The Meaning of Hebrews 2:8 Explained

Hebrews 2:8

KJV: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

YLT: all things Thou didst put in subjection under his feet,' for in the subjecting to him the all things, nothing did He leave to him unsubjected, and now not yet do we see the all things subjected to him,

Darby: thou hast subjected all things under his feet. For in subjecting all things to him, he has left nothing unsubject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him,

ASV: Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou hast put  all things  in subjection  under  his  feet.  For  in  that he put  all  in subjection under  him,  he left  nothing [that is] not  put under  him.  But  now  we see  not yet  all things  put under  him. 

What does Hebrews 2:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Hebrews 2:1-9 - The Author Of Our Salvation
Drifting away, Hebrews 2:1-4. The r.v. gives this solemn rendering. Unless we watch, the strong currents of the world will drift us away from God's great harbor of Salvation; and sins against His offered love are even more to be dreaded than those under the ancient Law. To neglect is the equivalent of to reject. Notice in Hebrews 2:4 how God co-operates with His messengers. See John 15:27; Acts 5:32.
Jesus crowned, Hebrews 2:5-9. How can Jesus be greater than angels? He did for man what they could not do. It is through His death that humanity may be lifted to a supreme position in the universe of being. Man failed to realize his original Magna Charta in Genesis 1:26; but the divine purpose could not be frustrated, and there was a needs-be for the manger, the Cross and the Ascension mount. As we look around, Psalms 8:1-9 seems a mockery; as we look up, we discover in Jesus the psalmist's dream more than realized. They who are one with Him will share His glory and honor. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 2

1  We ought to be obedient to Christ Jesus;
5  and that because he condescended to take our nature upon himself;
14  as it was necessary

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 2:8

In that he subjected [εν τωι υποταχαι]
First aorist active articular infinitive of υπατασσω — hupatassō in the locative case, “in the subjecting.” He left First aorist active indicative (kappa aorist) of απιημι — aphiēmi Nothing that is not subject to him Later verbal of υποτασσω — hupotassō with α — a privative. Here in passive sense, active sense in 1 Timothy 1:9. Man‘s sovereignty was meant to be all-inclusive including the administration of “the world to come.” “He is crowned king of nature, invested with a divine authority over creation” (Moffatt). But how far short of this destiny has man come! But now we see not yet Not even today in the wonderful twentieth century with man‘s triumphs over nature has he reached that goal, wonderful as are the researches by the help of telescope and microscope, the mechanism of the airplane, the submarine, steam, electricity, radio. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 2:8

1 Timothy 1:9 Unruly [ανυποτακτοις]
Dative (like all these words) of the late verbal In N.T. only here, Titus 1:6, Titus 1:10; Hebrews 2:8. Ungodly (ασεβεσι — asebesi). See Romans 4:5; Romans 5:6. Sinners See Romans 3:7. Unholy (ανοσιοις — anosiois). Common word (α — a privative and οσιος — hosios In N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 3:2. Profane Old word from βαινω — bainō to go, and βηλος — bēlos threshold. See Hebrews 12:16. Murderers of fathers (πατρολωιαις — patrolōiais). Late form for common Attic πατραλωιαις — patralōiais (from πατηρ — patēr father, and αλοιαω — aloiaō to smite) only here in N.T. Murderers of mothers Late form Attic μητραλωιαις — mētralōiais Only here in N.T. Manslayers (ανδραπονοις — andraphonois). Old compound (ανηρ — anēr man, πονος — phonos murder). Only here in N.T. [source]
Hebrews 3:3 Of more glory [πλείονος δόξης]
Comp. Hebrews 2:8, Hebrews 2:9. [source]
Hebrews 2:6 But one somewhere [δε που τις]
See Hebrews 4:4 for a like indefinite quotation. Philo uses this “literary mannerism” (Moffatt). He quotes Psalm 8:5-7 and extends here to Hebrews 2:8. Hath testified First aorist middle indicative of διαμαρτυρομαι — diamarturomai old verb to testify vigorously (Acts 2:40). What Neuter, not masculine τις — tis (who). The insignificance of man is implied. The son of man Not ο υιος του αντρωπου — ho huios tou anthrōpou which Jesus used so often about himself, but literally here “son of man” like the same words so often in Ezekiel, without Messianic meaning here. Visited Second person singular present indicative middle of επισκεπτομαι — episkeptomai old verb to look upon, to look after, to go to see (Matthew 25:36), from which verb επισχοπος — episcopos overseer, bishop, comes. [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 2:8 mean?

all things You have put in subjection under the feet of him In - for subjecting to him - nothing He left unsubject At present however not yet do we see having been subjected
πάντα ὑπέταξας ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ Ἐν τῷ γὰρ ὑποτάξαι αὐτῷ τὰ οὐδὲν ἀφῆκεν ἀνυπότακτον νῦν δὲ οὔπω ὁρῶμεν ὑποτεταγμένα

πάντα  all  things 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
ὑπέταξας  You  have  put  in  subjection 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ὑποτάσσω  
Sense: to arrange under, to subordinate.
ὑποκάτω  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὑποκάτω  
Sense: under, underneath.
ποδῶν  feet 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: πούς  
Sense: a foot, both of men or beast.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑποτάξαι  subjecting 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ὑποτάσσω  
Sense: to arrange under, to subordinate.
αὐτῷ  to  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οὐδὲν  nothing 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὐδείς 
Sense: no one, nothing.
ἀφῆκεν  He  left 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀφίημι 
Sense: to send away.
ἀνυπότακτον  unsubject 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀνυπότακτος  
Sense: not made subject, unsubjected.
νῦν  At  present 
Parse: Adverb
Root: νῦν  
Sense: at this time, the present, now.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
οὔπω  not  yet 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὔπω  
Sense: not yet.
ὁρῶμεν  do  we  see 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
ὑποτεταγμένα  having  been  subjected 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ὑποτάσσω  
Sense: to arrange under, to subordinate.