Hebrews 2:18

 

 

Home
Site Index
Inductive Bible Study
Greek Word Studies
Commentaries by Verse
Area Precept Classes
Reference Search
Bible Dictionaries
Bible Maps & Pictures
It's Greek to Me
Bible Commentaries
Discipline Yourself
Christian Biography
Wailing Wall
Bible Prophecy

Search by Verse
Word or Phrase:

 

 

Study Tools

 
 

INDEX
PREVIOUS
NEXT

COLLECTIONS
Commentaries, Word Studies, Devotionals, Sermons, Illustrations
Old and New Testament.

   
  

   

 

Search Every Word on Preceptaustin
PicoSearch
    Help

 

Hebrews 2:18: For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: en o gar peponthen (3SRAI) autos peirastheis, (APPMSN) dunatai (3SPPI) tois peirazomenois (PPPMPD) boethesai. (AAN)
Amplified: For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering
 (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
Phillips:   For by virtue of his own suffering under temptation he is able to help those who are exposed to temptation. (
Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest:  For in that which He suffered, having Himself been tempted, He is able to run to the cry of those who are being tempted and bring them aid. (
Erdmans

References

Don Anderson
Norman Anderson
Albert Barnes
Brian Bell
John Calvin
Alan Carr
Rich Cathers
Adam Clarke
Steven Cole
Steven Cole
Steven Cole
Steven Cole
Steven Cole
Commentary Project
Commentary Project
Commentary Project
Thomas Constable
Ron Daniels
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible
Dan Fortner
Dan Fortner
Dan Fortner

Scott Grant
Scott Grant

Dave Guzik
Matthew Henry
F B Hole
Jamieson, F, B
S Lewis Johnson
S Lewis Johnson
S Lewis Johnson
S Lewis Johnson
S Lewis Johnson
William Kelly

John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
Ian Mackervoy
Alexander Maclaren
Alexander Maclaren
Alexander Maclaren
Alexander Maclaren
Alexander Maclaren
J Vernon McGee
J Vernon McGee
F B Meyer
F B Meyer
F B Meyer
F B Meyer
F B Meyer
Phil Newton
Phil Newton
Phil Newton
Phil Newton
Phil Newton
A W Pink
A W Pink
A W Pink
A W Pink
A W Pink
A W Pink
John Piper
John Piper

John Piper
John Piper
John Piper

John Piper

A T Robertson
Gil Rugh
Gil Rugh
Gil Rugh
Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
C H Spurgeon
Ray Stedman
Ray Stedman
Ray Stedman
Ray Stedman
Ray Stedman
Ray Stedman
Marvin Vincent
Drew Worthen
Precept Ministries

Hebrews Study - Questions & Practical Lessons -Pdf
Hebrews 1-2 Glimpses of the Glories of our Lord
Hebrews 2 Commentary
Hebrews 2
Hebrews 2 Commentary
Hebrews 2:3 Why Salvation Is So Great
Hebrews 2:1-18
Hebrews 2 Commentary
Hebrews 2:1-4 The Danger of Drifting Spiritually
Hebrews 2:5-9 Our Glorious Destiny in Christ
Hebrews 2:10 Why Jesus' Death Was Fitting

Hebrews 2:11-15 Jesus Our Brother and Savior
Hebrews 2:16-18 Why Jesus Became a Man

Hebrews 2:1-3

Hebrews 2:4-8

Hebrews 2:9-18

Hebrews 2 Expository Notes
Hebrews 2:1-16 Hebrews 2:1-18
Hebrews 1:1-8,14; 2:1-4 Pay Attention
Hebrews 2:5-18 Have Faith

Hebrews 2:9-18 Why Did Christ Come?
Hebrews 2:17-18 Christ Our High Priest
Hebrews 2:17-18 Christ Our High Priest

Hebrews 2:1-9 Reasons to embrace the gospel
Hebrews 2:10-18 Christ Our Brother
Hebrews 2 Commentary
Hebrews 2 Commentary
Hebrews Commentary Notes
Hebrews 2 Commentary
Hebrews 2:1-4 The Danger of Drifting

Hebrews 2:5-9 The Glorious Destiny

Hebrews 2:10 Populating Heaven

Hebrews 2:11-16 Defeat of the Devil or Old Nick Wiped Out

Hebrews 2:17-18 Jesus - Wholly Sufficient of Life's Trials
Hebrews 1-6 Commentary

