Hebrews 2:14

Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The anonymous author of Hebrews addresses Jewish believers under pressure to return to the Mosaic system, arguing that Christ's genuine humanity is the means by which He defeats death and the devil.

The words — κεκοινώνηκεν (kekoinōnēken), perfect tense of κοινώνω, means "have partaken" or "have shared in common" — not a temporary assumption but a completed, ongoing participation in flesh and blood.

The thread — 2 Timothy 1:10 speaks of Christ who "abolished death"; Colossians 2:15 says He "disarmed the powers and authorities… triumphing over them by the cross"; Romans 8:3 notes that what the law could not do in the flesh, God accomplished by sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.

Why it lands — The verse forces the reader to treat Christ's humanity as the instrument of victory, not a temporary concession: if He truly partook of flesh and blood, the defeat of death was accomplished in the very realm where human beings are held captive.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Cross-references

2 Timothy 1:10 And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
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,
Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
1 Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
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.
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.
Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.
John 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
Hebrews 9:15 Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
1 Corinthians 15:50 Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.