Hebrews 5:4

Hebrews 5:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
• New International Version (NIV)And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Context of Hebrews 5:4

2He 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. And besides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor [of being high priest], but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5So too Christ did not glorify Himself so as to be made a high priest, but He [was exalted and appointed by the One] who said to Him, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten (fathered) You [declared Your authority and rule over the nations]”; 6just as He also says in another place, “You are a priest [appointed] forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 5:4 word by word

καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαμβάνει τὴν τιμὴν ἀλλὰ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ καθώσπερ καὶ Ἀαρών.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• noοὐou · noG3756
• manτιςtis · oneG5100
• takethλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• this honourὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• this honourτιμήtimē · honorG5092
• unto himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• he that is calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• asκαθάπερkathaper · just asG2509
• AaronἈαρώνAarōn · AaronG2

Cross-references for Hebrews 5:4

• Exodus 28:1“Now bring your brother Aaron near, and his sons with him from among the sons of Israel, so that he may serve as priest to Me—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
• Leviticus 8:2“Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments [which are symbols of their office], and the anointing oil, and the bull for the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread;
• Numbers 3:3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom Aaron consecrated and ordained to minister in the priest’s office.
• Numbers 16:5and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to Him, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; the one whom He will choose He will bring near to Himself.
• Numbers 17:3and write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi [his ancestor]; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers’ households.
• Numbers 18:1So the Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household (family) with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary [that is, through your service as priests you will atone for the offenses which the people unknowingly commit when brought into contact with the manifestations of God’s presence]; and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood [that is, your own unintentional offenses].
• 1 Chronicles 23:13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to consecrate him as most holy, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the Lord, attend to His service, and to bless [worshipers] in His name forever.
• 2 Chronicles 26:18They opposed King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who have been consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God.”
• John 3:27John replied, “A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing at all] unless it has been granted to him from heaven [for there is no other source than the sovereign will of God].

Commentaries on Hebrews 5:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4This honor - undoubtedly signifies here the office, which is one meaning of the word in the best Greek writers. It is here an honorable office, because the man is the high priest of God, and is appointed by God himself to that office. But he that is called of God, as was Aaron - God himself appointed the tribe and family out of which the high priest was to be taken, and Aaron and his sons were expressly chosen by God to fill the office of the high…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And no man taketh this honor to himself - No one has a right to enter on this office unless he has the qualifications which God has prescribed. There were fixed and definite laws in regard to the succession in the office of the high priest, and to the qualifications of him who should hold the office. But he that is called of God as was Aaron - Aaron was designated by name. It was necessary that his successors should have as clear evidence that they were…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4God appoints the high priest, not humans (see Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 8:1–12; Numbers 16:1–26).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. no man--of any other family but Aaron's, according to the Mosaic law, can take to himself the office of high priest. This verse is quoted by some to prove the need of an apostolic succession of ordination in the Christian ministry; but the reference here is to the priesthood, not the Christian ministry. The analogy in our Christian dispensation would warn ministers, seeing that God has separated them from the congregation of His people to bring them…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 5:4

• Aaron
• Call
• Jesus Continued
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Aaron
• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Belong
• Christ
• Chronicles, Books of
• Meat
• Priest
• Strong
• Christ, Offices of

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