“And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.”
My Notes
What Does Hebrews 2:13 Mean?
"And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me." The author of Hebrews quotes TWO Old Testament texts to show Christ's SOLIDARITY with humanity: 'I will put my trust in Him' (Isaiah 8:17) — the Messiah TRUSTS God, just as humans must. 'Behold I and the children which God hath given me' (Isaiah 8:18) — the Messiah claims CHILDREN as His own, given by God. The two quotations show Christ SHARING the human experience: He trusts like we trust. He claims us like a parent claims children.
The phrase "I will put my trust in him" (egō esomai pepoithōs ep' autō — I will be trusting/having trusted upon Him) makes JESUS a TRUSTER: the Messiah doesn't just RECEIVE trust. He EXERCISES trust. He puts His confidence in God — just as every human must. The Son of God operated by FAITH during the incarnation. The trust was genuine, not theatrical. The Messiah DEPENDED on the Father. The dependency is the solidarity.
The "behold I and the children which God hath given me" (idou egō kai ta paidia ha moi edōken ho theos — behold I and the children which God gave me) makes Jesus a FAMILY-CLAIMER: the Messiah stands WITH the children God gave Him and says: BEHOLD — look at us. We're together. These are MINE. The children are GIVEN by God to Jesus. The relationship is divine gift. The family is divinely constituted.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Do you see yourself as one of the children Jesus claims before the Father?
- 2.What does Jesus TRUSTING God teach about the reality of His dependence during the incarnation?
- 3.How does Jesus saying 'behold I and the children' describe the public claiming of His family?
- 4.What does the children being GIVEN by God to Jesus teach about the divine constitution of the family?
Devotional
I will trust Him. And: behold — ME and the children God gave Me. Two statements that show Christ's SOLIDARITY: He TRUSTS like we trust. He CLAIMS us like a parent claims children. The Messiah shares our experience of faith AND claims us as His family. The solidarity is both EXPERIENTIAL (trusting) and RELATIONAL (belonging).
The 'I will put my trust in him' makes Jesus a FELLOW-TRUSTER: during the incarnation, Jesus operated by FAITH — genuine dependence on the Father, real trust in divine promises, actual reliance on God's provision. The Son of God TRUSTED God. The dependency was REAL. The Messiah who calls us to trust ALSO trusted. The Commander of faith is also its Practitioner. The solidarity starts with shared experience: He trusted too.
The 'behold I and the children' is Jesus CLAIMING His family: the Messiah STANDS with the children God gave Him and says BEHOLD — look at this. This is My family. These are Mine. The claiming is PUBLIC (behold — look, see, observe). The family is DIVINE GIFT (which God hath given Me — the children are given BY God TO Jesus). The family constitution is divine initiative, not human selection.
The TWO quotations together make Jesus BOTH dependent (trusting God like we do) AND paternal (claiming children like a parent). The Messiah is simultaneously the one who SHARES our position (trusting alongside us) and the one who LEADS our position (standing with us as the parent who claims the family). The solidarity is complete: He's one of us AND He's the head of us.
Do you see yourself as one of the CHILDREN Jesus claims — standing with Him, given to Him by God?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,.... By the children are meant, not the children of this…
And again - That is, it is said in another place, or language is used of the Messiah in another place, indicating the…
I will put my trust in him - It is not clear to what express place of Scripture the apostle refers: words to this effect…
Having mentioned the death of Christ, the apostle here proceeds to prevent and remove the scandal of the cross; and this…
And again, I will put my trust in him The quotation is probably from Isa 8:17, but nearly the same words are found in…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture