Hebrews 2:5-18 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:6

But one in a certain place - This one is David; and the certain place, Psalm 8:4 , Psalm 8:5 , Psalm 8:6 . But why does the apostle use this indeterminate mode of quotation? Because it was common thus to express the testimony of any of the inspired writers; ההוא אמר amar hahu kethab , thus saith a certain scripture. So Philo, De Plant. Noe: Ειπε γαρ που , he saith somewhere; ειπε γαρ τις , a certain person saith. Thus even the heathens were accustomed to quote high authorities;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:7

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels - We must again have recourse to the original from which this quotation is made: מאלהים מעט ותחסרהו vattechasserehu meat meelohim . If this be spoken of man as he came out of the hands of his Maker, it places him at the head of all God's works; for literally translated it is: Thou hast made him less than God. And this is proved by his being made in the image and likeness of God, which is spoken of no other creature either in heaven or earth;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:9

Should taste death for every man - In consequence of the fall of Adam, the whole human race became sinful in their nature, and in their practice added transgression to sinfulness of disposition, and thus became exposed to endless perdition. To redeem them Jesus Christ took on him the nature of man, and suffered the penalty due to their sins. It was a custom in ancient times to take off criminals by making them drink a cup of poison. Socrates was adjudged to drink a cup of the juice of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:10

For it became him - It was suitable to the Divine wisdom, the requisitions of justice, and the economy of grace, to offer Jesus as a sacrifice, in order to bring many sons and daughters to glory. For whom - and by whom - God is the cause of all things, and he is the object or end of them. Perfect through sufferings - Without suffering he could not have died, and without dying he could not have made an atonement for sin. The sacrifice must be consummated, in order that he might be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:11

For both he that sanctifieth - The word ὁ ἁγιαζων does not merely signify one who sanctifies or makes holy, hut one who makes atonement or reconciliation to God; and answers to the Hebrew כפר caphar , to expiate. See Exodus 29:33-36 . He that sanctifies is he that makes atonement; and they who are sanctified are they who receive that atonement, and, being reconciled unto God, become his children by adoption, through grace. In this sense our Lord uses the word, John 17:19 ; :... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:12

I will declare thy name - See Psalm 22:22 . The apostle certainly quotes this psalm as referring to Jesus Christ, and these words as spoken by Christ unto the Father, in reference to his incarnation; as if he had said: "When I shall be incarnated, I will declare thy perfections to mankind; and among my disciples I will give glory to thee for thy mercy to the children of men." See the fulfillment of this, John 1:18 ; : No man hath seen God at any time; the Only-Begotten Son, which is in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:13

I will put my trust in him - It is not clear to what express place of Scripture the apostle refers: words to this effect frequently occur; but the place most probably is Psalm 18:2 , several parts of which psalm seem to belong to the Messiah. Behold I and the children which God hath given me - This is taken from Isaiah 8:18 . The apostle does not intend to say that the portions which he has quoted have any particular reference, taken by themselves, to the subject in question; they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:14

The children are partakers of flesh and blood - Since those children of God, who have fallen and are to be redeemed, are human beings; in order to be qualified to redeem them by suffering and dying in their stead, He himself likewise took part of the same - he became incarnate; and thus he who was God with God, became man with men. By the children here we are to understand, not only the disciples and all genuine Christians, as in Hebrews 2:13 , but also the whole human race; all Jews and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:15

And deliver them who through fear of death - It is very likely that the apostle has the Gentiles here principally in view. As they had no revelation, and no certainty of immortality, they were continually in bondage to the fear of death. They preferred life in any state, with the most grievous evils, to death, because they had no hope beyond the grave. But it is also true that all men naturally fear death; even those that have the fullest persuasion and certainty of a future state dread it:... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:16

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels - Ου γαρ δηπου αγγελων επιλαμβανεται, αλλα σπερματος Αβρααμ επιλαμβανεται· Moreover, he doth not at all take hold of angels; but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold. This is the marginal reading, and is greatly to be preferred to that in the text Jesus Christ, intending not to redeem angels, but to redeem man, did not assume the angelic nature, but was made man, coming directly by the seed or posterity of Abraham, with whom the original... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:16

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