Hebrews 2:16
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
KJV
οὐ γὰρ δήπου ἀγγέλων ἐπιλαμβάνεται, ἀλλὰ σπέρματος Ἀβραὰμ ἐπιλαμβάνεται.
Greek NT
Nusquam enim angelos apprehendit, sed semen Abrahæ apprehendit.
Vulgate
For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham.
ASV
For nowhere doth he take hold of the angels: but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold.
Douay-Rheims
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In this verse
People
Abraham
In the original Greek
8 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
γάρ
gar
conjunction · 1036×
δήπου
depou
adverb · 1×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
σπέρμα
sperma
noun · 44×
ἀλλά
alla
conjunction · 636×
ἄγγελος
aggelos
verb · 176×
Ἀβραάμ
abraam
noun · 73×
ἐπιλαμβάνομαι
epilambanomai
verb · 19×
Historic Christian voices
7 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
1. I could have wished to know for certain whether any hear with fitting earnestness the things that are said, whether we are not casting the seeds by the wayside: for in that case I should have made my instructions with more cheerfulness. For we shall speak, though no one hear, for the fear which is laid on us by our Saviour. For, says He, testify to this people; even if they …
§46We begin with the similarity which we see existing between Head and body, in that they have the same nature; and in this connection it must be observed that our nature, although inferior to that of the angels, nevertheless through God's goodness has risen above it: "For Christ," as Aquinas says, "is Head of the angels; for even in His humanity He is superior to angels... Even a…
Heidelberg Catechism · 2 passages
Q. Can another creature — any mere creature — pay this debt for us? A. No. To begin with, God will not punish another creature for what a human is guilty of. Besides, no mere creature can bear the weight of God's eternal anger against sin and release others from it.
Q. Why must the mediator be truly human and truly righteous? A. God's justice demands that human nature, which has sinned, must pay for its sin; but a sinner could never pay for others.
Cross-references
- Gal 3:16 — Now 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.
- Gal 3:29 — And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
- Gen 22:18 — And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
- John 11:35 — Jesus wept.
- Ps 8:5 — For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
- Rom 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