleased to accept our nature, it was entirely consistent for Him to become like us in all things, that is, to be born, to be brought up, to grow, to endure all that was necessary, and finally, to die; this …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
That he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest-Merciful toward sinners; faithful toward God. A priest or high priest is one who has a right of approaching God, and of bringing others to him. Faithful is treated of, chap. iii, 2, &c., with its use; merciful, chap. iv, 14, &c., with the use also;
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Wherefore 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 state.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The sinner is brought by that sacrifice into God's favor, which by sin he had forfeited; hence his right prayer is, "God be propitiated (so the Greek) to me who am a sinner" (Lu 18:13).
Wherefore 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 - Ἱνα ελεημων γενηται· 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 know how to compassionate poor, afflicted, suffering man. And that he might be a faithful high priest in those things which relate to God, whose justice requires the punishment of the transgressors, or a suitable expiation to be made for the sins of the people. The proper meaning of ἱλασκεσθαι τας ἁμαρτιας is to make propitiation or atonement for sins by sacrifice. See the note on Luk 18:13, where it [this word] is particularly explained. Christ is the great High Priest of mankind; 1. He exercises himself in the things pertaining to God, taking heed that God’s honor be properly secured, his worship properly regulated, his laws properly enforced, and both his justice and mercy magnified. Again, 2. He exercises himself in things pertaining to Men, that he may make an atonement for them, apply this atonement to them, and liberate them thereby from the curse of a broken law, from the guilt and power of sin, from its inbeing and nature, and from all the evils to which they were exposed through it, and lastly that he might open their way into the holiest by his own blood; and he has mercifully and faithfully accomplished all that he has undertaken.
The words behind it
24 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅθεν | hothen | Therefore | G3606 → | 15 times |
| ὤφειλεν | opheilen | it was necessary | G3784 → | 35 times |
| κατὰ | kata | in | G2596 → | 468 times |
| πάντα | panta | all things | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τοῖς | tois | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφοῖς | adelphois | [His] brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| ὁμοιωθῆναι, | homoiothenai | to be made like, | G3666 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἐλεήμων | eleemon | a merciful | G1655 → | |
| γένηται | genetai | He may become | G1096 → | 667 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πιστὸς | pistos | faithful | G4103 → | 67 times |
| ἀρχιερεὺς | archiereus | high priest | G749 → | 122 times |
| τὰ | ta | [in] <the> [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρὸς | pros | relating to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸν | theon | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| εἰς | eis | in order | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἱλάσκεσθαι | hilaskesthai | to make propitiation for | G2433 → | |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁμαρτίας | hamartias | sins | G266 → | 173 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λαοῦ. | laou | people. | G2992 → | 141 times |
ὅθενTherefore
hothenG3606 →15 times
ὤφειλενit was necessary
opheilenG3784 →35 times
κατὰin
kataG2596 →468 times
πάνταall things
pantaG3956 →1235 times
τοῖς<the>
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφοῖς[His] brothers
adelphoisG80 →343 times
ὁμοιωθῆναι,to be made like,
homoiothenaiG3666 →
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ἐλεήμωνa merciful
eleemonG1655 →
γένηταιHe may become
genetaiG1096 →667 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πιστὸςfaithful
pistosG4103 →67 times
ἀρχιερεὺςhigh priest
archiereusG749 →122 times
τὰ[in] <the> [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
πρὸςrelating to
prosG4314 →700 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
θεὸνGod
theonG2316 →1312 times
εἰςin order
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ἱλάσκεσθαιto make propitiation for
hilaskesthaiG2433 →
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
ἁμαρτίαςsins
hamartiasG266 →173 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
λαοῦ.people.
laouG2992 →141 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 2:14Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 1:10
And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
- Romans 8:3
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin.…
- Colossians 2:15
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
- 1 Corinthians 15:54–57
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
- 2 Timothy 1:10
Through
Romans 5:10For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 5:18–19
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
- 2 Corinthians 4:10–11
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18–19
Through
Hebrews 4:14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
it leads to
- Hebrews 9:24
For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.
- Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand…
- Hebrews 9:24
Where this verse is studied
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About Hebrews
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 5; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Owen, An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 2 -- On Faith; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.