Chapter
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Verse
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Hebrews 2:17
ESV Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
NIV For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
NASB Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
CSB Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
NLT Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.
KJV Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
NKJV Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

What does Hebrews 2:17 mean?

Verse 16 punctuated the idea that God has favored mankind above angels. This is shown in the lives of the Jewish forefathers (Genesis 9; Genesis 12; Exodus 19). It is also demonstrated in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Prior verses pointed out that angels do not experience suffering or temptation in the same way as humans. So, they cannot be truly useful in times of trouble, and they cannot serve as examples for us to follow (Hebrews 1:14).

Christ, on the other hand, came as a man, in order to perfectly serve as our example and our sacrifice. This verse puts an exclamation point on the entire theme of Hebrews chapters 1 and 2. The Messiah had to become exactly like humanity in order to properly atone for their sins and to become the truly perfect high priest reconciling them to God. All of the Old Testament quotations used in Hebrews, so far, are meant to intersect in this single statement.

For the Jewish Christians reading these words, the idea of a "high priest" would have been especially meaningful. Once per year, Israel's high priest—and only that single person at that single time—entered the holiest part of the temple in order to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16). When Jesus was crucified, the veil which separated this room from the rest of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50–51). Both literally and figuratively, Jesus serves as our perpetual High Priest, eliminating the barrier between God and man, and atoning for sin once and for all (Hebrews 10:11–14).
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