God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 5:2
2The chief priest can be gentle with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, because he also has weaknesses.
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 chief priest is chosen from humans to represent them in front of God, that is, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin. The chief priest can be gentle with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, because he also has weaknesses. 3Because he has weaknesses, he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins in the same way that he does for the sins of his people. 4No one takes this honor for himself. Instead, God calls him as he called Aaron.
Read all of Hebrews 5Hebrews 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 Jesus experienced temptation when he suffered, he is able to help others when they are tempted.
- Hebrews 4:15We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin.
- Numbers 15:22“Suppose you unintentionally do something wrong by not obeying all these commands the Lord gave Moses.
- 1 Timothy 1:13In the past I cursed him, persecuted him, and acted arrogantly toward him. However, I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in my unbelief.
- Hebrews 12:13Keep walking along straight paths so that your injured leg won’t get worse. Instead, let it heal.
- Exodus 32:8They’ve already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They’ve made a statue of a calf for themselves. They’ve bowed down to it and offered sacrifices to it. They’ve said, ‘Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt.’ ”
- Judges 2:17But the people wouldn’t listen to the judges. The Israelites chased after other gods as though they were prostitutes and worshiped them. They quickly turned from the ways of their ancestors who had obeyed the Lord’s commands. They refused to be like their ancestors.
- Isaiah 30:11Get out of our way! Stop blocking our path! Get the Holy One of Israel out of our sight.’ ”
- Hebrews 7:28Moses’ Teachings designated mortals as chief priests even though they had weaknesses. But God’s promise, which came after Moses’ Teachings, designated the Son who forever accomplished everything that God required.
- Exodus 32:2Aaron said to them, “Have your wives, sons, and daughters take off the gold earrings they are wearing, and bring them to me.”
- Numbers 12:1Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses because he was married to a woman from Sudan.
- Numbers 20:10Then Moses and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock and said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?”
- Luke 22:32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples.”
- 2 Corinthians 11:30If I must brag, I will brag about the things that show how weak I am.
- 2 Corinthians 12:5I’ll brag about this person, but I won’t brag about myself unless it’s about my weaknesses.
- Galatians 4:13You know that the first time I brought you the Good News I was ill.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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