1 For every high priest, having been taken from among men, is appointed on behalf of men toward the things which pertain to God, so that he may offer gifts and sacrifices on behalf of sins; 2 he is able to commiserate with those who are ignorant and who wander astray, because he himself is also encompassed by infirmity. 3 And because of this, he also must make such offerings for sins even for himself, in the same manner as for the people. 4 Neither does anyone take up this honor himself, but rather he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 Thus, even Christ did not glorify himself, so as to become High Priest, but instead, it was God who said to him: “You are my Son. Today I have begotten you.” 6 And similarly, he says in another place: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” 7 It is Christ who, in the days of his flesh, with a strong cry and tears, offered prayers and supplications to the One who was able to save him from death, and who was heard because of his reverence. 8 And although, certainly, he is the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things that he suffered. 9 And having reached his consummation, he was made, for all who are obedient to him, the cause of eternal salvation, 10 having been called by God to be the High Priest, according to the order of Melchizedek. 11 Our message about him is great, and difficult to explain when speaking, because you have been made feeble when listening. 12 For even though it is the time when you ought to be teachers, you are still lacking, so that you must be taught the things that are the basic elements of the Word of God, and so you have been made like those who are in need of milk, and not of solid food. 13 For anyone who is still feeding on milk is still unskillful in the Word of Justice; for he is like an infant. 14 But solid food is for those who are mature, for those who, by practice, have sharpened their mind, so as to discern good from evil.
Hebrews · Catholic Public Domain Version
Hebrews 5 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Melchizedek
King of Salem and priest of God Most High, who brought out bread and wine, blessed Abram, and received a tenth of everything from him.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 14:18–20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6
Cross references (14)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Hebrews 8:3; Hebrews 10:11; Hebrews 2:17; Leviticus 9:15–21; Hebrews 7:27
- 2 Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 2:18; 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Hebrews 7:28; Hebrews 12:13
- 3 Leviticus 9:7; Leviticus 16:6; Hebrews 9:7; Hebrews 7:27; Leviticus 16:15
- 4 Exodus 28:1; Numbers 16:40; Numbers 16:5; 1 Chronicles 23:13; 2 Chronicles 26:18
- 5 Psalm 2:7; John 8:54; John 7:18; Hebrews 1:5; Acts 13:33
- 6 Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:17; Hebrews 7:21; Hebrews 7:3; Hebrews 5:10
- 7 Luke 22:41–44; John 17:1; Matthew 27:46; Mark 14:32–39; John 17:4–5
- 8 Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 10:5–9; John 4:34; Isaiah 50:5–6; John 15:10
- 9 Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 9:12; Acts 5:32
- 10 Hebrews 5:5–6; Hebrews 6:20
- 11 Matthew 13:15; 2 Peter 3:16; Acts 28:27; John 16:12; John 6:6
- 12 Hebrews 6:1; 1 Corinthians 3:1–3; 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:13; Isaiah 28:9–10
- 13 1 Peter 2:2; 1 Corinthians 14:20; 2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 4:14; Isaiah 28:9
- 14 1 Corinthians 2:14–15; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; Philippians 1:9–10; Ephesians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 2:6
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The blessed Paul wishes to show in the next place that this covenant is far better than the old. This then he does by first laying down remote considerations.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
But strong meat belongeth to them that are perfect, even those who by habit have their senses exercised to distinguish good from evil." For here we see, as if clearly defined, what he calls the strong meat of the perfect; and which is the same as that which he writes to the Corinthans, "We speak wisdom among them that are …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
… himself, hardly bearing it, because his scholars were delaying a long time in their earlier lessons: "For when for the time," saith he, "ye ought to be teachers, ye have need to be taught again which be the first principles of the oracles of God. " Wherefore we too mourn and lament.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
But let those here present whose habit of mind is mature, and who have their senses already exercised to discern good and evil, endure patiently to listen to things fitted rather for children, and to an introductory course, as it were, of milk: that at the same time both those who have need of the instruction may be benefited, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
The same consideration applies to another passage, "He learnt obedience by the things which He suffered," and to His "strong crying and tears," and His "Entreaties," and His "being heard," and His" Reverence," all of which He wonderfully wrought out, like a drama whose plot was devised on our behalf.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)