For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham.
Parallel translations
- WEB For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham.
- KJV For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
- ESV For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.
- NKJV For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
- NASB For clearly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendants of Abraham.
- NLT We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 came to help not angels but the descendants of Abraham. His saving aid is directed to human beings, the people of faith.
Overview
The author clarifies that the Son's redemptive mission was for humanity, specifically 'the offspring of Abraham,' the line of God's covenant people. This explains why He took human nature rather than angelic. Understood in light of the wider New Testament, this 'offspring' embraces all who share Abraham's faith in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Gal 3:29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
- Gal 3:16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
- Rom 4:16–25Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
- Gen 22:18And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
- Heb 6:16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.
- Rom 2:25Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
- Heb 12:10Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- Matt 1:1–17This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
- 1 Pet 1:20He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
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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 2:16 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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