Bible Strands
Hebrews 2:16
For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author of Hebrews addresses Jewish believers confronting spiritual pressure, explaining Christ’s incarnate mission immediately after describing His work of liberating humanity from the fear of death.
The words — ἐπιλαμβάνεται (epilambanetai) literally means He takes hold of or helps, and σπέρματος (spermatos) denotes seed or descendants.
The thread — The focus on Abraham’s seed as the recipient of divine promise appears in Galatians 3:16, Romans 4:16, and Galatians 3:29.
Why it lands — The text explicitly states that Christ’s redemptive intervention targets the descendants of Abraham rather than angelic beings, requiring readers to recognize their own inclusion in the human lineage He came to save.
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
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Cross-references
- Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
- Romans 4:16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
- Galatians 3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
- Genesis 22:18 And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
- Romans 2:25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
- Hebrews 6:16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.
- Hebrews 12:10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- Matthew 1:1 This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
- 1 Peter 1:20 He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.