Hebrews 2:1-4 Tragedy of Neglecting Salvation

Hebrews 2:5-9 Recovery of Man's Lost Destiny
Hebrews 2:9-18 Why Was Jesus Born?
Hebrews 2:9-18 Why God Became a Man

Hebrews 2:9-18 Our Perfect Savior
Hebrews Commentary in Easy English
Hebrews 2:1 - Drifting
Hebrews 2:8, 9 Manhood Crowned in Jesus
Hebrews 2:10 Christ's Perfecting by Suffering
Hebrews 2:11-13 The Brotherhood of Christ
Hebrews 2:17 What Behooved Christ
Hebrews Thru the Bible - All 115 Mp3's
Hebrews Thru the Bible - Individual Mp3's

Hebrews 2:1 Drifting
Hebrews 2:5-9:What is Man?

Hebrews 2:10: Perfect Through Sufferings

Hebrews 2:14-15: The Death of Death

Hebrews 2:17 Christ's Merciful and Faithful Help
Hebrews 2:1-4 Anchored in the Truth    

Hebrews 2:5-9 The Taste of Death

Hebrews 2:10-13 Many Sons to Glory   

Hebrews 2:14-16 God Becomes Man

Hebrews 2:17-18 God Is Satisfied

Hebrews 2:1-4 Christ Superior to Angels.

Hebrews 2:1-4 Danger of Drifting from the Word
Hebrews 2:1-4 Spoken, confirmed...great salvation
Hebrews 2:1-9 Who will rule the world to come?
Hebrews 2:9 For whom did Jesus taste death?

Hebrews 2:9-13 Our captain made perfect through suffering

Hebrews 2:14-18 Jesus is able to help those who are tempted

Hebrews 2 Word Pictures
Hebrews 2:1-4 So Great A Salvation
Hebrews 2:5-9 Believers Will Rule Over Angels
Hebrews 2:10-18 A Perfect Savior
Hebrews 2:1 Drifting Away from Christ

Hebrews 2:1 The Sin of Neglect

Hebrews 2:3 No Escape
Hebrews 2:9 The Best of All Sights - Pdf
Hebrews 2:9 Seeing Jesus - Pdf
Hebrews 2:10 The Captain of Our Salvation - Pdf
Hebrews 2:10 Christ--Perfect Through Sufferings
Hebrews 2:11-13 All of One - Pdf
Hebrews 2:14 The Destroyer Destroyed
Hebrews 2:15 Fear of Death (3125) - Pdf
Hebrews 2:14,15 The Fear of Death - Pdf
Hebrews 2:16 Men Chosen--Fallen Angels Rejected
Hebrews 2:18 A Tempted Saviour-Our Best Succour - Pdf

Hebrews 2:18 Christ's Sympathy with His People
Hebrews 2:18 The Suffering Saviour's Sympathy
Hebrews 2
Hebrews 2:1-4 The Great Danger in Ignoring the Son
Hebrews 2:5-9 Jesus' Glory As Risen and Enthroned Man
Hebrews 2:10-13 Jesus' Work As Author of Salvation
Hebrews 2:14-18 Jesus' Unique Ability to Help

Hebrews 1:1 - 2:4 The Final Word
Hebrews 2:5-18 The True Man

Hebrews 2: Word Studies
Hebrews 2:1-4;  2:5-92:10-15; 2:16-18
Hebrews - Part 1 - Download Lesson 1

FOR SINCE HE HIMSELF WAS TEMPTED: en ho gar peponthen (3SRAI) autos peirastheis (APPMSN):

The Greek reads more literally (specifically the literal word order) "for in that He suffered, Himself being tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted." (Young's literal translation)

"For" (gar) indicates that what follows can explain how Jesus' being made like His brethren in all things has made Him a merciful and faithful High Priest for us. 

Tempted ((3985) (peirazo from the noun peira = test from peíro = perforate, pierce through to test durability of things) is a morally neutral word simply meaning “to test” or to try. The aorist tense points to the fact that His "having been tempted" is a past completed action.

Paul explains that now as our great High Priest

"Christ Jesus is He Who died, yes, rather Who was raised, Who is at the right hand of God, Who also intercedes for us (present tense = He is  constantly interceding on our behalf and so is always ready to come to the aid upon hearing our cry for help!)." (See note Romans 8:34)

Christ did not have each temptation we have but experienced every kind of temptation a person can have. He has met our sorrows. He has faced our temptations. He knows exactly what help we need; and He can come to our aid immediately when we cry out for help!

