Parallel Verses
An Understandable Version
For certainly Christ does not [intend to] help angels, but He [intends to] help the descendants of Abraham [i.e., the Jews].
New American Standard Bible
For assuredly He does not
King James Version
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Holman Bible
For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring.
International Standard Version
For it is clear that he did not come to help angels. No, he came to help Abraham's descendants,
A Conservative Version
For he certainly did not embrace heavenly agents, but he embraced the seed of Abraham.
American Standard Version
For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham.
Amplified
For, as we all know, He (Christ) does not take hold of [the fallen] angels [to give them a helping hand], but He does take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [extending to them His hand of deliverance].
Anderson New Testament
For, verily, he does not take hold of angels, but he takes hold of the posterity of Abraham.
Bible in Basic English
For, truly, he does not take on the life of angels, but that of the seed of Abraham.
Common New Testament
For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned, but with the descendants of Abraham.
Daniel Mace New Testament
for he is not the deliverer of angels; but the deliverer of Abraham's posterity.
Darby Translation
For he does not indeed take hold of angels by the hand, but he takes hold of the seed of Abraham.
Godbey New Testament
For not yet does he take upon himself the nature of angels, but he takes upon himself the seed of Abraham.
Goodspeed New Testament
For of course it was not angels but the descendants of Abraham that he came to help.
John Wesley New Testament
For verily he taketh not hold of angels, but he taketh hold of the seed of Abraham.
Julia Smith Translation
For certainly he lays not hold of angels; but of the seed of Abraham he lays hold.
King James 2000
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the nature of Abraham.
Lexham Expanded Bible
For surely he is not concerned with angels, but he is concerned with the descendants of Abraham.
Modern King James verseion
For truly He did not take the nature of angels, but He took hold of the seed of Abraham.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
For he in no place taketh on him the angels: but the seed of Abraham taketh he on him.
Moffatt New Testament
(For of course it is not angels that he succours, it is the offspring of Abraham.)
Montgomery New Testament
For assuredly it is not angels, nay, it is the offspring of Abraham, whom he is ever taking by the hand.
NET Bible
For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham's descendants.
New Heart English Bible
For, truly, he did not come to help the angels, but to help the seed of Abraham.
Noyes New Testament
For surely he doth not help angels, but he helpeth the offspring of Abraham.
Sawyer New Testament
For indeed he helped not angels, but he helped the descendants of Abraham.
The Emphasized Bible
For, not surely of messengers, is he laying hold, but, of Abraham's seed, he is laying hold.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
For he verily took not on him the angelic nature, but assumed that of the seed of Abraham.
Twentieth Century New Testament
It was not, surely, to the help of the angels that Jesus came, but 'to the help of the descendants of Abraham.'
Webster
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Weymouth New Testament
For assuredly it is not to angels that He is continually reaching a helping hand, but it is to the descendants of Abraham.
Williams New Testament
For of course it is not angels but descendants of Abraham that He is to help.
World English Bible
For most certainly, he doesn't give help to angels, but he gives help to the seed of Abraham.
Worrell New Testament
For surely He doth not succor angels, but He succoreth Abraham's seed.
Worsley New Testament
For indeed He taketh not hold of angels to save them, but of the seed of Abraham.
Youngs Literal Translation
for, doubtless, of messengers it doth not lay hold, but of seed of Abraham it layeth hold,
Themes
the Human nature of Christ » Was of the seed of » Abraham
Humility of Christ » Exhibited in his » Taking our nature
Jesus Christ » Preexistence of
Man » Christ » Took on him nature of
Interlinear
Epilambanomai
References
Word Count of 37 Translations in Hebrews 2:16
Prayers for Hebrews 2:16
Verse Info
Context Readings
Jesus Became One Of Us To Help Us
15 And [also He could] release all of those people who, because of their fear of death, were [kept] in bondage all their lives. 16 For certainly Christ does not [intend to] help angels, but He [intends to] help the descendants of Abraham [i.e., the Jews]. 17 So, for this reason, He had to become like His brothers in every way [i.e., except that He never sinned], so that He could become a merciful and faithful Head Priest in things related to God's [service], [and] that He could provide a means of purifying [Lev. 16:30] for people's sins [i.e., make atonement for them].
Cross References
Matthew 1:1-17
[This is] a record of the family background of Jesus Christ, the descendant of David, who was the descendant of Abraham. [Note: The following is an incomplete lineage through Jesus' step-father Joseph].
Romans 2:25
Now the practice of circumcision [i.e., the Jewish rite of identity, signifying the responsibility to observe the law of Moses] is worthwhile, providing you obey [the rest of] the law of Moses. But if you disobey the law, you might as well have never been circumcised.
Romans 4:16-25
For this reason, the promise [i.e., of being made right with God] comes through faith [in God], according to His unearned favor, so that it may be [given] with certainty to all of Abraham's descendants. The promise is given not only to those [who live] under the law [i.e., the Jews], but also to [all] those [who live] by faith, like Abraham. Abraham is the [spiritual] father of all of us [believers],
Galatians 3:16
Now [specific] promises were made to Abraham and to his seed [i.e., descendants]. [God] did not say "seeds" [plural] as though He were referring to many persons but "seed" [singular] showing that He meant one [descendant]; [Gen. 13:15 says] "And to your seed," referring to Christ.
Galatians 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are [truly] Abraham's seed [i.e., his spiritual descendants] and thereby [you will] inherit what was promised to him [i.e., God's blessings].
Hebrews 6:16
For people make vows by someone greater [than themselves], and an argument is settled when someone takes an oath [that he is telling the truth].
Hebrews 12:10
For our human fathers disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them; but God disciplines us for our [spiritual] good, so that we may share in His holiness.
1 Peter 1:20
For Christ was previously known [by God, even] before the world was created, yet was not fully revealed for your benefit until [these] final times.