Hebrews 2:17
Expanded Bible
17 For this reason Jesus had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way so he could ·be their [L become a] merciful and faithful high priest in ·service [L the things pertaining] to God. Then Jesus could ·die in their place to take away [make atonement for; be the sacrifice that pays for; be the sacrifice that appeases God’s wrath against] ·their sins [L the sins of the people].
Romans 8:3
Good News Translation
3 What the Law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son, who came with a nature like our sinful nature, to do away with sin.
Hebrews 2:14-17
Good News Translation
14 Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, 15 and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. 16 For it is clear that it is not the angels that he helps. Instead, he helps the descendants of Abraham. 17 This means that he had to become like his people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people's sins would be forgiven.
Hebrews 2:17
17 This means that he had to become like his people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people's sins would be forgiven.
"Verse 3
What the law could not do [το αδυνατον του νομου] . Lit., the impossible (thing) of the law. An absolute nominative in apposition with the divine act - condemned sin. God condemned sin which condemnation was an impossible thing on the part of the law. The words stand first in the Greek order for emphasis.
In the likeness of sinful flesh. Lit., of the flesh of sin. The choice of words is especially noteworthy. Paul does not say simply, "He came in flesh" (1 John 4:2; 1 Timothy 3:16), for this would not have expressed the bond between Christ 's manhood and sin. Not in the flesh of sin, which would have represented Him as partaking of sin. Not in the likeness of flesh, since He was really and entirely human; but, in the likeness of the flesh of sin : really human, conformed in appearance to the flesh whose characteristic is sin, yet sinless. "Christ appeared in a body which was like that of other men in so far as it consisted of flesh, and was unlike in so far as the flesh was not flesh of sin" (Dickson). 42 For sin [περι αμαρτιας] . The preposition expresses the whole relation of the mission of Christ to sin. The special relation is stated in condemned. For sin - to atone, to destroy, to save and sanctify its victims.
Condemned. Deposed from its dominion, a thing impossible to the law, which could pronounce judgment and inflict penalty, but not dethrone. Christ 's holy character was a condemnation of unholiness. Construe in the flesh with condemned."
2:14-17
...
emphasis.
In the likeness of sinful flesh. Lit., of the flesh of sin. The choice of words is especially noteworthy. Paul does not say simply, "He came in flesh" (1 John 4:2; 1 Timothy 3:16), for this would not have expressed the bond between Christ 's manhood and sin. Not in the flesh of sin, which would have represented Him as partaking of sin. Not in the likeness of flesh, since He was really and entirely human; but, in the likeness of the flesh of sin : really human, conformed in appearance to the flesh whose characteristic is sin, yet sinless. "Christ appeared in a body which was like that of other men in so far as it consisted of flesh, and was unlike in so far as the flesh was not flesh of sin" (Dickson). 42 For sin [περι αμαρτιας] . The preposition expresses the whole relation of the mission of Christ to sin. The special relation is stated in condemned. For sin - to atone, to destroy, to save and sanctify its victims.
Define likeness = like·ness
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noun
the fact or quality of being alike; resemblance.
"her likeness to him was astonishing"
Similar:
resemblance
similarity
alikeness
sameness
similitude
congruity
affinity
correspondence
analogy
parallelism
agreement
relationship
identity
identicalness
uniformity
conformity
equivalence
Opposite:
dissimilarity
the semblance, guise, or outward appearance of.
"humans are described as being made in God's likeness"
Similar:
semblance
guise
appearance
outward form
form
shape
image
aspect
character
mien
a portrait or representation.
"the only known likeness of Dorothy as a young woman"
2:14-17
Hebrews 2:14
Easy-to-Read Version
14 These children are people with physical bodies. So Jesus himself became like them and had the same experiences they have. Jesus did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil.
"
They that are sanctified (ο αγιαζομενο). Present passive articular participle of αγιαζω. It is a process here as in Hebrews 10:14, not a single act, though in Hebrews 10:10 the perfect passive indicative presents a completed state.
Of one (εξ ενος). Referring to God as the Father of Jesus and of the "many sons" above (verse Hebrews 2:10) and in harmony with verse Hebrews 2:14 below. Even before the incarnation Jesus had a kinship with men though we are not sons in the full sense that he is.
He is not ashamed (ουκ επαισχυνετα). Present passive indicative of επαισχυνομα, old compound (Romans 1:16). Because of the common Father Jesus is not ashamed to own us as "brothers" (αδελφους), unworthy sons though we be.
Verse 12
Unto my brethren (τοις αδελφοις μου). To prove his point the writer quotes Psalms 22:22 when the Messiah is presented as speaking "unto my brethren."
Congregation (εκκλησιας). The word came to mean the local church and also the general church or kingdom (Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 12:23). Here we have the picture of public worship and the Messiah sharing it with others as we know Jesus often did.
Verse 13
I will put my trust in him (Εγω εσομα πεποιθως επ' αυτω). A rare periphrastic (intransitive) future perfect of πειθω, a quotation from Isaiah 8:17. The author represents the Messiah as putting his trust in God as other men do (cf. Hebrews 12:2). Certainly Jesus did this constantly. The third quotation (κα παλιν, And again) is from Isaiah 8:18 (the next verse), but the Messiah shows himself closely linked with the children (παιδια) of God, the sons (υιο) of verse Hebrews 2:10.
Verse 14
Are sharers in flesh and blood (κεκοινωνηκεν αιματος κα σαρκος). The best MSS. read "blood and flesh." The verb is perfect active indicative of κοινωνεω, old verb with the regular genitive, elsewhere in the N.T. with the locative (Romans 12:13) or with εν or εις. "The children have become partners (κοινωνο) in blood and flesh."
Partook (μετεσχε). Second aorist active indicative of μετεχω, to have with, a practical synonym for κοινωνεω and with the genitive also (των αυτων). That he might bring to nought (ινα καταργηση). Purpose of the incarnation clearly stated with ινα and the first aorist active subjunctive of καταργεω, old word to render idle or ineffective (from κατα, αργος), causative verb (25 times in Paul), once in Luke (Luke 13:7), once in Hebrews (here). "By means of death" (his own death) Christ broke the power (κρατος) of the devil over death (paradoxical as it seems), certainly in men's fear of death and in some unexplained way Satan had sway over the realm of death (Zechariah 3:5). Note the explanatory τουτ' εστιν (that is) with the accusative after it as before it. In Revelation 12:7 Satan is identified with the serpent in Eden, though it is not done in the Old Testament. See Romans 5:12; John 8:44; John 14:30; John 16:11; 1 John 3:12. Death is the devil's realm, for he is the author of sin. "Death as death is no part of the divine order" (Westcott).
Verse 15
And might deliver (κα απαλλαξη). Further purpose with the first aorist active subjunctive of αππαλλασσω, old verb to change from, to set free from, in N.T. only here, Luke 12:58; Acts 19:12.
Through fear of death (φοβω θανατου). Instrumental case of φοβος. The ancients had great fear of death though the philosophers like Seneca argued against it. There is today a flippant attitude towards death with denial of the future life and rejection of God. But the author of Hebrews saw judgement after death (Hebrews 9:27). Hence our need of Christ to break the power of sin and Satan in death."
Romans 8 - Vincent's Word Studies - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org
Romans 8 - Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org
Hebrews 2 - Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org