Out Of One.

In Hebrews 2:11, it says, “for he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all “of one.” In Greek this is ex enos - literally “out of one.” Various translations render that phrase “of the same family” (NIV), “have the same father” (New Living Translation), “have one source” (ESV), and “have the same origin” (NET). These are misleading and make Hebrews sound philosophical rather than Scriptural, which it is. The “one who sanctifies” is a Son by whom God has spoken in these last times (1:2) and “whom he has appointed heir of all things.” It is to this one that Scripture says God will put all things under subjection (Psalm 8). “But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (2:9).

In verse 16, the KJV renders the verb ἐπιλαμβάνεται as “took on the nature of” which is another example of a translation making the epistle sound like a philosophical treatise rather than a review of Scripture. ἐπιλαμβάνεται with its base lambano to take can mean “to take or lay hold of” as in to seize, which is not only more faithful to the original, but also conveys the sense that it is a decisive action on the part of God for the benefit of human beings, the descendants of Abraham. In Hebrews, the appointed Son “tastes death for everyone” (2:9), he  is “made perfect through suffering” (2:10), and “through death destroys him who has the power if death, that is the devil” (14) and “releases those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage” (15). In other words, his concern is for his brethren, that is for the seed of Abraham. Thus the point in his being subject to death is for the sake of the others. This in summary is Isaiah 53 and it is in this sense we understand the minimal wording of Hebrews 2:16 - which says that  both the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are “of one.” Just as Jesus, the appointed Son, was obedient fully to the will of God, so we are shown his example in Scripture (Isaiah 53, Mark 14:6) and given the instruction to do likewise (Matthew 5, Luke 11). And this full obedience to the will of God is demonstrated by Mary, Jesus mother, when his birth is announced: “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).