From Brahmin to Believer

The version used is KJV

The first pass thru the first 4 verses of Chapter 2 of Hebrews is around the survey of words and interlinks...

The first word in first verse [Heb2:1] used connects to the prior chapter, as the letter was not written in chapters but as a whole; this word dia (G1223) can be treated as therefore, on account, which is a connecting preposition. This is connecting the fact that Yah has spoken to us thru His Son, in these last days. Since it was established that His Son is more precious than the angels and other messengers of God in the first 14 verses, we need to heed to what has come thru His Son. This word heed (G4337) is the same word in Hebrew used in [Deu6:12], Beware, lest thou forget Yah...It was first used in reference to Cain not taking heed [Gen4:5].
The connecting preposition then ties to the things which we have heard, which refers back to [Heb1:1-14] concerning our Messiah. This starts from creation, when the promise was given in [Gen3] thru the patriarchs thru judges and prophets, around the Kingdom of God to come. The word used heard (G191) is the same word shema used in [Deu6:3,4] which translates to hear and do or hear and apply.
lest at anytime, we let them slip, indicates a continual vigilence required to meditate and obey the word of Yah and the things we have heard about our Messiah. This compound phrase let them slip is (G3901) pararreo which can mean careless or miss or we let it pass by, and only appears once in the whole NT. The close reference in LXX is [Pro3:21] * My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:*
The above warning as to not let slip from my mind as to what I have heard, harkens to my Messiah's parable of the sower [Matt13:20] when the seed falls on rocky soil, the hearer rejoices in the word heard, but having no root, when trials and persecution come because of the word, they fall away.
The first part of second verse [Heb2:2] word spoken by angels was stedfast, can be seen in two ways as to what the reference can be. The word word (G3056) is logos, λόγος, which is our Messiah, as described in [Jhn1:1]. But the referene to angels (G32) can both mean human messengers or spiritual messengers. The Hebrew word is malak which was used for both human and spiritual messengers. This could mean then the following
in the human form, it could refer to the first part of the opening of the letter, where prophets delivered the word of Yah to our forefathers. This could then refer to both the laws given, the warnings given for transgressions, the prophecies given for the future around our coming Messiah, or
in the spiritual being form, could refer to the spiritual being appearing to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial, and Daniel, where the future was shown of the new heavens and new earth under the Messiah or the coming of our Messiah or how our Messiah is seated at the right hand in heaven.
The adjective stedfast also means sure, firm, set, trusty, which shows up 9 times in NT with 5 of them in Hebrews.
In either of the case, the Word, λόγος, which is our Messiah, who was spoken of, is firmly established thru the ages. Therefore the subsequent phrases in [Heb2:2] around transgression, which is going against the word; which could mean both violating the law given to our forefathers or disobeying our Messiah. This word (G3847) is parabases appears in several part of Pauline epistles. [1Tim2:14] states And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. This word in LXX also appears in [Psa101:3], which is related to the fall away word we saw earlier. We know transgression in Peter's epistle is defined as violation of the law. The second word disobedience (G3876) is also related to transgression, which also could mean not paying attention or hearing amiss.
When they transgressed and disobeyed, they received just reward. This phrase is composed of (G1738) edikos, for just which is either righteous or according to right: and in this form is only used twice [Rom3:8] and in [Heb2:2]. The word for reward is (G3405) misthapodosia which could mean recompense, payment of wages due, and only appears 3 times, all in this epistle [Heb2:2, Heb10:35, Heb11:26]. The reference in [Heb11:26] is the respect Moses had for the recompense of the reward, as he esteemed reproach of our Messiah, greater than the treasures in Egypt.
The first part of [Heb2:3] has how shall we flee neglecting such a deliverance -
flee is ekphuego (G1628) which means escape by flight like a bird or swiftly, used in [Jdg6:11] where Gideon was trying to hide from the Midianites and the word is same as flee; this is also used in [Rom2:3] in who can escape the judgement of God?
deliverance is soteria (G4991) which is safety, deliverance, salvation, rescue. This is also the root word for soteriology. Its used in [Gen28:21] when Jacob, on his way to Laban, marks the stone where he slept and prays to God that He would bring back to his father's house in safety. The Hebrew word in MT is Shalom, which in LXX uses G4991. The straightforward use in MT/LXX is [Exo14:13] when Moses asks the people to see the salvation of Yah work, when Yah divides the sea.
In [Heb2:4], the word for God bearing witness is (G4901) synepimartyreo, which is only used once in the bible, which means attest together with
The signs and wonders uses (G4592) semeion and (G509) teras, respectively. Majority of use of this phrase is in connection with what Yah did in Egypt to bring the Israelites out of it onto the promised land. These showed the deliverance of Yah, like [Exo7:3], [Deu4:34]. It was also used in [Dan6:27] when Yah delivered Daniel from the lion. In [Matt24:24], our Messiah uses it to indicate many false christs will perform signs and wonders. The corroborating verse is in [Acts2:22], when its stated that the confirmation of Jesus was approved of God by signs and wonders. Later in [Acts5:12], the apostles did many signs and wornders. In [2Tim3:8] the reference to Jannes and Jambres harkens back to Exodus and the fals christ reference in one verse.
The word for miracles is (G1411) dunamis, which means power, strength, ability.
The word for gifts is (G3311) which is meismos, which means division, partition, distributions, not actually gifts the way we think in modern english. In all of the references in OT, its to do with distribution of land, inheritance and wealth. This is used in [Josh11:23], [Josh18:11] around this context. In the book of Hebrews, this word is used in [Heb4:12] where the word of God divides asunder soul and spirit.
The ending word for will in [Heb2:4] is (G2308) thelasis, which only appears once in NT. Its translated to willing will in the Thayers, while Strongs and Mounce also indicate it for determination, volition. The use in LXX of this word is around how man determines or makes things happen, which would make this word an anthropopathic attribution to God. The best use is in [2Ch15:15] when during Asa's time they swore with whole heart and sought Yah with thelasis, their whole determination.

