Hebrews Chapter 5 – A Commentary, Explanation, and Bible Study
Hebrews Chapter 5 – A Commentary, Explanation, and Bible Study
Before going verse by verse, I wanna say this: Hebrews is soaked in the Old Testament world. Like you can almost smell the incense of the tabernacle, feel the rough cloth of the priestly garments, the trembling awe of approaching God. And Hebrews 5 especially, it’s like the writer grabs your shoulders and says, “Look—Jesus is not just Savior or Teacher. He is High Priest. But also something more… something ancient, mysterious, rooted in Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 5:1 – “For every high priest taken from among men…”
The Greek here says:
πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεὺς ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος
—pas gar archiereus ex anthrōpōn lambanomenos.
Literally: “For every high priest being taken from among humans.”
The writer starts simple. High priests weren’t angels. They weren’t spirit beings. They were men. Flesh and bone. With sweat, nerves, mistakes, headaches, probably even bad moods. It reminds me how sometimes people think spiritual leaders should be like perfect statues. But even Aaron messed up big time.
The Hebrew idea behind “high priest” is כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל (Kohen Gadol), the great priest. “Kohen,” meaning “one who stands, ministers.” But the Greek “archiereus” gives a sense of hierarchy—archi meaning chief or first.
And these men, the text says, were appointed. They didn’t volunteer. They were taken. Chosen. Almost like God reached into the crowd and grabbed someone trembling, saying, “You will stand between the people and Me.”
That’s wild if you think about it.
The verse continues: they are appointed “on behalf of people in things pertaining to God.”
Greek: ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων – for humans, on behalf of humans.
It’s like the priest becomes a bridge. But a shaky one. A wooden bridge with cracks.
Hebrews 5:2 – “He can deal gently with the ignorant and the wayward…”
This verse always smells, to me, like grace. Like warm bread or something comforting.
The Greek for “deal gently” is μετριοπαθεῖν (metriopathein), meaning “to show measured compassion.” Not overly harsh. Not overly soft. Balanced, because the priest knows his own weakness.
And the phrase “since he himself is beset with weakness” hits hard.
Greek: περίκειται ἀσθένειαν – “he is surrounded by weakness.”
Surrounded. Like weakness isn’t a distant memory; it’s wrapped around him like a cloak he can’t take off.
I like that. Not because weakness is fun, but because it makes the priest relatable. And it shows why Jesus being human matters. He had to feel hunger, tiredness, pain. Not sin, but weakness—yes, He stepped into our frailty.
The Hebrew parallels—though this is NT Greek, the concept reflects Hebrew thought—come from רַךְ (rach) meaning gentle, soft, tender. Also חֲמַל (chamal) meaning to spare or show compassion.
God always wanted compassion from leaders, not arrogance.
Hebrews 5:3 – “Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.”
This is big. A human priest had to sacrifice for himself first. He had to wash before he entered the Holy Place, like scrubbing dirt from both hands and heart.
The Greek “ὀφείλει (opheilei)”—he owes it. It’s a debt.
Meaning: before the priest can talk about somebody else’s sin, he has to look at his own.
Kinda humbling. Maybe that’s why Jesus stands apart. He didn’t need to sacrifice for Himself. His priesthood is both similar and radically different.
Hebrews 5:4 – “No one takes this honor for himself…”
Honor. The Greek word is τιμή (timē), meaning value, esteem, weight. Something heavy.
The priesthood is not self-promotion. Aaron didn’t run a campaign: “Vote for me—High Priest 2026.” God called him.
Hebrew idea: קָרָא (qara), “to call, summon.” A divine calling, not a human desire.
And this applies to Jesus also. He didn’t glorify Himself to be priest. The Father called Him. That’s important for the next verses.
Hebrews 5:5 – “So also Christ did not exalt Himself…”
The Greek word δοξάζω (doxazō) means “to glorify, make radiant.”
Jesus didn’t grab glory. Didn’t self-appoint. Didn’t crown Himself.
The Father said to Him, “You are My Son.”
Here the writer connects priesthood to Sonship. The Son is Priest not because He wanted the honor, but because God placed it on Him—the way Aaron was appointed.
Hebrews 5:6 – “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Oh boy. Here comes Melchizedek, the mysterious priest-king of Genesis 14. The Hebrew name מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (Malki-Tzedek) means “King of Righteousness.”
And he was king of שָׁלֵם (Shalem)—“peace.” So he’s literally “King of Righteousness” and “King of Peace.” Sounds familiar?
The Greek “τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ” (taxin Melchisedek) means “the order, arrangement, pattern” of Melchizedek. A priesthood not based on genealogy. Not on Levi. Not on earthly qualification. But on divine appointment.
This priesthood is eternal: εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα (into the age, forever).
So Jesus stands in a priesthood older than Aaron. Higher. One with no expiration date.
Hebrews 5:7 – “In the days of His flesh…”
This verse suddenly shifts tone—almost tender. Almost painful.
It pictures Jesus praying with “loud cries and tears.”
The Greek words feel heavy:
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κραυγῆς (kraugēs) – crying out, a scream almost
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δακρύων (dakryōn) – tears, literal tears flowing
You can almost hear Him in Gethsemane. The night smells of olive trees and dust. The air is cold. His sweat like drops of blood. His voice trembling. This was not a peaceful prayer circle. It was agony.
“To the One able to save Him from death.”
And He “was heard because of His reverent submission.”
Greek: εὐλάβεια (eulabeia) – holy fear, deep reverence.
This verse shows His humanity so vividly that it nearly makes my skin prickle. The High Priest cries.
Hebrews 5:8 – “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.”
This verse confuses some people, but it’s not saying He was disobedient.
“Learned” is ἔμαθεν (emathen)—to experience, to undergo.
