Hebrews 2:1
What does Hebrews 2:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 2:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 2:1 means
Because chapter 1 has shown the Son’s supreme dignity and divine speech, we must pay closer attention to the gospel message we have heard. Truth does not lodge in our hearts by accident; without deliberate care we subtly drift from it, like a boat slipping from its moorings. The danger here is not loud rebellion but quiet neglect. The author urges an “earnest heed,” a focused, ongoing attentiveness that receives, remembers, and obeys what God has spoken in his Son. The warning underscores human responsibility: hearing is a gift, but perseverance requires vigilance. To disregard such a word is to invite spiritual loss and danger.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For this reason there is the more need for us to give attention to the things which have come to our ears, for fear that by chance we might be slipping away.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Because of this it behoveth <FI>us<Fi> more abundantly to take heed to the things heard, lest we may glide aside,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Therefore ought we more diligently to observe the things which we have heard lest perhaps we should let them slip.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For this reason we should give heed more abundantly to the things [we have] heard, lest in any way we should slip away.
Context
This opening “Therefore” draws a straight line from the exalted portrait of the Son in chapter 1 to a practical warning. Having established Christ’s superiority over angels and the finality of his revelation, the writer presses for a proper response. Verses 1–4 form a unit: a call to heed the message (v.1), an argument from the lesser to the greater (vv.2–3a), and reminders that God authenticated the gospel (vv.3b–4). After this exhortation, the chapter turns to Christ’s superiority to angels in administering the world to come (vv.5–9).
v.1This passage
v.2For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 4:9
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes saw, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but make them known unto thy children and thy children’s children;
- Luke 9:44
Let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men.
- Hebrews 1:1
God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,
- Matthew 16:9
Do ye not yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
- Proverbs 3:21
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
- Deuteronomy 4:23
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image in the form of anything which Jehovah thy God hath forbidden thee.
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