Hebrews 2:15

Modern

…and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Traditional

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Literal

…and might set free those who all their time to live were subject to slavery through the fear of death.

Latin

…et liberaret eos qui timore mortis per totam vitam obnoxii erant servituti.

Greek

English

…and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

The death of the Son of God as a sacrifice for sin weakened the devil's power. It made the devil's power over death ineffective (1 Corinthians 15:56).
Philo, a first-century Jewish philosopher, wrote that "nothing enslaves the mind like fearing death" (Philo, That Every Good Person Is Free 3.22). Through his sacrificial death, Christ freed those who were slaves to the fear of dying.

This passage suggests at least four reasons why the Son of God became human.

It was appropriate: It aligns with God's character to achieve salvation this way (Hebrews 2:10).
Jesus needed to become human to die (2:14).
According to Old Testament law, high priests had to be chosen from among God's people (2:17).
Jesus became a compassionate priest by experiencing human suffering and challenges (2:18).

Theme notes and profiles

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
Luke 1:74–75
…deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
2 Corinthians 1:10
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,
Romans 8:21
…that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Psalm 55:4
My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me.
1 Corinthians 15:50–57
Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Psalm 89:48
What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
Job 33:21–28
His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.
Psalm 56:13
For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Job 24:17
For to them, deep darkness is their morning; surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!
Job 18:11
Terrors frighten him on every side and harass his every step.