Obedience is ὑπακοή (hypakoē)—to listen under, to submit.
As Son, He already knew obedience. But as human, He lived it out through suffering.
The Hebrew idea behind suffering is עָנָה (anah)—to afflict, humble, press down. Like wheat being crushed.
Obedience learned not in theory but in tears, pain, endurance. That hits different when you’ve walked through your own suffering. Suddenly Hebrews feels less like theology and more like therapy from heaven.
Hebrews 5:9 – “And having been perfected…”
Perfected is τελειωθείς (teleiōtheis), meaning “brought to completion, maturity.” Not moral improvement, but completion of mission.
He “became the source of eternal salvation.”
Source = αἴτιος (aitios), cause, origin.
Not temporary salvation. Eternal.
Not dependent on the yearly sacrifices.
Not dependent on the priest’s own sins.
Not dependent on human weakness.
The Hebrew equivalent concept is יֵשַׁע עוֹלָם (yesha olam), everlasting salvation.
Hebrews 5:10 – “Being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”
The writer circles back, almost like he can’t get enough of Melchizedek.
“Designated” is προσαγορευθείς (prosagoreutheis)—“publicly declared.”
God didn’t whisper Jesus’ priesthood; He declared it.
Hebrews 5:11 – “About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain…”
Now the tone shifts. You can almost hear frustration.
The Greek says δυσερμήνευτος (dyshermēneutos)—hard to interpret, hard to explain.
Why?
“Since you have become dull of hearing.”
Greek: νωθροὶ ταῖς ἀκοαῖς (nōthroi tais akoais)—sluggish, slow, lazy ears.
It’s like the writer sighs mid-sentence.
“You should be teachers by now but you still need milk.”
Sometimes Scripture mirrors our spiritual mood swings. One minute teaching deep mysteries, next minute lamenting spiritual immaturity.
Hebrews 5:12 – “You need milk, not solid food.”
The imagery is vivid. Milk is for infants.
Greek: γάλα (gala) – milk
“Solid food” is στερεᾶ τροφή (sterea trophē)—firm nourishment.
The Hebrew concept of milk in teaching often means basics—simple instruction. And solid food means wisdom, maturity, discernment.
The writer basically says:
“You’re old enough for steak but you’re still drinking milk bottles.”
And honestly, sometimes I feel that way too. Like I circle around simple truths but struggle with deeper ones. Hebrews 5 hits home hard.
Hebrews 5:13–14 – “The mature have their powers of discernment trained…”
The Greek word for “trained” is γεγυμνασμένα (gegymnasmena)—same root as “gymnasium,” meaning exercised, worked out.
Discernment doesn’t magically appear. It grows from practice, like muscles growing under weight.
“Distinguish good from evil.”
Greek: διάκρισιν (diakrisin)—to judge through, to cut apart.
This is spiritual maturity—not head knowledge but practiced wisdom.
The Hebrew parallel is בִּין (bin)—to understand, to discern.
Reflection, Senses, and Human Thoughts While Studying This Chapter
Reading Hebrews 5 feels like sipping warm tea on a cold morning. You hold the cup and feel the heat seep into your fingers. The text does that to the soul—warmth and a little sting at the same time.
I imagine the early believers hearing this read aloud in a dim room lit by oil lamps. The smell of the oil. The crackle of the wick. People shifting on the floor mats. Some understanding deeply. Some confused. Some bored. Nothing changes, really—humans have always had wandering minds.
What grabs me most is Jesus’ humanity shown so raw. Loud cries. Tears. Obedience learned through suffering. It puts a taste of salt on the tongue, like tears themselves. It makes Him not distant but near.
And then the contrast with Melchizedek—so ancient and mysterious. A man with no genealogy mentioned, standing out of nowhere with bread and wine. It almost feels like a cool breeze across the page, something ancient brushing modern skin.
The writer’s frustration at the readers feels strangely comforting too. Like he’s not afraid to say, “You guys should be further by now.” It sounds like something a real human teacher would say when the class isn’t catching up. It makes Hebrews 5 feel alive, emotional, slightly irritated, but full of love.
Themes That Rise Up From This Chapter
1. Priesthood Requires Humanity
A priest stands among men because he is one. Jesus embraced flesh to be our High Priest.
Greek “anthrōpos”—human.
Hebrew “adam”—earthy, from the ground.
2. Weakness Is Part of Ministry
The priest “is surrounded by weakness.” Not escaped from it. Ministry that lacks awareness of human weakness becomes cold, harsh.
3. Jesus’ Suffering Was Not A Performance
He cried real tears. He trembled. He prayed passionately. His prayers had sound, not silence.
4. Melchizedek Is a Picture of Eternal Priesthood
Not restricted by genealogy. Rooted in divine mystery.
5. Spiritual Growth Requires Training
Discernment is not automatic. It’s exercised. Daily. Repeated.
6. Milk vs. Solid Food
Some truths are simple. Some are weighty. Hebrews 5 invites us to grow up—not rushed, but intentionally.
Closing Thoughts
Hebrews 5 is one of those chapters that sits heavy on the chest, not in a suffocating way, but in a holy one. Like a weight that strengthens you. The mixture of priesthood theology, human weakness, Jesus’ suffering, and Melchizedek’s mystery creates a chapter thick with meaning. You can taste the depth like strong coffee, slightly bitter but awakening.
And maybe that’s what the writer wanted: to wake us up.
To shake us from spiritual laziness.
To draw us toward deeper truths.
To help us see Jesus not just as Savior but as High Priest who knows our weaknesses better than we know them ourselves.
When I close the chapter, I almost hear the lingering echo of “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” A phrase that feels ancient, like wind blowing through old stones. And I feel grateful—deeply grateful—for a Priest who cries, who obeys, who saves eternally.
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