2:18
Hebrews 2:18 is one sentence which has two clauses. Hebrews 2:18a tells why Christ is able to help us (the reason) and 2:18b tells about his helping (the result). In some languages, it is more natural to reorder these two clauses or to make them separate sentences. For examples of how this verse can be reordered or translated as two sentences, see the General Comment on 2:18a–b at the end of 2:18b.
2:18a
Because: In Greek this verse begins with two connectors that many English versions translate together as “For since.” The word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves implicit (“for”) explains more about why Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest for people (2:17). The word Because indicates that 2:18a is the reason why Jesus is able to help people when they are tempted (2:18b).
In some languages it is not necessary to make both of these connections explicit. Make the meaning clear in a natural way in your language.
He Himself suffered when He was tempted: The Greek phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as suffered when He was tempted is literally “suffered being tempted/tested.” Scholars interpret the connection between “suffered” and “being tempted” in different ways:
(1) Jesus was tempted, and the temptation caused him to suffer. For example:
he himself suffered when he was tempted (New International Version)
(2) Jesus suffered, and the suffering caused him to be tempted. For example:
Jesus experienced temptation when he suffered (God’s Word)
(God’s Word, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible)
(3) Jesus was tempted and he also suffered. For example:
he himself was tempted and suffered (Good News Translation)
The meanings of these interpretations are similar, and the differences seem to be mainly a matter of emphasis. You may translate any of these interpretations in a natural way in your language.
He Himself: The phrase He Himself emphasizes Jesus in contrast to “those who are being tempted” in 2:18b. Translate this contrast in a natural way in your language. See the Display for examples.
suffered: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as suffered is a general word that can refer to enduring any kind of pain or hardship. The form of the word implies that Jesus endured this suffering over a period of time. Some other ways to translate it are:
has suffered (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
has gone through suffering (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
experienced distress/hardship
In some languages there may be an idiom that expresses this meaning.
He was tempted: The phrase He was tempted is passive. The Greek text does not specify who or what tempted Jesus. This clause may refer to temptation by Satan. It may also include other sources of temptations, such as other people or the weaknesses of human nature. For that reason, it is best not to make explicit who or what tempted him. For example:
Jesus experienced temptation (God’s Word)
However, if you must provide a subject, you may indicate that Satan tempted Jesus. For example:
⌊ Satan⌋tempted Jesus
was tempted: There are two ways to interpret the word tempted in this context:
(1) It means tempted. It refers here to temptation to sin. For example:
and was tempted (New Century Version)
(2) It means tested. It refers here to a test of Jesus’ faithfulness to God during suffering. For example:
he himself has passed through the test of suffering (Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is followed by most English versions and a majority of Bible scholars.
2:18b
He is able to help those who are being tempted: This part of the verse tells the result of 2:18a. Jesus was tempted (2:18a), so he is able to help those who are being tempted. Other ways to translate this result are:
That is how/why he is able to help those who are being tempted.
-or-
therefore he can really help us when we also are tested/tempted.
Translate the result in a natural way in your language.
help: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as help is a general word that can refer to different ways to assist or support someone. In this context, Jesus helps people to resist and overcome temptation so that they do not sin.
Jesus uses many different ways to help people who are tempted. For example, he encourages them, he gives them spiritual and physical strength, he shows them what he wants them to do, and he may cause other people to help them. Having been tempted himself, Jesus understands how to help those who are being tempted.
Jesus helps those who are tempted so that they can resist the temptation and not sin against God. This is the main purpose for Jesus’ help. In some languages it may be necessary to make this purpose explicit. For example:
he can help the people who are tempted so that they are not carried to sin
those who are being tempted: The phrase those who are being tempted is a general statement that is true for anyone who is tempted. Languages have different ways to refer to people in general statements like this. For example, some languages may use “we,” “anyone,” or “whoever.” For example:
anyone who is tempted
-or-
when we are tempted
In other languages it may be more natural to refer only to the temptation without mentioning who is tempted. For example:
during the time of temptation
Use a natural option for your language.
are being tempted: The form of the Greek verb which the Berean Standard Bible translates as are being tempted indicates that the temptation continues for some time or that it happens often over a period of time. Here is another way to translate this:
are tempted (NET Bible)
Translate this meaning in a natural way in your language.
General Comment on 2:18a–b
In some languages it may be more natural to reorder the clauses in this verse. For example:
18b And now he can help those who are tempted, 18a because he himself was tempted and suffered. (Good News Translation)
In some languages it may be more natural to translate this verse as two sentences. For example:
He himself was tempted and suffered. So he is able to help us when we are tempted.
The author mentioned temptation and the help of our great high priest again in 4:15–16.
© 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.