2:16

For: The conjunction For indicates that 2:16 is an explanation for 2:14–15. The word For introduces the reason why Jesus became a human being, rather than an angel. He became human because human beings are the ones whom he came to earth to help. He did not come to earth to help angels. Use a natural way in your language to indicate that 2:16 is the explanation for the statement in 2:14–15.

surely: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as surely only occurs here in the NT. It introduces a fact that is obviously true. Some other ways to translate it here are:

clearly/certainly
-or-
We…know that (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Of course

it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham: In Greek this clause first tells what Jesus did not do, and then it tells what he did do. In some languages it may be more natural to change this order. For example:

Jesus helps Abraham’s descendants rather than helping angels. (God’s Word)

Here the author compared angels and humans (the descendants of Abraham). Since Jesus became human, the author also implied a contrast between the angels and Jesus. That contrast is the theme of this division (1:5–2:18).

The author wanted to show that it was people whom Jesus came to earth to help. It was not angels whom he came to earth to help. He became a human being and shared human sorrows, sufferings, and joys. Then he died for humans so that he would be part of the same family with those who follow him. He did not do those things for angels.

Some other ways to translate this contrast are:

So Jesus helps Abraham’s descendants rather than helping angels. (God’s Word)
-or-
Clearly it is not the angels’ nature/life that he shares but rather he shares the nature/life of human beings, the descendants of Abraham.

Translate the contrast in a natural way in your language.

the angels: The word angels was also used in 1:4. Translate it in the same way as you did there.

He helps: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the phrase He helps literally means “to take hold of.” In this context it means “to be concerned about, to help.” Jesus came to earth to help human beings (the “descendants of Abraham”). Many English versions translate the word as “help” in this verse, as in the Berean Standard Bible. Another way to translate the meaning is:

his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants (NET Bible)

the descendants of Abraham: The phrase the descendants of Abraham has both a literal and figurative meaning here. Literally, it refers to the Jews, the people of Israel. Abraham was their ancestor. However, in this verse the phrase also expresses two figurative meanings:

(a) It refers generally to human beings in contrast to the angels.

(b) It refers especially to people who have faith in God, as Abraham did.

In some languages it is necessary to indicate in some way that the phrase has a figurative meaning. For example:

us people who are counted/considered as Abraham’s descendants
-or-
the people who follow the faith of Abraham

The author of Hebrews and also the people who heard his message were among the descendants of Abraham. In some languages, you may need to make this explicit. For example:

descendants of ⌊our (incl.) ancestor⌋ Abraham
-or-

⌊ us who are⌋Abraham’s ⌊spiritual⌋ descendants

General Comment on 2:16

In Greek this verse first tells what Jesus did not do, and then what he did do. In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of these statements. For example:

We all know that Jesus came to help the descendants of Abraham, not to help the angels. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
It is clear/obvious that Jesus helps Abraham’s descendants rather than helping angels.

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