This verse describes the second part of the purpose of Jesus in taking human nature. Logically it depends on the first: the Devil, as prince of death, has been utterly defeated, and in this way people are set free from fear of death. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, however, understands this verse not as an expression of purpose but of result. This is possible and produces a clear translation: “In this way he has freed men who had been slaves….”

Most translators and commentators agree generally with Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version, but it is also possible to translate “… and deliver from bondage all those who were subject to lifelong fear of death.” This construction is the basis for Moffatt, and the Greek of Galatians 5.1 is similar. However, the construction represented by Revised Standard Version is generally more probable and gives a meaning similar to that of Romans 8.21.

A literal rendering of Good News Translation may lead to considerable misunderstanding, since the subject of the preceding clause is the Devil. Those who hear the Scriptures read might assume that the Devil is likewise the subject of the expression set free. It may therefore be better to begin a new sentence at the beginning of verse 15, or at least to introduce Jesus as the subject; for example, “and in this way Jesus set free those who were slaves.”

In this way is an expression of means and may be rendered as “by means of what he did.”

Set free may be expressed as “cause to be free” or “cause to no longer be enslaved.”

Some translations make it clear that the slavery is figurative, not literal. Barclay has “a kind of slavery”; Bible en français courant and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy replace the metaphor by a simile, “were like slaves.” In order to indicate clearly that the slaves in question are moral rather than physical slaves, the use of some term which will indicate the figurative nature of the expression is important; for example, “were like slaves” or “who were, as it were, slaves.”

All their lives may be expressed as “during all the time they lived.” It is important, however, that the order of elements be carefully noted in the latter part of verse 15; for example, “those who during all the time they lived were just like slaves because they were afraid of dying.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .