Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
Parallel translations
- WEB and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
- KJV And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
- BSB and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
- NKJV and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
- NASB and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Christ's death frees those who lived their whole lives enslaved by the fear of death. The gospel delivers from death's terror.
Overview
The result of Christ's victory is liberation for those held captive by the dread of dying. What once bound people in lifelong fear is overcome by the one who tasted death for them and rose. This deliverance is a precious fruit of the cross, granting believers freedom and hope in the face of death.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Rom 8:15For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
- 2 Tim 1:7For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- Luke 1:74–75to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
- 2 Cor 1:10who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;
- Ps 55:4My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
- Rom 8:21that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
- 1 Cor 15:50–57Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.
- Ps 89:48What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.
- Ps 56:13For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
- Job 33:21–28His flesh is so consumed away, that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
- Job 24:17For the morning is to all of them like thick darkness, for they know the terrors of the thick darkness.
- Ps 33:19to deliver their soul from death, to keep them alive in famine.
- Job 18:11Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall chase him at his heels.
- Ps 73:19How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
- Job 18:14He shall be rooted out of the security of his tent. He shall be brought to the king of terrors.
- Gal 4:21Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 2:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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