For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to overlook that "sanctifies" here doesn't just mean making us morally pure, but primarily means setting us apart and bringing us into a sacred relationship with God. This deep connection, rooted in a shared divine Father, is precisely why Jesus, the ultimate holy one, is not ashamed to embrace us as brothers and sisters, even with all our imperfections.
For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, the one who makes people holy, and all those he is making holy share a common origin, which is God the Father. Because of this shared divine parentage, Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers, even though he is God’s unique Son and they are sinful humans. This spiritual brotherhood is the foundation for his mission to bring them to glory.
Have you ever wondered what 'sanctify' really means in the Bible? It's a word that connects Jesus directly to us, but not in a way you might first expect.
This verse introduces us to two key groups: 'he who sanctifies' and 'those who are sanctified.'
He Who Sanctifies: This is Jesus Christ. He's not just a teacher or a good example; He's the one who sets us apart for God. The word 'sanctify' here points to Christ's work of consecrating us, making us holy, and bringing us into God's presence. It’s about His active role in making us fit for God's glory.
Those Who Are Sanctified: This refers to us – believers who are being set apart, made holy, and brought into God's family through Christ's work. It's a process that begins at salvation and continues throughout our lives.
The verse highlights that these two groups, the divine Sanctifier and His redeemed people, share a fundamental connection.
Why would Jesus, the Son of God, not be ashamed to call sinful humans 'brothers'? The answer lies in a profound unity.
The core of their connection is stated as they 'all have one source' or are 'all of one.' What does this 'one' refer to?
One Divine Father: The commentators overwhelmingly point to God the Father as the common source. Jesus, as the unique Son of God, shares this divine Father with believers, who become His adopted children.
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Not Primarily Human Ancestry: While Jesus shared our humanity (as discussed in verse 14), this verse emphasizes a spiritual connection. It's not simply that He and we came from Adam or Abraham. The crucial link is our shared relationship with God the Father.
This shared divine origin is the bedrock of their brotherhood, making their relationship legitimate and deep.
Imagine a king inviting the town's ragamuffins to call him 'brother.' It sounds absurd, right? Yet, this is the divine reality presented here.
The verse culminates in a powerful statement: 'he is not ashamed to call them brethren.'
The Contrast: Consider the immense gulf between the holy Son of God and sinful humanity. By all human standards, shame and distance would be expected. Jesus is perfect; we are flawed.
The Reason for No Shame: The 'one source' – their shared Father in heaven – bridges this gap. Because believers are adopted into God's family through Christ, their status is elevated. They are sons and daughters of the King.
Christ's Perspective: Jesus doesn't see His brothers and sisters through the lens of their sinfulness or weakness. He sees them through the Father's loving, redemptive purpose. He embraces this kinship, finding no shame but rather fulfillment in it.
This absence of shame is a testament to God's incredible grace and the depth of Christ's love for His redeemed people.
Understand the original words
hagiazō · Greek Verb
To set apart for a sacred purpose or to make holy; in the New Testament, this refers to the process of being made righteous and holy before God through the work of Christ.
adelphos · Greek Noun
One who shares a common origin or spiritual family bond, frequently used in the New Testament to denote the relational unity between believers and Christ, as well as among believers themselves.
This passage directly links sanctification to being conformed to the image of God's Son, echoing the idea in Hebrews 2:11 that Christ is not ashamed to call those he sanctifies 'brothers' because they share a common divine origin and destiny.
John 17:20-23Jesus prays for believers to be one with Him and the Father, just as He is one with the Father. This prayer highlights the profound unity that Christ desires with His followers, underscoring the 'one source' mentioned in Hebrews 2:11 and His willingness to embrace them as brothers.
Galatians 4:4-7This passage describes how believers become God's children through Christ's incarnation, allowing them to cry 'Abba, Father.' This mirrors the concept in Hebrews 2:11 of Christ not being ashamed to call them brothers, as they are now adopted into the same divine family.
Philippians 2:5-8Here, Paul urges believers to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who, though divine, humbled himself by taking on human nature. This voluntary sharing of humanity by Christ, as detailed in Hebrews 2:14-16, explains why he is not ashamed to call us brothers, stemming from their shared origin.
Genesis 1:26-27This foundational passage establishes humanity as being made in the image and likeness of God. Hebrews 2:11 builds on this by showing how Christ, who is the very image of God, embraces those made in God's image as brothers, highlighting a shared divine stamp.
wesleyHebrews 2:11: "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,"
2:11 For - They are nearly related to each other. He that sanctifieth - Christ, Heb 13:12. And all they that are sanctified - That are brought to God; that draw near or come to him, which are synonymous terms. Are all of one - Partakers of one nature, from one parent, Adam.
pooleHebrews 2:11: "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,"
For both he that sanctifieth: for shows the reason of the Son’s incarnation, viz. the necessity of union in nature between the sanctifying Mediator and the sanctified sinner. The great gospel Minister was to bring many sons to glory by suffering, which he was not capable of, but by being united to one and the same nature with them to whom the penalty…
It's easy to overlook that "sanctifies" here doesn't just mean making us morally pure, but primarily means setting us apart and bringing us into a sacred relationship with God. This deep connection, rooted in a shared divine Father, is precisely why Jesus, the ultimate holy one, is not ashamed to embrace us as brothers and sisters, even with all our imperfections.
Jesus, the one who makes people holy, and all those he is making holy share a common origin, which is God the Father. Because of this shared divine parentage, Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers, even though he is God’s unique Son and they are sinful humans. This spiritual brotherhood is the foundation for his mission to bring them to glory.
Jesus, the one who makes people holy, and all those he is making holy share a common origin, which is God the Father. Because of this shared divine parentage, Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers, even though he is God’s unique Son and they are sinful humans. This spiritual brotherhood is the foundation for his mission to bring them to glory.
"For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers," — It's easy to overlook that "sanctifies" here doesn't just mean making us morally pure, but primarily means setting us apart and bringing us into a sacred relationship with God. This deep connection,…
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Last reviewed October 2026