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 empathize with the ignorant and deluded, since he himself also is subject to weakness. 3For this reason he has to make offerings for sins—just as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when he is called by God, as Aaron was. 5So also Messiah did not glorify Himself to be made Kohen Gadol; rather, it was God who said to Him, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” 6And He says in a different passage, “You are a kohen forever, according to the order of Melechizedek .”

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“Bring your brother Aaron near with his sons from among Bnei-Yisrael, so that they may minister to Me as kohanim—Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
• Leviticus 8:2“Take Aaron and his sons with him, the garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams and the basket of matzot .
• Numbers 3:3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed kohanim whom he consecrated to be priests.
• Numbers 16:5Then he said to Korah and all his following saying, “In the morning Adonai will reveal who is His and who is holy. The one whom He will let come near to Him will be the one He chooses to come near to Him.
• Numbers 17:3Write Aaron’s name on Levi’s staff, for there is to be one staff for the prince of each tribe.
• Numbers 18:1Adonai said to Aaron, “You, your sons, and the house of your father with you will bear the guilt for the Sanctuary, and you and your sons will bear the guilt for your priesthood.
• 1 Chronicles 23:13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron, along with his descendants, was set apart to be consecrated as most holy forever, to burn incense before Adonai, to minister to Him, and to bless in His name forever.
• 2 Chronicles 26:18They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Adonai, but for the kohanim, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the Sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully. You will have no honor from Adonai Elohim.”
• John 3:27John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to 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