Hebrews 2:16

“For surely it is not angels he takes hold of, but he takes hold of the offspring of Abraham.”
Hebrews 2:16 · direct translation from the Greek

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With the Greek beneath

Forγὰρsurelyδήπουit is notοὐangelsἀγγέλωνhe takes hold of,ἐπιλαμβάνεταιbutἀλλὰhe takes hold ofἐπιλαμβάνεταιthe offspringσπέρματοςof Abraham.Ἀβραὰμ

Allusion · Isaiah 41:8-9

Go to Isaiah 41:8-9

Both texts speak of the offspring of Abraham and of taking it by the hand or helping it.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

ἐπιλαμβάνεταιepilambanetaiG1949הֶחֱזַקְתִּיhejezaktiH2388“take hold of, grasp”
σπέρματοςspermatosG4690זֶרַעzeraH2233“seed, offspring”
ἈβραὰμAbraamG11אַבְרָהָםavrahamH85“Abraham”

Hebrews 2:16, word by word

surelyδήπουdēpou

surely, of course

Surely, of course, as everyone knows.

Where else “dēpou” appears

angelsἀγγέλωνangelōn

angel

A messenger from heaven who serves God.

Where else “angelōn” appears

he takes hold ofἐπιλαμβάνεταιepilambanetai

help

To take someone by the hand to help.

Where else “epilambanetai” appears

the offspringσπέρματοςspermatos

offspring

Someone's children and descendants.

Where else “spermatos” appears

of AbrahamἈβραὰμAbraam

Abraham

Abraham, the father of the people of Israel, to whom God promised to bless all the families of the earth through his offspring.

Where else “Abraam” appears

Translation note

This recalls Isaiah 41:8-9.

The context

15and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery throughout all their lives.

16 · This verse (above)

17Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every way, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things relating to God, to make expiation for the sins of the people.

Read all of Hebrews 2

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