Wuest comments that peirazo

"referred first to the action of putting someone to the test to see what good or evil is in the one tested, and second, because so many broke down under the test and committed sin, the word came to mean a “solicitation to do evil.” Both meanings are in view here. Our Lord in His incarnation as the Last Adam, was put to the test and was also solicited to do evil (Mt 4:1–11 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.")." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)

Whether the tests becomes a proof of righteousness or an inducement to evil depends on our response. If we resist in God’s power, the tests becomes a test that proves our faithfulness. If we do not resist in His power (or try to resist in our own power), the test becomes a solicitation to sin. The Bible uses peirazo  in both ways. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert!

IN THAT WHICH HE HAS SUFFERED: en ho gar autos peponthen (3SRAI): (
Hebrews 4:15-note; Hebrews 4:16-note; Hebrews 5:2-note, Hebrews 5:7-9-note; Mt 4:1-10; 26:37-39; Lu 22:53)

He (Himself) is emphatic. Contrary to what might have been expected, He suffered.

O Saviour Christ, Thou too art man;
Thou hast been troubled, tempted, tried;
Thy kind but searching glance can scan
The very wounds that shame would hide.
-Henry Twells

Suffered (3958) (pascho) means to suffer (to feel or bear what is painful, disagreeable or distressing, either to the body or mind. We suffer pain of body; we suffer grief of mind). It means to be affected by something from without. It means to undergo an experience, usually difficult, and normally with the implication of physical or psychological suffering.

Christ’s suffering included temptation. He experienced the lure of sin, but He never surrendered Himself to it. He knows what it is like to be tempted, so He knows how to assist those who are being tempted.

Suffered is in the perfect tense which emphasizes that although the temptation Christ suffered in the flesh is a thing of the past, its effect is permanent, in the sense that the effect of His compassion and understanding remains to aid us in our own temptations.

Alexander Whyte notes that...

We shall never understand anything of our Lord's preaching and ministry unless we continually keep in mind what exactly and exclusively His errand was in this world.

A T Robertson summarizes Jesus' suffering noting that

"The temptation to escape the shame of the Cross was early and repeatedly presented to Christ, by Satan in the wilderness (Mt  4:1–11), by Peter in the spirit of Satan ("And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You. ”But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Mt 16:22-23.), in Gethsemane ("Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Mt 26:36-39) and caused intense suffering to Jesus ("And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground." Lu 22:44;  "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered." Heb 5:8)." (Robertson, A T. Word Pictures in the New Testament)

Constable adds that...

"As our priest Jesus Christ can help us because He has undergone the same trials we experience (in body, mind, and emotions) and has emerged victorious. The testing in view is temptation to depart from God’s will, specifically apostasy. The picture is of an older brother helping his younger brothers navigate the pitfalls of growing up successfully. That is the role a priest plays." (Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible)

Illustration of the great truth that Jesus Who Suffered as a Man is thus "Able to come to our aid" - Bob Weber, past president of Kiwanis International, told this story. He had spoken to a club in a small town and was spending the night with a farmer on the outskirts of the community. He had just relaxed on the front porch when a newsboy delivered the evening paper. The boy noted the sign Puppies for Sale. The boy got off his bike and said to the farmer, "How much do you want for the pups, mister?" "Twenty-five dollars, son." The boy's face dropped. "Well, sir, could I at least see them anyway?" The farmer whistled, and in a moment the mother dog came bounding around the corner of the house tagged by four of the cute puppies, wagging their tails and yipping happily. At last, another pup came straggling around the house, dragging one hind leg. "What's the matter with that puppy, mister?" the boy asked. "Well, Son, that puppy is crippled. We took her to the vet and the doctor took an X ray. The pup doesn't have a hip joint and that leg will never be right." To the amazement of both men, the boy dropped the bike, reached for his collection bag and took out a fifty-cent piece. "Please, mister," the boy pleaded, "I want to buy that pup. I'll pay you fifty cents every week until the twenty-five dollars is paid. Honest I will, mister." The farmer replied, "But, Son, you don't seem to understand. That pup will never, never be able to run or jump. That pup is going to be a cripple forever. Why in the world would you want such a useless pup as that?"

