The Founder of Salvation

Heb. 2:14 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;

Seeing that those whom He represents are flesh and blood, it was necessary for Him (Christ) also to become flesh and blood that He (Christ) might be capable of dying in their place, by this act destroying Satan and annulling his power of death over mankind.

Forasmuch...

ἐπεί

epei

ep-i'

From of time, place and if, wheather; there upon, that is, since (of time or cause): - because, else, for that (then, -asmuch as), otherwise, seeing that, since, when.

then...

οὖν

oun

oon

Apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjugationally) accordingly: - and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.

as the...

ὁ, ἡ, τό

ho hē to

ho, hay, to

The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom): - the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

These children, however, were once held in servitude by their enemy, Satan.

children...

παιδίον

paidion

pahee-dee'-on

Neuter diminutive of a boy; a childling (of either sex), that is, (properly) an infant, or (by extension) a half grown boy or girl; figuratively an immature Christian: - (little, young) child, damsel.

are partakers...

κοινωνέω

koinōneō

koy-no-neh'-o

From a sharer; to share with others (objectively or subjectively): - communicate, distribute, be partaker.

of flesh...

σάρξ

sarx

sarx

Probably from the base of to brush off; flesh (as stripped of the skin), that is, (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred, or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specifically) a human being (as such): - carnal (-ly, + -ly minded), flesh ([-ly]).

and...

καί

kai

kahee

Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.

blood,...

αἷμα

aima

hah'ee-mah

Of uncertain derivation; blood, literally (of men or animals), figuratively (the juice of grapes) or specifically (the atoning blood of Christ); by implication bloodshed, also kindred: - blood.

Since they were human, their Captain (Jesus) had to become human and die for them, in order to rescue them.

he (Christ)...

αὐτός

autos

ow-tos'

From the particle αὖ au (perhaps akin to the base of to breathe unconsciously through the idea of a baffling wind; backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the compound of him) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons: - her, it (-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, ([self-], the) same, ([him-, my-, thy-]) self, [your-] selves, she, that, their (-s), them ([-selves]), there [-at, -by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with], they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

also...

καί

kai

kahee

Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.

But by doing so He Christ) was able to destroy… the devil. The author did not mean that Satan ceased to exist or to be active. Rather the word he used for “destroy” (katargēsē) indicates the annulment of his power over those whom Christ redeems.

himself likewise...

παραπλησίως

paraplēsiōs

par-ap-lay-see'-oce

Adverb from the same as close by; in a manner near by, that is, (figuratively) similarly: - likewise.

took part...

μετέχω

metechō

met-ekh'-o

From amid and to hold; to share or participate; by implication belong to, eat (or drink): - be partaker, pertain, take part, use.

of the... see as the above.

same;... see he above.

that...

ἵνα

hina

hin'-ah

Probably from the same as the former part of him (through the demonstrative idea; compare the, this, that); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result): - albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to.

through...

διά

dia

dee-ah'

A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal or occasional). In composition it retains the same general import: - after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) . . . fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through (-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general import.

death...

θάνατος

thanatos

than'-at-os

From to die; (properly an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively): - X deadly, (be . . .) death.

he (Christ) might destroy...

καταργέω

katargeō

kat-arg-eh'-o

From down and to be idle; to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively: - abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void.

Him (Satan) that had...

ἔχω

echō

ekh'-o

A primary verb (including an alternate form σχέω scheō skheh'-o used in certain tenses only); to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession, ability, contiguity, relation or condition): - be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can (+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do, + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.

the... see as the above.

In speaking of the devil as wielding the power of death, the writer meant that Satan uses people’s fear of death to enslave them to his will.

power...

κράτος

kratos

krat'-os

Perhaps a primary word; vigor [“great”], (literally or figuratively): - dominion, might [-ily], power, strength.

of death,... see death above.

that is,...

τουτέστι

toutesti

toot-es'-tee

Contraction for that thing and he is; that is: - that is (to say).

the... see as the above.

devil;...

διάβολος

diabolos

dee-ab'-ol-os

From accuse; a traducer; specifically Satan (compare [an opponent]): - false accuser, devil, slanderer.

Often people make wrong moral choices out of their intense desire for self-preservation. The readers were reminded that they were no longer subject to such slavery and that they could face death with the same confidence in God their Captain (Jesus) had.

Heb. 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

This refers to the deliverance of all righteous souls from the captivity of Satan and from their prison in the lower parts of the earth. Christ descended first into hell (Psm. 16:10; Acts 2:27), in the lower parts of the earth (Eph. 4:8-10; Mat. 12:40), then captured the righteous souls from Satan, leading them captive to heaven when He ascended on high as referred to in Eph. 4:8-10. This fulfilled Psm. 68:18. Before this, all righteous souls went into hades or sheol, along with the souls of the wicked, but in another compartment with a great gulf between them (Luke 16:19-31). Now, the souls of the righteous no longer go into the heart of the earth to be held captive against their will. They go immediately to heaven at physical death to await the resurrection of their bodies (2Cor. 5:8; Php. 1:21-24; Heb. 12:23; Rev. 6:9-11). The wicked continue to go to the torment compartment of hades or sheol and will continue to do so until the end of the Millennium. Then death and Hades will deliver up the wicked souls who will be united with their bodies in resurrection to be judged and sent to eternal hell (Rev. 20:11-15).