Hebrews 2:4 kjv
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Hebrews 2:4 nkjv
God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
Hebrews 2:4 niv
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 2:4 esv
while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 2:4 nlt
And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.
Hebrews 2 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrews 2:3 | How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord | Hebrews 2:3 (Ch. Context) |
| John 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us | John 1:14 (Divine Revelation) |
| 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 | For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures... | 1 Cor 15:3-4 (Gospel Core) |
| Acts 4:12 | Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. | Acts 4:12 (Salvation Source) |
| Acts 1:1-2 | The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, Until the day in which he was taken up... | Acts 1:1-2 (Jesus' Teaching) |
| Luke 1:1-2 | Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us... | Luke 1:1-2 (Eyewitness Basis) |
| 2 Peter 1:16 | For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we knew you to the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. | 2 Pet 1:16 (Eyewitness) |
| Matthew 17:5 | While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. | Matt 17:5 (Divine Confirmation) |
| Acts 10:36-37 | The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (for he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; | Acts 10:36-37 (Gospel Preaching) |
| Romans 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. | Rom 1:16 (Gospel Power) |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:14 | For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. | 1 Thess 4:14 (Resurrection) |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. | John 3:16 (God's Love) |
| Galatians 1:11-12 | But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. | Gal 1:11-12 (Apostolic Source) |
| Ephesians 3:3-5 | How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, which as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ. | Eph 3:3-5 (Mystery Revealed) |
| Hebrews 1:1-2 | God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by a Son... | Heb 1:1-2 (Son's Superiority) |
| Acts 2:42 | And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. | Acts 2:42 (Apostolic Teaching) |
| 1 Timothy 4:16 | Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. | 1 Tim 4:16 (Heeding Doctrine) |
| 1 John 1:1-3 | That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life... | 1 John 1:1-3 (Eyewitness Account) |
| Colossians 1:23 | If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am the minister; | Col 1:23 (Endurance in Gospel) |
| 2 Timothy 2:2 | And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. | 2 Tim 2:2 (Passing on Truth) |
Hebrews 2 verses
Hebrews 2 4 Meaning
This verse explains that salvation was first spoken by the Lord and then confirmed to believers by those who heard Him. It emphasizes the divine origin and historical transmission of the gospel message, underscoring its reliability and the authority of those who passed it on.
Hebrews 2 4 Context
This verse is found in Hebrews chapter 2, which begins by emphasizing the supreme authority and significance of Jesus Christ. The author urges the readers to pay close attention to the Gospel message, contrasting it with the Mosaic Law, which was conveyed through angels. The previous verse (2:3) warns of the grave consequences of neglecting such a great salvation that was first proclaimed by the Lord himself. Therefore, Hebrews 2:4 serves to bolster the credibility of this salvation by detailing its authoritative source and reliable transmission to believers. The audience, likely facing persecution and perhaps questioning the divine origins of their faith in contrast to older, established traditions, needed reassurance.
Hebrews 2 4 Word Analysis
- Os (οὕτως): Thus, so, in this manner.
- bebaiōthe (βεβαιῶθε): To make firm, establish, confirm, prove. It speaks of a verified certainty.
- eis hēmas (εἰς ἡμᾶς): To/unto us. Refers to the body of believers.
- dia tōn akousantōn (διὰ τῶν ἀκουσάντων): Through (by means of) those hearing. This highlights the role of human witnesses in relaying the divine message.
- symphōnus (σύμφωνους): Agreeing, concordant, bearing witness together. Suggests a chorus of testimony.
- tou kuriou (τοῦ κυρίου): Of the Lord. Jesus Christ is the primary source of this salvation.
- didontos (διδόντος): Giving. The Lord actively gives/attests to the message.
- aphos (ἀφῶς): Together with (conjunction; present participle, ablative, feminine, singular). The manuscripts have "hapha" or "hapaus" here, which scholars understand to mean "with signs" or "manifestations". The word often indicates the accompaniment of something noteworthy.
- semeiōsis (σημείωσιν): Sign, miracle, wonder. Refers to supernatural attestations that validated the message.
- kai kerasin (καὶ κειράνοις): And wonders. Synonymous with signs, often referring to extraordinary works. The manuscript reading varies, but the sense is divine attestations. The more common reading is "semeiosis kai terasın" which means signs and wonders.
- merismois (μερισμοῖς): Distributions, gifts, divisions. Likely referring to the diverse manifestations of the Holy Spirit, which also confirmed the message.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Os bebaiōthe eis hēmas..." (οὕτως βεβαιῶθε εἰς ἡμᾶς): "Thus confirmed unto us." This phrase underscores the reliability and establishment of the salvation message within the community of believers. The salvation was not a mere proposition but a confirmed reality.
- "dia tōn akousantōn tou kuriou" (διὰ τῶν ἀκουσάντων τοῦ κυρίου): "Through those hearing of the Lord." This points to the chain of transmission. Jesus first spoke; then those who heard Him directly passed the message on. This highlights the importance of eyewitness testimony and oral tradition within the early church.
- "symphōnus" (σύμφωνους): "Agreeing" or "concordant." This suggests unity and harmony in the testimony of the believers who transmitted the message. There was no fundamental disagreement among the early witnesses regarding the core of the gospel.
- "didontos tou kuriou" (διδόντος τοῦ κυρίου): "The Lord giving." This reinforces that the Lord is not just the source but an active participant in the confirmation process.
- "aphos semeiois kai kerasin kai merismois pneumatos hagiou" (ἀφῶς σημείωσιν καὶ κειράνοις καὶ μερισμοῖς πνεύματος ἁγίου): "With signs and wonders and distributions of the Holy Spirit." This crucial phrase details the means of confirmation. The spoken word was accompanied by miraculous signs, wonders, and diverse gifts of the Spirit, all of which served as divine attestation to the truth of the message and the person of Christ. This directly echoes Old Testament prophetic authentication and the supernatural endowments of the early Church as described in Acts.
Hebrews 2 4 Bonus Section
The concept of God confirming His message through signs and wonders is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. Moses' ministry, for example, was authenticated by miraculous signs performed before Pharaoh and the Israelites (Exodus 4:8-9, 30-31). The prophets often received miraculous attestation. Jesus' own ministry was replete with miracles, validating His claims as the Son of God (e.g., John 3:2). The bestowal of the Holy Spirit with diverse gifts in Acts 2 also served as a confirmation of the nascent Christian message, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies such as Joel 2:28-29. This continuity between the Old and New Testaments in the method of divine authentication is a key theme in Hebrews. The variety of manifestations of the Spirit suggests that confirmation was not a monolithic event but a multifaceted process, with different gifts and powers ministering at different times and to different people.
Hebrews 2 4 Commentary
Hebrews 2:4 highlights the divinely ordained method by which the gospel message was both originated and disseminated. The salvation first declared by Jesus himself was not merely a human teaching but was supernaturally authenticated. This authentication came through "signs and wonders," which were overt manifestations of divine power. It also came through "distributions of the Holy Spirit," signifying the various gifts and empowerments the Spirit bestowed upon believers, all bearing witness to the truth of the message. The word "symphōnus" implies that these various means of confirmation – the spoken word, the signs, the wonders, and the Spirit's gifts – all bore harmonious and consistent testimony. For the original audience, facing societal pressures and perhaps skepticism, this verse served as a powerful reminder that their faith was founded on a message spoken by the Lord, confirmed by His own supernatural power, and continually attested by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within the believing community. This assurance grounded their hope and encouraged perseverance.