Hebrews 4:15

Hebrews 4:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
• New International Version (NIV)For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Context of Hebrews 4:15

13And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account. 14Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].

Hebrews 4:15 word by word

οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειρασμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθ᾽ ὁμοιότητα χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• we haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• notοὐou · noG3756
• an high priestἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
• which cannotμήmē · notG3361
• which cannotδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• be touched with the feeling ofσυμπαθέωsumpatheō · to sympathizeG4834
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• infirmitiesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• infirmitiesἀσθένειαastheneia · weakness: weakG769
• butδέde · thenG1161
• wasπειράζωpeirazō · to test/tempt: temptG3985
• inκατάkata · according toG2596
• all pointsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• temptedπειράζωpeirazō · to test/tempt: temptG3985
• likeὁμοιότηςhomoiotēs · likenessG3665
• withoutχωρίςchōris · withoutG5565
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266

Cross-references for Hebrews 4:15

• Hebrews 5:2He is able to deal gently with the spiritually ignorant and misguided, since he is also subject to human weakness;
• Exodus 23:9“You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the soul [the feelings, thoughts, and concerns] of a stranger, for you were strangers in Egypt.
• Isaiah 53:4But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, And He has carried our sorrows and pains; Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken, Struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him].
• Hosea 11:8How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within Me; All My compassions are kindled together [for My nation of Israel].
• Matthew 8:16When evening came, they brought to Him many who were under the power of demons; and He cast out the evil spirits with a word, and restored to health all who were sick [exhibiting His authority as Messiah],
• Matthew 12:20A battered reed He will not break, And a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, Until He leads justice to victory.
• Philippians 2:7but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].
• Hebrews 2:17Therefore, it was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins [thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind].
• Luke 4:2for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they ended, He was hungry.
• Luke 22:28“You are those who have remained and have stood by Me in My trials;
• Hebrews 7:26It was fitting for us to have such a High Priest [perfectly adapted to our needs], holy, blameless, unstained [by sin], separated from sinners and exalted higher than the heavens;
• Isaiah 53:9His grave was assigned with the wicked, But He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
• John 8:46Which one of you [has proof and] convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?
• 2 Corinthians 5:21He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].
• 1 Peter 2:22He committed no sin, nor was deceit ever found in His mouth.
• 1 John 3:5You know that He appeared [in visible form as a man] in order to take away sins; and in Him there is [absolutely] no sin [for He has neither the sin nature nor has He committed sin or acts worthy of blame].

Commentaries on Hebrews 4:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15For we have not a high priest - To the objection, "Your High Priest, if entered into the heavens, can have no participation with you, and no sympathy for you, because out of the reach of human feelings and infirmities," he answers: ̔· We have not a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness. Though he be the Son of God, as to his human nature, and equal in his Divine nature with God; yet, having partaken of human nature, and having submitted to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched - Our High Priest is not cold and unfeeling. That is, we have one who is abundantly qualified to sympathize with us in our afflictions, and to whom, therefore, we may look for aid and support in trials. Had we a high priest who was cold and heartless; who simply performed the external duties of his office without entering into the sympathies of those who came to seek for pardon; who had never…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 Observe the end proposed: rest spiritual and eternal; the rest of grace here, and glory hereafter; in Christ on earth, with Christ in heaven. After due and diligent labour, sweet and satisfying rest shall follow; and labour now, will make that rest more pleasant when it comes. Let us labour, and quicken each other to be diligent in duty. The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God sets it home by his Spirit, it convinces powerfully…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15Our high priest understands our weaknesses and our tendency to sin because he faced the same challenges. He was tempted by lust, greed, unforgiveness, and dishonesty. This makes him compassionate as our high priest (Hebrews 5:2). yet was without sin: Jesus is different from earthly high priests, who had to make offerings for their own sins before they could make offerings for the people (5:3; 7:26–28; see also 1 Peter 2:22–23).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. For--the motive to "holding our profession" (He 4:14), namely the sympathy and help we may expect from our High Priest. Though "great" (He 4:14), He is not above caring for us; nay, as being in all points one with us as to manhood, sin only excepted, He sympathizes with us in every temptation. Though exalted to the highest heavens, He has changed His place, not His nature and office in relation to us, His condition, but not His affection. Compare Mt…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 4:15

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Righteous
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• High priest
• Discerner
• Example
• Fall
• Humiliation of Christ
• Intercession of Christ
• Mediator
• Naked
• Powerful
• Ascension

Commentaries on Hebrews 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings