Hebrews 2:16
New International Version
For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.

New Living Translation
We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham.

English Standard Version
For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

Berean Standard Bible
For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham.

Berean Literal Bible
For surely He helps not the angels, but He helps the seed of Abraham.

King James Bible
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

New King James Version
For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.

New American Standard Bible
For clearly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendants of Abraham.

NASB 1995
For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.

NASB 1977
For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.

Legacy Standard Bible
For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the seed of Abraham.

Amplified Bible
For, as we all know, He (Christ) does not take hold of [the fallen] angels [to give them a helping hand], but He does take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [extending to them His hand of deliverance].

Christian Standard Bible
For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring.

American Standard Version
For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus clearly did not come to help angels, but he did come to help Abraham's descendants.

English Revised Version
For verily not of angels doth he take hold, but he taketh hold of the seed of Abraham.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Jesus helps Abraham's descendants rather than helping angels.

Good News Translation
For it is clear that it is not the angels that he helps. Instead, he helps the descendants of Abraham.

International Standard Version
For it is clear that he did not come to help angels. No, he came to help Abraham's descendants,

Majority Standard Bible
For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham.

NET Bible
For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham's descendants.

New Heart English Bible
For, truly, he did not come to help the angels, but to help the offspring of Abraham.

Webster's Bible Translation
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Weymouth New Testament
For assuredly it is not to angels that He is continually reaching a helping hand, but it is to the descendants of Abraham.

World English Bible
For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for doubtless, He does not lay hold of messengers, but He lays hold of [the] seed of Abraham,

Berean Literal Bible
For surely He helps not the angels, but He helps the seed of Abraham.

Young's Literal Translation
for, doubtless, of messengers it doth not lay hold, but of seed of Abraham it layeth hold,

Smith's Literal Translation
For certainly he lays not hold of angels; but of the seed of Abraham he lays hold.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For no where doth he take hold of the angels: but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For at no time did he take hold of the Angels, but instead he took hold of the offspring of Abraham.

New American Bible
Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham;

New Revised Standard Version
For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For he did not take on him the pattern of angels; but he did take on him the seed of Abraham.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For death was not authorized over the Angels, but death was authorized over the seed of Abraham.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For, verily, he does not take hold of angels, but he takes hold of the posterity of Abraham.

Godbey New Testament
For not yet does he take upon himself the nature of angels, but he takes upon himself the seed of Abraham.

Haweis New Testament
For he verily took not on him the angelic nature, but assumed that of the seed of Abraham.

Mace New Testament
for he is not the deliverer of angels; but the deliverer of Abraham's posterity.

Weymouth New Testament
For assuredly it is not to angels that He is continually reaching a helping hand, but it is to the descendants of Abraham.

Worrell New Testament
For surely He doth not succor angels, but He succoreth Abraham's seed.

Worsley New Testament
For indeed He taketh not hold of angels to save them, but of the seed of Abraham.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Like His Brothers
15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham. 17For 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.…

Cross References
Philippians 2:7
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Galatians 3:16
The 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.

Romans 1:3
regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh,

Matthew 1:1
This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

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. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Romans 9:5
Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.

Genesis 22:18
And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 28:14
Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.

Isaiah 41:8
“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—

Luke 1:54-55
He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, / as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Luke 1:72-73
to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, / the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

Acts 3:25
And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’

Galatians 4:4
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,


Treasury of Scripture

For truly he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

verily.

Hebrews 6:16
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Hebrews 12:10
For 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.

Romans 2:25
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

took not, etc.

Genesis 22:18
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Matthew 1:1
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Romans 4:16
Therefore 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,

Jump to Previous
Abraham Abraham's Angels Assuredly Concerned Continually Descendant Descendants Doubtless Gives Hand Help Helping Helps Hold Indeed Life Messengers Nature Reaching Seed Surely Verily
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Abraham Abraham's Angels Assuredly Concerned Continually Descendant Descendants Doubtless Gives Hand Help Helping Helps Hold Indeed Life Messengers Nature Reaching Seed Surely Verily
Hebrews 2
1. We ought to be obedient to Christ Jesus;
5. and that because he condescended to take our nature upon himself;
14. as it was necessary.














For surely
This phrase emphasizes certainty and assurance. In the Greek, the word used is "δήπου" (dēpou), which conveys a strong affirmation. The author of Hebrews is making a definitive statement about the nature of Christ's mission. This certainty is foundational for believers, reinforcing the reliability of God's promises and the intentionality of His actions.

it is not the angels He helps
The Greek word for "helps" here is "ἐπιλαμβάνεται" (epilambanetai), which means to take hold of or to assist. The author contrasts the role of angels with that of humans, highlighting that Christ's redemptive work is not for the angels. Angels, though powerful and significant in the heavenly realm, are not the recipients of salvation. This distinction underscores the unique and privileged position of humanity in God's redemptive plan.

but the descendants of Abraham
The phrase "descendants of Abraham" refers to those who are part of the covenantal promise given to Abraham. In the Greek, "σπέρματος Ἀβραάμ" (spermatos Abraam) is used, meaning "seed of Abraham." This is not limited to ethnic Jews but extends to all who share in the faith of Abraham, as Paul elaborates in Galatians 3:7, "Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham." This highlights the inclusivity of the Gospel, where faith, not ethnicity, determines one's inclusion in God's family. The reference to Abraham connects the New Testament believers to the Old Testament promises, showing the continuity of God's salvation plan throughout history.