The boy paused for a moment, then reached down and pulled up his pant leg, exposing that all too familiar iron brace and leather knee-strap holding a poor twisted leg. The boy answered, "Mister, that pup is going to need someone who understands him to help him in life!"

Crippled and disfigured by sin, the risen, living Christ has given us hope. He understands us--our temptations, our discouragements, and even our thoughts concerning death. By His resurrection we have help in this life and hope for the life to come. (Brian Bell, Calvary Chapel, Murrieta)

><>><>><>

Spurgeon in Morning and Evening writes...

It is a common-place thought, and yet it tastes like nectar to the weary heart—Jesus was tempted as I am. You have heard that truth many times: have you grasped it? He was tempted to the very same sins into which we fall. Do not dissociate Jesus from our common manhood. It is a dark room which you are going through, but Jesus went through it before. It is a sharp fight which you are waging, but Jesus has stood foot to foot with the same enemy. Let us be of good cheer, Christ has borne the load before us, and the blood-stained footsteps of the King of glory may be seen along the road which we traverse at this hour. There is something sweeter yet—Jesus was tempted, but Jesus never sinned. Then, my soul, it is not needful for thee to sin, for Jesus was a man, and if one man endured these temptations and sinned not, then in his power his members may also cease from sin. Some beginners in the divine life think that they cannot be tempted without sinning, but they mistake; there is no sin in being tempted, but there is sin in yielding to temptation. Herein is comfort for the sorely tempted ones. There is still more to encourage them if they reflect that the Lord Jesus, though tempted, gloriously triumphed, and as he overcame, so surely shall his followers also, for Jesus is the representative man for his people; the Head has triumphed, and the members share in the victory. Fears are needless, for Christ is with us, armed for our defence. Our place of safety is the bosom of the Saviour. Perhaps we are tempted just now, in order to drive us nearer to him. Blessed be any wind that blows us into the port of our Saviour’s love! Happy wounds, which make us seek the beloved Physician. Ye tempted ones, come to your tempted Saviour, for he can be touched with a feeling of your infirmities, and will succour every tried and tempted one.

><>><>><>

HE WAS TEMPTED - We had everything set .for the first bass fishing expedition of the year. We had exotic new lures that we knew would be irresistible to those big six-pounders lurking beneath the surface of our favorite fishing lake. We would tempt them with Sassy Shads, brightly colored new Hula Poppers, buzz baits, a "killer" red flatfish with a black stripe, and a white double spinner with long bright streamers. And, if all else failed, we had some fresh Canadian crawlers. Out at dawn, we hit all the best spots with our assortment of delectable temptations. But nothing happened. We worked the shore. We cast along the weeds. We tried every lure in the tackle box—even the crawlers. Finally we gave up. Heading back to the cabin, we concluded, "The fish just aren't hungry."

Satan has a whole "tacklebox" of alluring devices he uses to tempt us. Some are gaudy and exotic, easy to spot—yet oh, so tempting. Others whet our appetites in quiet and subtle ways, appearing harm-less until the hook is set. Whatever the temptation, we can best resist if we do not let our thoughts dwell on evil but on things that are true, noble, just, pure, and lovely (see note
Philippians 4:8). With mental discipline and the help of the Holy Spirit, we can keep our hearts full of goodness. Then, in frustration, Satan will have to say, "They just aren't hungry."—D. C. Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Every step away from the devil
leads us one step closer to God.

HE IS ABLE TO COME TO THE AID: dunatai (3SPPI) toiz peirazomenois (PPPMPD) boethesai (AAN): (7:25,26; Jn 10:29; Phil 3:21; 2Ti 1:12; Jude 1:24)

Touched with a sympathy within,
He knows our feeble frame;
He knows what sore temptations mean,
For he has felt the same.
Isaac Watts
(Play
With Joy We Meditate the Grace)

Able (1410) (dúnamai - see related word dunamis) means to have power, whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources through a state of mind or favorable circumstances. To be capable, to have the ability.  Dúnamai implies both a fitness and willingness to do a thing. Christ is both competent and ready to undertake for His people. If we have not, it is because we ask not.

"Able" is in the present tense indicating that Jesus is continually able to help the tempted because he has perfect sympathy with them. Stated another way, present tense speaks of the fact that "being able" is always true of Jesus.

