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

1Every leader of God's priests comes from among the people. That special priest's work is to serve God on behalf of God's people. He offers gifts and sacrifices to God, so that God will forgive the people's sins. That priest himself may often do wrong things, because he is weak and human. As a result, he understands other people who make mistakes. He can be kind to people who do wrong things. 3But, because he himself does wrong things, he must offer sacrifices to God on behalf of himself, as well as on behalf of the people. 4Nobody decides for himself to become a leader of the priests. God himself must choose him. That is how Aaron became a priest.

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 2:18While Jesus lived on earth, the Devil tried to make him do wrong things. This caused Jesus to have much pain and trouble. But because of that, he can now help us not to do wrong things.
• Hebrews 4:15Jesus, our great priest understands us. He knows how weak we are. He knows that we sometimes want to do wrong things. The Devil tried to make him do all those same kinds of wrong things. But Jesus never did anything wrong.
• Numbers 15:22The people might not obey a rule that the Lord told Moses about. But they might not know that they are not obeying a rule.
• 1 Timothy 1:13Before he chose me, I said bad things about him. I caused great trouble for his people. I was a cruel man, but God was very kind to me. He forgave me because I did not know what I was doing. That was because I did not believe in Jesus.
• Hebrews 12:13Walk straight in front of you, step by step! Your example will help other Christians to serve God well. People who cannot walk well will not become worse and fall down. Instead, their legs will become strong again.
• Exodus 32:8They have already turned away from my commands. They have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bent down low to worship it. They have made sacrifices to give it honour. They are saying, “This is the god of the Israelites, the god who brought us out of Egypt!” ’
• Judges 2:17But the people did not obey their leaders. They refused to serve the Lord faithfully. Instead, they worshipped false gods. They did not live in the way that their ancestors had lived. Their ancestors had obeyed the Lord's commands, but they refused to obey him.
• Isaiah 30:11Leave this path. Get out of our way! Stop telling us about the Holy God of Israel.’
• Hebrews 7:28In the old agreement, Moses' laws decide who will become special priests. Because those men are weak, they often do wrong things. But God's very strong promise came after the Law that he gave to Moses. With that promise, God chose his Son to be his special priest. And his Son has become everything that God wants him to be, completely and for ever.
• Exodus 32:2So Aaron said to them, ‘Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives, your sons and your daughters. Then bring the rings to me.’
• Numbers 12:1Moses had married a woman who was a descendant of Cush. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because he had married that woman.
• Numbers 20:10Then Moses and Aaron brought all the people to meet in front of the rock. Moses said to them, ‘Listen now, you people who refuse to obey God. It seems that we must bring water out of this rock for you!’
• Luke 22:32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that you will continue to believe in me. And this is what you must do: When you have turned back to me, you must help your brothers to be strong again.’
• 2 Corinthians 11:30If I must be proud about myself, I will only be proud of things that show my weakness.
• 2 Corinthians 12:5I will say proud things about a man like that. But I will not be proud of anything good about myself. I will only be proud of things that show my weakness.
• Galatians 4:13You must remember that I first came to you because I was ill. That was when I first told God's good news to you.

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