Go
Articles on

Hebrews 2

Heb. 2:16 KJV (With Strong’s)

+
16
For
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
verily
depou (Greek #1222)
a particle of asseveration; indeed doubtless
KJV usage: verily.
Pronounce: day'-poo
Origin: from 1211 and 4225
θhe took
epilambanomai (Greek #1949)
to seize (for help, injury, attainment, or any other purpose; literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: catch, lay hold (up-)on, take (by, hold of, on).
Pronounce: ep-ee-lam-ban'-om-ahee
Origin: middle voice from 1909 and 2983
not
ou (Greek #3756)
the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not
KJV usage: + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also 3364, 3372.
Pronounce: oo
Origin: οὐκ (ook), and (before an aspirate) οὐχ (ookh) a primary word
on
epilambanomai (Greek #1949)
to seize (for help, injury, attainment, or any other purpose; literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: catch, lay hold (up-)on, take (by, hold of, on).
Pronounce: ep-ee-lam-ban'-om-ahee
Origin: middle voice from 1909 and 2983
him the nature of angels
aggelos (Greek #32)
a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
KJV usage: angel, messenger.
Pronounce: ang'-el-os
Origin: from ἀγγέλλω (probably derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring tidings)
; but
alla (Greek #235)
properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
KJV usage: and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.
Pronounce: al-lah'
Origin: neuter plural of 243
he took on
epilambanomai (Greek #1949)
to seize (for help, injury, attainment, or any other purpose; literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: catch, lay hold (up-)on, take (by, hold of, on).
Pronounce: ep-ee-lam-ban'-om-ahee
Origin: middle voice from 1909 and 2983
him the seed of
sperma (Greek #4690)
something sown, i.e. seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting)
KJV usage: issue, seed.
Pronounce: sper'-mah
Origin: from 4687
Abraham
Abraam (Greek #11)
Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch
KJV usage: Abraham. (In Acts 7:16 the text should probably read Jacob.)
Pronounce: ab-rah-am'
Origin: of Hebrew origin (085)
.
θ
he taketh not hold of angels, but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold.

More on:

+
Abraham,
Angels,
Nature,
Seed

Cross References

+

Ministry on This Verse

+
verily.
Heb. 6:16• 16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. (Heb. 6:16)
;
Heb. 12:10• 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (Heb. 12:10)
;
Rom. 2:25• 25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. (Rom. 2:25)
;
1 Peter 1:20• 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1 Peter 1:20)
took not, etc.
Gr. taketh not hold of angels, but of the seedof Abraham he taketh hold.
the seed.
Gen. 22:18• 18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Gen. 22:18)
;
Matt. 1:1‑17• 1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
 2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
 3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
 4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
 5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
 6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
 7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
 8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
 9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
 10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
 11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
 12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
 13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
 14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
 15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
 16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
 17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. (Matt. 1:1‑17)
;
Rom. 4:16‑25• 16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
 17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
 18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
 19And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
 20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
 21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
 22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
 23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Rom. 4:16‑25)
;
Gal. 3:16,29• 16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
 29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:16,29)
• The Holy Spirit here goes on to Christ's making a special object, not of angels, but of Abraham's seed, which of itself ought to have guarded reflecting minds from the error. Why Abraham rather than Adam? It is evidently owing to another truth, no longer the assumption of human nature, but their cause he undertakes. (“Hebrews 2:16-18” by W. Kelly)
• He must needs put Himself into the position and the circumstances in which that seed were found, though not the state they were personally in. (“Hebrews 2” by J.N. Darby)

J. N. Darby Translation

+
16
For he does not indeed take hold of angels by the handa, but he takes hold of the seed of Abraham.

JND Translation Notes

+
a
It means "to take hold of," but it is constantly used for "taking up a person to help him," though in other senses as well. We say, "he took him by the hand," but this may be too familiar. It is used in the sense of "taking hold of," literally "deliver." The same word is used in this verse as to "the seed of Abraham," and also in the quotation from Jer. 31 in ch. 8.9, but there "hand" is added in the Greek.

W. Kelly Translation

+
16
Fora verilyb not of angels doth he take holdc but of Abraham’s seed he taketh hold.

WK Translation Notes

+
a
"For" is the only right sense, not "moreover," nor "besides."
b
The English version of the verse destroys the connection. For the word dēpou (verily or indeed) is not angels He takes up (i.e. helps), but He takes up Abraham’s seed. It is not a question here of assuming a nature, but of the reason why He did so; and this is His undertaking the cause of the seed of Abraham not of Adam, as such.
c
The sense in the KJV is totally changed, and a preterite form "took" is assigned to the verb, instead of the present tense, the natural consequence of such a change of sense. The word "epilambanetai" cannot bear this sense. It is expressly a present, "he taketh." Again the word means to lay hold of, especially when with a genitive as here in the middle voice. Such is its force, even when uncompounded; and the preposition defines or emphasizes. Never does it mean to take a nature.