Hebrews 5:2

Hebrews 5:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
• New International Version (NIV)He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.

Context of Hebrews 5:2

1For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed [to act] on behalf of men in things relating to God, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the spiritually ignorant and misguided, since he is also subject to human weakness; 3and because of this [human weakness] he is required to offer sacrifices for sins, for himself as well as for the people. 4And besides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor [of being high priest], but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Hebrews 5:2 word by word

μετριοπαθεῖν δυνάμενος τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσιν καὶ πλανωμένοις, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται ἀσθένειαν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Who canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• have compassion onμετριοπαθέωmetriopatheō · be gentleG3356
• the ignorantἀγνοέωagnoeō · be ignorantG50
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• them that are out of the wayπλανάωplanaō · to lead astrayG4105
• for thatἐπείepei · sinceG1893
• heπερίκειμαιperikeimai · to surroundG4029
• himselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• infirmityἀσθένειαastheneia · weakness: weakG769
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Hebrews 5:2

• Hebrews 2:18Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.
• Hebrews 4:15For 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.
• Numbers 15:22‘But when you unintentionally fail and do not observe all these commandments, which the Lord has spoken to Moses,
• 1 Timothy 1:13even though I was formerly a blasphemer [of our Lord] and a persecutor [of His church] and a shameful and outrageous and violent aggressor [toward believers]. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.
• Hebrews 12:13Cut through and make smooth, straight paths for your feet [that are safe and go in the right direction], so that the leg which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather may be healed.
• Exodus 32:8They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’ ”
• Judges 2:17Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the prostitute after other gods and they bowed down to them. They quickly turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do as their fathers.
• Isaiah 30:11Get out of the [true] way, turn aside from the path [of God], Stop bothering us with the Holy One of Israel.”
• Hebrews 7:28For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak [frail, sinful, dying men], but the word of the oath [of God], which came after [the institution of] the Law, permanently appoints [as priest] a Son who has been made perfect forever.
• Exodus 32:2So Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings that are in the ears of your wives, your sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”
• Numbers 12:1Now Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman);
• Numbers 20:10and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock?”
• Luke 22:32but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith].”
• 2 Corinthians 11:30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that reveal my weakness [the things by which I am made weak in the eyes of my opponents].
• 2 Corinthians 12:5On behalf of such a man [and his experiences] I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
• Galatians 4:13On the contrary, you know that it was because of a physical illness that I [remained and] preached the gospel to you the first time;

Commentaries on Hebrews 5:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Who can have compassion on the ignorant - The word , signifies, not merely to have compassion, but to act with moderation, and to bear with each in proportion to his ignorance, weakness, and untoward circumstances, all taken into consideration with the offenses he has committed: in a word, to pity, feel for, and excuse, as far as possible; and, when the provocation is at the highest, to moderate one's passion towards the culprit, and be ready to pardon…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Who can have compassion - Margin, “Reasonably bear with.” The idea is that of “sympathizing with.” The high priest is taken from among men, in order that he may have a fellow-feeling for those on whose behalf he officiates. Sensible of his own ignorance, he is able to sympathize with those who are ignorant; and compassed about with infirmity, he is able to succour those who have like infirmities. And on them that are out of the way - The erring, and the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2A high priest could be kind to those who sin because he also had weaknesses, meaning he was sinful (Hebrews 5:3; compare 4:15).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Who can--Greek, "being able"; not pleasing himself (Ro 15:3). have compassion--Greek, "estimate mildly," "feel leniently," or "moderately towards"; "to make allowance for"; not showing stern rigor save to the obstinate (He 10:28). ignorant--sins not committed in resistance of light and knowledge, but as Paul's past sin (1Ti 1:13). No sacrifice was appointed for wilful sin committed with a high hand; for such were to be punished with death; all other…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 5:2

• Kindness
• Love
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Belong
• Meat
• Priest
• Strong
• Christ, Offices of
• Compass; Compasses
• Compassion
• Congregation
• Err; Error
• Gershom

Commentaries on Hebrews 5

• 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