The Meaning of Hebrews 2:15 Explained

Hebrews 2:15

KJV: And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

YLT: and might deliver those, whoever, with fear of death, throughout all their life, were subjects of bondage,

Darby: and might set free all those who through fear of death through the whole of their life were subject to bondage.

ASV: and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  deliver  them  who  through  fear  of death  were  all  their lifetime  subject  to bondage. 

What does Hebrews 2:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The fear of death enslaves unbelievers in that fear of death leads them to behave in ways that please Satan (e.g, selfishly, living for the present, etc.). A believer need not have the same fear of death as an unbeliever (cf. Luke 11:21-22). Consequently we need not feel compelled to live for the present (e.g, put self first, do anything to save our lives, etc.) as unbelievers do. The fear of death tyrannizes many people both consciously and subconsciously.
"It is ironical that human beings, destined to rule over the creation ( Psalm 8:5-7 LXX, cited in Hebrews 2:6-8), should find themselves in the posture of a slave, paralyzed through the fear of death (Kgel, Sohn, 80). Hopeless subjection to death characterizes earthly existence apart from the intervention of God ..." [1]

Context Summary

Hebrews 2:10-18 - "made Like Unto His Brethren"
Captain reminds us of Acts 3:15. It means file-leader. The Church follows its Leader, Jesus Christ, in single file through this world, the cross and the grave, to the glory. But notice that God Himself is engaged in bringing us through; and He cannot lose one. See John 10:29. But He is not only our Captain, He is our Brother. We also are born of God. He is sanctifying us and we are being sanctified for a marvelous future, John 17:19. How great is His love, that He is not ashamed of us!
Our Elder Brother has encountered our foes, and won deliverance for all who believe. Death remains, but its teeth are drawn and its power is annulled. We need not fear what men call death; to us it is only as falling asleep. He has taken hold of us with a grasp that will never let us go again, Hebrews 2:16. He has been tempted that He might be able to succor us in our temptations. He has suffered that He might tread our darkened paths at our side. He has made reconciliation for our sins, and as our merciful and faithful High Priest, pleads the cause of our souls. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 2

1  We ought to be obedient to Christ Jesus;
5  and that because he condescended to take our nature upon himself;
14  as it was necessary

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 2:15

And might deliver [και απαλλαχηι]
Further purpose with the first aorist active subjunctive of αππαλλασσω — appallassō old verb to change from, to set free from, in N.T. only here, Luke 12:58; Acts 19:12. Through fear of death Instrumental case of ποβος — phobos The ancients had great fear of death though the philosophers like Seneca argued against it. There is today a flippant attitude towards death with denial of the future life and rejection of God. But the author of Hebrews saw judgment after death (Hebrews 9:27.). Hence our need of Christ to break the power of sin and Satan in death. All their lifetime Present active infinitive with πας — pas and the article in the genitive case with δια — dia “through all the living.” Subject to bondage Old adjective from ενεχω — enechō “held in,” “bound to,” with genitive, bond-slaves of fear, a graphic picture. Jesus has the keys of life and death and said: “I am the life.” Thank God for that. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 2:15

1 Corinthians 15:54 Is swallowed up [κατεποτη]
First aorist passive indicative of καταπινω — katapinō old verb to drink down, swallow down. Perfective use of κατα — katȧ where we say “up,” “swallow up.” Timeless use of the aorist tense. Paul changes the active voice κατεπιεν — katepien in Isaiah 25:8 to the passive. Death is no longer victory. Theodotion reads the Hebrew verb (bulla, for billa,) as passive like Paul. It is the “final overthrow of the king of Terrors” (Findlay) as shown in Hebrews 2:15. [source]
Revelation 20:14 Were cast [εβλητησαν]
As the devil (Revelation 20:10) followed the two beasts (Revelation 19:20) into the same dread lake of fire. Death is personified and is disposed of, “the last enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:26) and Paul sings the paean of victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:54., from Hosea 13:14). Hades has no more terrors, for the saints are in heaven. There is no more fear of death (Hebrews 2:15), for death is no more (Revelation 21:4). The second death (Revelation 2:11; Revelation 20:6; Revelation 21:8) is here identified as in Revelation 21:8 with the lake of fire. [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 2:15 mean?

and might set free those who fear of death through all [their time] to live subject were to slavery
καὶ ἀπαλλάξῃ τούτους ὅσοι φόβῳ θανάτου διὰ παντὸς τοῦ ζῆν ἔνοχοι ἦσαν δουλείας

ἀπαλλάξῃ  might  set  free 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπαλλάσσω  
Sense: to remove, release, to be removed, to depart.
τούτους  those 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
φόβῳ  fear 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: φόβος  
Sense: fear, dread, terror.
θανάτου  of  death 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θάνατος 
Sense: the death of the body.
διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τοῦ  [their  time] 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ζῆν  to  live 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
ἔνοχοι  subject 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἔνοχος  
Sense: bound, under obligation, subject to, liable.
δουλείας  to  slavery 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: δουλεία  
Sense: slavery, bondage, the condition of a slave.