Bible Strands
Hebrews 2:15
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author of Hebrews writes to Jewish Christians to explain how Christ’s incarnation and death accomplish liberation, directly following his statement that Jesus destroyed the devil who holds death’s power.
The words — ἀπαλλάξῃ (apallaxē) translates literally to “may set free,” and φόβῳ θανάτου (phobō thanatou) denotes the “fear of death” that the text identifies as the chain of slavery.
The thread — The connection between fear, slavery, and deliverance appears in Romans 8:15, which contrasts a spirit of slavery that breeds fear with adoption, and in 2 Timothy 1:7, which states God gives no spirit of fear. Luke 1:74 further links this deliverance to the ability to serve without fear.
Why it lands — The text states that fear of death functions as a lifelong slavery, and Christ’s work removes that bondage. A reader must therefore stop treating fear as a permanent master and live in the actual freedom Christ provides.
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
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Cross-references
- Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
- 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- Luke 1:74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
- Psalms 55:4 My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
- Romans 8:21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
- 2 Corinthians 1:10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,
- Psalms 89:48 What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
- 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.
- Job 24:17 For to them, deep darkness is their morning; surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!
- Job 33:21 His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.