Robertson notes that "He is able"

"strikes the heart of it all. Christ’s power to help is due not merely to his deity as God’s Son, but also to his humanity without which he could not sympathize with us (Heb. 4:15)." (Word Pictures in the New Testament)

Expositor's Bible Commentary writes that...

"The words "he is able" are important and mean more than "he helps." Only he who suffers can help in this way. Jesus went all the way for us. He was not only ready to suffer, but he actually did suffer." ((Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing)

Kent Hughes says

Think of it this way—which bridge has undergone the greatest stress, the one that collapses under its first load of traffic, or the one that bears the same traffic morning and evening, year after year? (Hughes, R. K. Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul. Volume 1.  Crossway Books; Volume 2 or Logos)

Jesus is a "bridge" which is continuously able.

Jamieson writes that...

Not only as God He knows our trials, but also as man He knows them by experimental feeling. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D.   Critical and explanatory commentary)

Barnes writes that...

This does not mean that he would not have had “power” to assist others if he had not gone through these sufferings, but that he is now qualified to sympathize with them from the fact that he has endured like trials. The idea is, that one who has himself been called to suffer is able to sympathize with those who suffer; one who has been tempted, is able to sympathize with those who are tempted in like manner. One who has been sick is qualified to sympathize with the sick; one who has lost a child, can sympathize with him who follows his beloved son or daughter to the grave; one who has had some strong temptation to sin urged upon himself can sympathize with those who are now tempted; one who has never been sick, or who has never buried a friend, or been tempted, is poorly qualified to impart consolation in such scenes. Hence, it is that ministers of the gospel are often - like their Master - much persecuted and afflicted, that they may be able to assist others. Hence, they are called to part with the children of their love; or to endure long and painful sicknesses, or to pass through scenes of poverty and want, that they may sympathize with the most humble and afflicted of their flock. (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible)

C H Spurgeon commenting on "He is able" notes that Jesus

"(1) has the right, acquired by His suffering, to enter in among sufferers, and deal with them. (2) He has also the disposition to succour them. He obtained that tender temper through suffering, by being Himself tempted. (3) And then He has the special ability. Our Blessed Master, having lived a life of suffering, understands the condition of a sufferer so well that He knows how to make a bed for him." (The Biblical Illustrator)

The fact that God is "able" is illustrated in God's rhetorical question in the face of Sarah's failure to bear Abraham a son, Jehovah stating

"Is anything too difficult for the Lord? (the expected answer of course is "no") At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Ge 18:14)

Later in Hebrews the writer in reference to Jesus reminds his tested readers that

"Hence, also, He is able (priests were never able to save even temporarily) to save (present tense = continually save = see following note) forever (KJV is more accurate = "uttermost" - to final perfection or completeness) those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Heb 7:25)

Here "salvation" appears to be referring primarily to sanctification (present tense salvation) rather than justification (past tense salvation). To state it another way "save forever" refers to Jesus' saving work in the sense that He is bringing about God's desired end, conformity to the image of His Son and ultimately glorification (future tense salvation).

Paul writes Timothy that as a preacher, an apostle and a teacher he had suffered and yet his firm declaration remained

"I am not ashamed; for I know (knowing with certainty) Whom I have believed (perfect tense = began in the past and has continuing effect or result, speaks of permanence) and I am convinced (perfect tense = a settled persuasion regarding the matter, a fixed and immovable position) that He is able (literally = is powerful enough) to guard (military term = soldier on watch accountable with his life to protect that entrusted to his care) what I have entrusted (“my deposit” as in a bank, the bank of heaven which no burglar can break) to Him until that day." (See note 2 Timothy 1:12)

Jude emphasizes God's inherent ability to act on our behalf writing the great benediction

"Now to Him Who is able (present tense = continually able) to keep (guard = soldier on watch accountable with his life to protect that entrusted to his care) you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1:24-25)

Paul states that God's enablement working for and in and through believers is unlimited and beyond our comprehension writing

Now to Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (See notes Ephesians 3:20; Ephesians 3:21)

Spurgeon writes that...

this is the reason why he suffered, and why he became a man capable of suffering, that he might be able to succor the tempted. It was for this that Christ left heaven, for this he was born of the virgin, for this he lived for this he died, that he might be “able to succor them that are tempted.”

Glory be to his holy name for ever and ever! Amen.

