2:2–3
Hebrews 2:2a–3b is one long sentence. In many languages it may be necessary to divide the sentence into two or more sentences. See the General Comment on 2:2–3 at the end of 2:3b for examples.
In 2:2–3 the author used a certain type of logical reasoning. First, he used an example about Moses’ Law that everyone already accepted. Then he gave a similar example about Jesus’ message that was based on more powerful reasons. He did this to convince his readers that it was even more important to pay attention to the message of Jesus than to the law of Moses.
2:2a
For: The conjunction For introduces a reason for what the author said in 2:1. The author explained why we must pay more attention to the message from God’s Son than to the message from angels. Connect this reason to 2:1 in a natural way in your language.
if: The word if introduces a clause that tells two facts about the angels’ message. This type of clause indicates that the facts in it are true. Both the author and the readers already knew these facts, and the author used those facts as the basis and support for what he said in 2:3. Here is another way to translate this basis and introduce the conclusion:
⌊ We know that⌋the message that angels brought was valid. ⌊We also know that⌋ every violation or disobedience of it was justly punished. So…
See the General Comment on 2:2–3 at the end of 2:3b for examples of ways to translate the basis and conclusion in these verses.
the message spoken by angels: The phrase the message refers here to God’s Law (literally “word”) that was spoken by angels. It contrasts with what was spoken by the Lord (2:3). The Scriptures suggest that God used angels to give his law to Moses, and then Moses gave the law to the Israelites.
God’s law consisted of many laws (which are written in Genesis-Deuteronomy). The word message does not refer to only one particular law. It also does not refer to the type of message that is a short statement or request.
Some other ways to translate the phrase are:
God’s word spoken through angels (Revised English Bible)
-or-
those laws of God that he caused the angels to speak
-or-
the laws/words that God gave ⌊people⌋ through the angels
spoken: The verb spoken is passive. In some languages it is more natural to use an active verb. For example:
the message which angels spoke/gave…
angels: The word angels occurred in 1:4. You should translate it in the same way here.
was binding: The word binding means “legally binding, firm, and in force.” It indicates here that those who received the law had to obey it. The context implies that God would enforce the law. Other ways to translate the word in this context are:
proved to be so firm that… (NET Bible)
-or-
it was not possible to ignore/change that law
-or-
it was required/necessary that people obey that law
The author will use the word again in 3:6, 3:14, 6:19, and 9:17.
2:2b
The clause in 2:2b is the second part of the condition that began in 2:2a.
and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment: This clause indicates that everyone who broke the law or disobeyed it was justly punished. In some languages it may be necessary to indicate explicitly that 2:2b is also part of the condition that began in 2:2a. For example:
and if anyone broke ⌊that law⌋ or disobeyed it, that person was justly punished
-or-
and since everyone breaking that law received/suffered the proper penalty
In the law God specified the proper punishment for various offenses. The leaders and the whole community of Israel were responsible to ensure that the people were punished in those ways.
In some languages it may be necessary to indicate who punished the people. If that is true in your language, you may supply “God” as the subject or you may use an indefinite subject. For example:
⌊ God/They⌋justly punished everyone who violated or disobeyed it.
every transgression and disobedience: The words transgression and disobedience have a similar meaning. In some languages it is helpful to translate this meaning with one phrase. For example:
all who did not do what the law told them to do
every transgression: The word transgression refers to doing something that God forbids in the law or not doing something that he commands. This word is used again in 9:15, as well as in other places in the NT. Some other ways to translate every transgression are:
every time a person did not follow/obey it
-or-
whenever anyone broke it
For more information, see “transgression” under sin, other words to compare in Key Biblical Terms.
disobedience: The word disobedience refers to a refusal to listen and obey. The implied object is the message, which was the law that the angels brought. Some other ways to translate it are:
did not…obey it (Good News Translation)
-or-
rejected it
its just punishment: The phrase its just punishment implies that in the law there was a proper punishment for each disobedience. The law specified the particular punishment that a person should receive for various disobedient actions. The word just means “right, fair, deserved.” A just punishment was a fair or right punishment.
Other ways to translate this meaning are:
and whenever a person disobeyed any of the laws, he was punished in a fair way
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