Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 2:16

"For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham." — Hebrews 2:16 (ASV)

The writer now makes a strong affirmation and appeals to information shared by the reader. There is a problem about the verb rendered “helps” (GK 2138). It means “to take hold of for a purpose,” “to take by the hand.” The author does have in mind that Jesus came to rescue people (cf. v.17), but it is another question whether this is all contained in the verb. On the whole, it seems better to see this statement as pointing to the fact of the Incarnation rather than to its purpose. “Abraham’s descendants” particularizes the manner of the Incarnation and makes it harder to see the meaning of the verb as “helps,” for Jesus helps many more than Jews. But he did become incarnate as a Jew. He did not descend to the level of the angels and become one of them. He descended to the level of humankind and became a Jew.