Jesus, Who pass'd the angels by,
Assumed our flesh to bleed and die;
And still He makes it His abode;
As man, He fills the throne of God.

Our next of Kin, our Brother now,
Is He to Whom the angels bow;
They join with us to praise His Name,
But we the nearest interest claim.

Come to the aid (997) (boetheo from boé = at a shout or cry (as for aid or help) + théo = to run) (Click word study on boetheo) means literally to run on hearing a cry of those in danger to give help and assistance. To hasten to the help of the oppressed. To bring or furnish aid.  To render assistance to someone in need. To help someone in need. To assist in supplying what may be needed. Running to the cry of one, as a parent responding to the cry of distress from a child.

Although the word boethéo is not used, Matthew gives us a blessed illustration of Jesus' succoring or coming to the aid of one in need recording the story of Peter walking on the water

"but seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mt 14:30-31) (Comment: Jesus' response is a vivid picture of what He will do for us beloved. And what was the condition? He cried out and so too must we. It is a humbling thing to cry out in need to another but God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. If a man or woman is willing to humble themselves in the presence of the Lord, he will lift them up!)

It is interesting that the writer of Hebrews uses three forms of the Greek word for "help" ("come to the aid"): the verb form (boethéo here in Heb2:18), the noun (boetheia in Heb4:16), and the adjective (boēthós in Heb 13:6).

Boethéo is used 8 times (1x Mt; 2x Mk; 2x Acts; 1x 2Cor; 1x Heb; 1x Rev) and is translated in NAS as (come to the aid, 1; come to...aid, 1; help, 4; helped, 2).

The basic meaning  boethéo is “to run to help,” then “to help” and is a word often used of doctors according to (Kittel, G. et al. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Page 108. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans) The cognate (related) adjective boēthós is found in Heb 13:6 ("so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my [personal] Helper [the One Who responds to my call for help], I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?” quoting Ps. 118:6-7), encouraging us that God is the "Helper" of the righteous. The word for helper, boēthós, surprisingly, is not used anywhere else in the New Testament, but it is common in the Septuagint, used 45 times (the first describing the wife as a man's helper Ge 2:18)

Boethéo  means to run at a cry or call for help as when the Canaanite woman pleaded with Jesus to have mercy on her demon-possessed daughter Matthew recording that she

"came and began to bow down before (Jesus), saying, “Lord, help me!” (Mt 15:25)

Wuest translates it

"she fell upon her knees and touched her forehead to the ground in profound reverence before Him, saying, Sir, be helping me."

Warren Wiersbe adds that our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ,

"stands ready to help us! He was tempted when He was on earth, but no temptation ever conquered Him. Because He has defeated every enemy, He is able to give us the grace that we need to overcome temptation. The word “succour” (boethéo "Come to the aid") literally means “to run to the cry of a child.” It means “to bring help when it is needed.” Angels are able to serve us (Heb1:14), but they are not able to succor us in our times of temptation. Only Jesus Christ can do that, and He can do it because He became a man and suffered and died."  (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor) (Bolding added) 

Mills states that boethéo

"denotes a loud, ringing cry for help, thus emphasizing the desperate, helpless state of the supplicant." (Mills, M. The Acts of the Apostles. Dallas: 3E Ministries)

Wuest commenting on Hebrews 2:18 says

"How precious to know that when we are being tempted, the Lord Jesus always stands ready, eager to run to our cry and bring us aid." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)

A W Pink adds that we need to

"Remember who He is, the God-man. Remember the experiences through which He passed! He, too, has been in the place of trial: He, too, was tempted—to distrust, to despondency, to destroy Himself. Yes, He was tempted “in all points like as we are, sin excepted.” Remember His present position, sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high! How blessed then to know that He is “able” both to enter, sympathetically, into our sufferings and sorrows, and that He has power to “succour.” (Pink, A W: An Exposition of Hebrews)

“As Man, a man of sorrows,
Thou hast suffered every woe,
And though enthroned in glory now,
Canst pity all Thy saints below.”

KJV Study Bible notes...

"How much easier it is to help someone when we ourselves have gone through similar trials! Christ as Man has fully suffered the greatest of trials and so can ably comfort. These suffering Jews needed to hear that Christ had suffered as they were suffering." (Bolding added. King James Version Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson)

As Paul reminds us

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." (2 Co 1:3-5)