New International Version
Hebrews 4:15
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
- New Living Translation (NLT)This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
Context of Hebrews 4:15
13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Read all of Hebrews 4Hebrews 4:15 word by word
οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειρασμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθ᾽ ὁμοιότητα χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- we haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- notοὐou · noG3756
- an high priestἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
- which cannotμήmē · notG3361
- which cannotδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- be touched with the feeling ofσυμπαθέωsumpatheō · to sympathizeG4834
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- infirmitiesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- infirmitiesἀσθένειαastheneia · weakness: weakG769
- butδέde · thenG1161
- wasπειράζωpeirazō · to test/tempt: temptG3985
- inκατάkata · according toG2596
- all pointsπᾶςpas · allG3956
- temptedπειράζωpeirazō · to test/tempt: temptG3985
- likeὁμοιότηςhomoiotēs · likenessG3665
- withoutχωρίςchōris · withoutG5565
- sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
Cross-references for Hebrews 4:15
- Hebrews 5:2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.
- Exodus 23:9“Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.
- Isaiah 53:4Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
- Hosea 11:8“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
- Matthew 8:16When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
- Matthew 12:20A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.
- Philippians 2:7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
- Hebrews 2:17For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
- Luke 4:2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
- Luke 22:28You are those who have stood by me in my trials.
- Hebrews 7:26Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
- Isaiah 53:9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
- John 8:46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?
- 2 Corinthians 5:21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- 1 Peter 2:22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
- 1 John 3:5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
Commentaries on Hebrews 4:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15For we have not a high priest - To the objection, "Your High Priest, if entered into the heavens, can have no participation with you, and no sympathy for you, because out of the reach of human feelings and infirmities," he answers: ̔· We have not a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness. Though he be the Son of God, as to his human nature, and equal in his Divine nature with God; yet, having partaken of human nature, and having submitted to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched - Our High Priest is not cold and unfeeling. That is, we have one who is abundantly qualified to sympathize with us in our afflictions, and to whom, therefore, we may look for aid and support in trials. Had we a high priest who was cold and heartless; who simply performed the external duties of his office without entering into the sympathies of those who came to seek for pardon; who had never…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 Observe the end proposed: rest spiritual and eternal; the rest of grace here, and glory hereafter; in Christ on earth, with Christ in heaven. After due and diligent labour, sweet and satisfying rest shall follow; and labour now, will make that rest more pleasant when it comes. Let us labour, and quicken each other to be diligent in duty. The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God sets it home by his Spirit, it convinces powerfully…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15Our high priest understands our weaknesses and our tendency to sin because he faced the same challenges. He was tempted by lust, greed, unforgiveness, and dishonesty. This makes him compassionate as our high priest (Hebrews 5:2). yet was without sin: Jesus is different from earthly high priests, who had to make offerings for their own sins before they could make offerings for the people (5:3; 7:26–28; see also 1 Peter 2:22–23).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. For--the motive to "holding our profession" (He 4:14), namely the sympathy and help we may expect from our High Priest. Though "great" (He 4:14), He is not above caring for us; nay, as being in all points one with us as to manhood, sin only excepted, He sympathizes with us in every temptation. Though exalted to the highest heavens, He has changed His place, not His nature and office in relation to us, His condition, but not His affection. Compare Mt…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 4:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hebrews 4
- 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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries