Hebrews 2:9
What does Hebrews 2:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 2:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 2:9 means
Though we do not see all things subjected to humanity, we do see Jesus—made “a little lower than the angels” in his incarnation—now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death. By God’s grace, he tasted death for every man, dying a representative, substitutionary death. His humiliation was not failure but the path to exaltation, and through it he fulfills Psalm 8 as the true Man, the head of a new humanity. What humanity at large lacks, Jesus possesses. His death was not defeat but the means by which he secured the destiny that will be shared with those he redeems.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But we see him who was made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, crowned with glory and honour, because he let himself be put to death so that by the grace of God he might undergo death for all men.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and him who was made some little less than messengers we see--Jesus--because of the suffering of the death, with glory and honour having been crowned, that by the grace of God for every one he might taste of death.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that, through the grace of God he might taste death for all.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890but we see Jesus, who [was] made some little inferior to angels on account of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; so that by the grace ofGod he should taste death for every thing.
Context
Verse 9 answers the tension of verse 8’s “not yet.” The author applies Psalm 8 to Jesus, showing that the promised dominion is already realized in him through suffering leading to glory. This christological focus sets the stage for verses 10–13, which explain why it was fitting for God to perfect the Savior through sufferings and to bring “many sons unto glory.” The flow moves from Jesus’ representative death to the familial solidarity he shares with the sanctified, grounding the believers’ hope of sharing in his glory.
v.8Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.
v.9This passage
v.10For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 6:28
And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
- 1 Timothy 2:6
who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony to be borne in its own times;
- Romans 5:18
So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life.
- Isaiah 11:1
And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.
- Romans 8:32
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?
- John 1:29
On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!
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