Paraphrasing Heb 2:1-4

With all that has been established around how Jesus is the Son of Most High, thru his obedience earned a better place than any of the angels, to be at the right hand of Yah, and came to deliver us, that we have heard about him, through our fathers and the angels. The spoken words have been made more real in the last days with it being spoken by Yah through Jesus, His Son.

This Jesus has spoken of an everlasting Kingdom of God which starts with the deliverance, through our Messiah.

The messengers of Yah, spoke about our Messiah and the coming Kingdom of God, that when not obeyed, yielded just punishment. But now, this meesage has been spoken by our Messiah and confirmed by the apostles and disciples that heard Jesus. This was further confirmed by Yah through similar signs and wonders - similar to what Yah showed the Israelites and the entir world that He was the Most High God through His hand bringing them out of Egypt

Yah also has distributed the Holy Spirit, similar to how the faithful received land upon obeying and entering the promised land;

Therefore, we should not neglect and turn our way from the word, which our Messiah - neither ignoring nor by disobeying, but to pay attention and obey, so we dont receive the same end as the many that perished in the wilderness, including Aharon and Moses, and only the younger generation, with Caleb and Joshua's families entered the promised land to receive the distribution of the inheritance.

What then of grace

The natural question that many might ask is around how grace applies in the above passages, as in if NT grace is contrasted with OT transgression in [Heb2:1-4]. The use of falling away, transgression and the just reward are the key words that might be used to ask that question, since sin is the transgression of the law. Here then are my initial thoughts.

The word for grace, from [Eph2:8] is (G5485) charis, which means pleasure, approval, thanks, gift, but also recompense and reward. Some describe it to mean, unmerited favor. Thereforce this word is similar to [Heb2:2] just recompense of reward, only that grace is positive, while the usage in [Heb2:2] is negative.

The use of the common words around signs and wonders, miracles and gifts, and the full context of the entire book, illustrates how, an unworthy and lowly people, who were the Israelites, were freed from the slavery in Egypt, to be brought out into their own promised land filled with milk and honey- which was the grace offered to them; but disobeyed Yah in the wilderness, there by sinning - transgressing the law, received the just reward, which was death. This resulted in only 2 families and younger generation making it to the promised land, out of the 600K men that left Egypt with Moses.

This means that we should heed the same warnings given thru the examples of our forefathers.

Therefore, we must not abandon our hope in our Messiah, through whom Yah has offered the free gift of salvation/deliverance, which is grace. If we are disobedient then we may have to expect the same plight as our fathers who rejected the free gift of deliverance that was given to them in the exodus from Egypt to the promised land. In the words of Paul, let us then keep the faith, fight the good fight and finish the race, [2Tim4:7] and [1Cor9:24-25], looking to our Messiah who is the author, finisher and perfecter of our faith [Heb12:1-2], without grumbling and malcontent or asking for meat and wine, while manna and water from the rock is sufficient.