Hebrews 2:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus took on the same flesh and blood we wear so that, by dying, He could break the power of death over us.
The Context of Hebrews 2:14
The writer has just called believers the 'children' God gave to Christ, and brothers and sisters He is not ashamed to own (verses 11 to 13). This verse explains why the Son became one of us: love that meant to share our very condition.
What Does Hebrews 2:14 Mean?
Because we, the 'children', are made of 'flesh and blood', the Son took the very same flesh and blood for Himself. He did not stay at a safe distance and rescue us from afar. He stepped fully into our skin, our weariness, our mortal life. And the verse is plain about why: 'that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil'. He became able to die precisely so that His death could do its work.
There is a deep mystery here, that death itself became the weapon by which death was broken. The enemy who wielded death as his power found it turned against him at the cross. Jesus walked straight into the one door we all dread, and came out the other side, so that the thing we fear most has lost its final grip. He shared our dying so we could share His living.
Hebrews 2:14 in the Original Language
katargeo (καταργέω), 'destroy' -- to render powerless, to strip of force and authority, to put out of work.
How to Apply Hebrews 2:14 Today
Whatever we fear about our own dying, Jesus has gone through that door ahead of us and broken its power. He shares our flesh and blood, which means He understands the body's fears from the inside. We can face death as people whose deepest enemy has already been disarmed by the One who became like us.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 2:14
What does Hebrews 2:14 mean?
Jesus took on the same flesh and blood we wear so that, by dying, He could break the power of death over us.
What is the context of Hebrews 2:14?
The writer has just called believers the 'children' God gave to Christ, and brothers and sisters He is not ashamed to own (verses 11 to 13). This verse explains why the Son became one of us: love that meant to share our very condition.
How can I apply Hebrews 2:14 today?
Whatever we fear about our own dying, Jesus has gone through that door ahead of us and broken its power. He shares our flesh and blood, which means He understands the body's fears from the inside. We can face death as people whose deepest enemy has already been disarmed by the One who became like us.