(16) He took not on him the nature of angels.--The rendering of the margin approaches very nearly the true meaning of the verse; whereas the text (in which the Authorised version differs from all our earlier translations) introduces confusion into the argument. Having spoken in Hebrews 2:14 of our Lord's assumption of human nature, the writer in these words assigns the reason: "For surely it is not of angels that He taketh hold, but He taketh hold of the seed of Abraham." Though the words "take hold," which occur twice in the verse, probably cannot directly signify "help" (as is often maintained), they distinctly suggest laying hold for the sake of giving help; and a beautiful illustration may be found in some of the Gospel narratives of our Lord's works of healing (Mark 8:23; Luke 14:4). It is probable that the language used here is derived from the Old Testament. In Hebrews 8:9, a quotation from Jeremiah 31, we read, "In the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt." Isaiah 41:8-9, however, is perhaps a still closer parallel (for the word used in the Greek version is very similar, and no doubt expresses the same meaning): "Thou Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend; thou of whom I have taken hold from the ends of the earth." If the writer had these verses in his thought, it is hardly necessary to inquire why he chooses the expression "seed of Abraham," instead of one of (apparently) wider meaning, such as Hebrews 2:7-8, might seem to require. But even apart from this passage of Isaiah, and the natural fitness of such a phrase in words addressed to Jews, we may doubt if any other language would have been equally expressive. For as to the means, it was by becoming a child of Abraham that the Saviour "took hold of" our race to raise it up; and as to the purpose, St. Paul teaches us that "the seed of Abraham" includes all who inherit Abraham's faith. . . . Verses 16, 17. - For verily, etc. The A.V. (following the ancient interpreters) takes this verse as referring to the Incarnation. But

(1) ἐπιλαμβάνεσθαι σπέρματος and, still more, ἐπιλαμβάνεσθαι ἀγγέλων, seems an awkward way of expressing "to assume the nature of." The usual sense of the verb, followed by a genitive, is "to take hold of," as ἐπιλαμβάνεσθαι χειρός (Acts 23:19; Mark 8:23); and especially in the sense of "succouring" (cf. Matthew 14:31; Hebrews 8:9; Isaiah 31:32, Ἐν ἡμέρα ἐπιλᾶμβομένου μου τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῶν; and Ecclus. 4:11, Ἡ σοφία ἐπιλαμβάνεται τῶν ζητούντων αὐτήν.

(2) The present tense of the verb is inappropriate to the past act of the Incarnation, which has, moreover, been sufficiently declared in ver. 14.

(3) The sequence of though+, in the following verse is not easily intelligible if the Incarnation be the subject of this:" Whence it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren;" - this does not follow from his having become incarnate; we should rather say that his incarnation was the means of his being made like them. Translate, therefore, observing the position of the substantives before the verbs, For not, I ween, angels cloth he lay hold of (to succor them), but the seed of Abraham he doth lay hold of. The allusion is to its being the human "children of promise," and not angels, that are denoted in prophecy as being, and acknowledged to be, the object of the Messianic redemption. The expression, "the seed of Abraham," is, of course, not intended to exclude the Gentiles: it is appropriately used in reference to the Messianic promises of the Old Testament (cf. Genesis 23:18; Isaiah 41:8): and the extension of its meaning to "all them that believe" would be as familiar to the first readers of the Epistle as to us (cf. Matthew 3:9; John 8:39; Romans 4:11, 16). The conclusion of ver. 17 (which repeats virtually what has been alleged before, after reason given) now naturally follows: Whence it behooved him in all things to be assimilated to his brethren; i.e. to the race which was the object of his redemptive succor. But, further, why the need of this entire assimilation, to the extent of participation in suffering unto death? That he might become a merciful (or, compassionate) high priest, in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. It was that he might be fully constituted as the High Priest of humanity. Here, according to the manner of the Epistle, the view of priesthood, to be afterwards set forth at length, is briefly hinted. It is taken up in Hebrews 5, after the conclusion that Christ is man's High Priest has been reached by another line of argument (see preceding summary). In Hebrews 5. one of the essentials of a true high priest (whose office is to mediate for man in things pertaining to God) is set forth as being that he should be of the same race and nature with those for whom he mediates, and able in all respects to sympathize with them: and this view is here foreshadowed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

surely
δή‿ (dē)
Particle
Strong's 1211: Probably akin to de; a particle of emphasis or explicitness; now, then, etc.

[it is] not
Οὐ (Ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

[the] angels
ἀγγέλων (angelōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

He helps,
ἐπιλαμβάνεται (epilambanetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1949: To lay hold of, take hold of, seize (sometimes with beneficent, sometimes with hostile, intent).

but
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

[the] descendants
σπέρματος (spermatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4690: From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.

of Abraham.
Ἀβραὰμ (Abraam)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 11: Abraham, progenitor of the Hebrew race. Of Hebrew origin; Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 2:16 For most certainly he doesn't give help (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 2:15
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