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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
• New Living Translation (NLT)And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.

Context of Hebrews 5:4

2He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"; 6as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, after 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"Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
• Leviticus 8:2"Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of 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 anointed priests, whom he ordained to serve as priests.
• Numbers 16:5and he said to Korah and all his company, "In the morning the Lord will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him.
• Numbers 17:3and write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers' house.
• Numbers 18:1So the Lord said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood.
• 1 Chronicles 23:13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the Lord and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever.
• 2 Chronicles 26:18and they withstood 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 are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God."
• John 3:27John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

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