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Hebrews 5-8
English Standard Version
Hebrews 5-8
English Standard Version
5 For every high priest chosen from among men (A)is appointed to act on behalf of men (B)in relation to God, (C)to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 (D)He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself (E)is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins (F)just as he does for those of the people. 4 And (G)no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, (H)just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ (I)did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,
(J)“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
(K)“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, (L)Jesus[a] offered up prayers and supplications, (M)with loud cries and tears, to him (N)who was able to save him from death, and (O)he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although (P)he was a son, (Q)he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And (R)being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest (S)after the order of Melchizedek.
Warning Against Apostasy
11 About this we have much to say, and it is (T)hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again (U)the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need (V)milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is (W)a child. 14 But solid food is for (X)the mature, for those who have their powers (Y)of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
6 Therefore (Z)let us leave (AA)the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance (AB)from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of (AC)instruction about washings,[b] (AD)the laying on of hands, (AE)the resurrection of the dead, and (AF)eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do (AG)if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those (AH)who have once been enlightened, who have tasted (AI)the heavenly gift, and (AJ)have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and (AK)have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and (AL)then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since (AM)they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For (AN)land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But (AO)if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, (AP)and its end is to be burned.
9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For (AQ)God is not unjust so as to overlook (AR)your work and the love that you have shown for his name in (AS)serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance (AT)of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but (AU)imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
The Certainty of God's Promise
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, (AV)he swore by himself, 14 saying, (AW)“Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,[c] (AX)having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes (AY)an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to (AZ)the heirs of the promise (BA)the unchangeable character of his purpose, (BB)he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which (BC)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope (BD)set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into (BE)the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone (BF)as a forerunner on our behalf, (BG)having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
The Priestly Order of Melchizedek
7 For this (BH)Melchizedek, king of (BI)Salem, priest of (BJ)the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother (BK)or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham (BL)the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And (BM)those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers,[d] though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man (BN)who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed (BO)him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one (BP)of whom it is testified that (BQ)he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Jesus Compared to Melchizedek
11 (BR)Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended (BS)from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,
(BT)“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside (BU)because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for (BV)the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, (BW)a better hope is introduced, through which (BX)we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
(BY)“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of (BZ)a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues (CA)forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[e] (CB)those who draw near to God (CC)through him, since he always lives (CD)to make intercession for them.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, (CE)holy, innocent, unstained, (CF)separated from sinners, and (CG)exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, (CH)first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this (CI)once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men (CJ)in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made (CK)perfect forever.
Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant
8 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, (CL)one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in (CM)the true tent[f] that the Lord (CN)set up, not man. 3 For (CO)every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus (CP)it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve (CQ)a copy and (CR)shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, (CS)“See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ[g] has obtained a ministry that is (CT)as much more excellent than the old as (CU)the covenant (CV)he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 (CW)For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
8 For he finds fault with them when he says:[h]
(CX)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah,
9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant,
and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
10 (CY)For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and (CZ)write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall (DA)all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
(DB)and I will remember their sins no more.”
13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And (DC)what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 5:7 Greek he
- Hebrews 6:2 Or baptisms (that is, cleansing rites)
- Hebrews 6:15 Greek he
- Hebrews 7:5 Or brothers and sisters
- Hebrews 7:25 That is, completely; or at all times
- Hebrews 8:2 Or tabernacle; also verse 5
- Hebrews 8:6 Greek he
- Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts For finding fault with it he says to them
Hebrews 5-8
New International Version
Hebrews 5-8
New International Version
5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,(A) to offer gifts and sacrifices(B) for sins.(C) 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,(D) since he himself is subject to weakness.(E) 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.(F) 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.(G)
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory(H) of becoming a high priest.(I) But God said(J) to him,
6 And he says in another place,
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions(N) with fervent cries and tears(O) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard(P) because of his reverent submission.(Q) 8 Son(R) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered(S) 9 and, once made perfect,(T) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest(U) in the order of Melchizedek.(V)
Warning Against Falling Away(W)
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths(X) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!(Y) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,(Z) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature,(AA) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.(AB)
6 Therefore let us move beyond(AC) the elementary teachings(AD) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[c](AE) and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[d](AF) the laying on of hands,(AG) the resurrection of the dead,(AH) and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting,(AI) we will do so.
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,(AJ) who have tasted the heavenly gift,(AK) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,(AL) 5 who have tasted the goodness(AM) of the word of God(AN) and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[e] away, to be brought back to repentance.(AO) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God(AP) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.(AQ) In the end it will be burned.
9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends,(AR) we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.(AS) 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope(AT) for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate(AU) those who through faith and patience(AV) inherit what has been promised.(AW)
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,(AX) 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[f](AY) 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.(AZ)
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.(BA) 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging(BB) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,(BC) he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,(BD) we who have fled to take hold of the hope(BE) set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,(BF) 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.(BG) He has become a high priest(BH) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.(BI)
Melchizedek the Priest
7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem(BJ) and priest of God Most High.(BK) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,(BL) 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy,(BM) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,(BN) he remains a priest forever.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch(BO) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!(BP) 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people(BQ)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed(BR) him who had the promises.(BS) 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.(BT) 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus Like Melchizedek
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people(BU) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,(BV) one in the order of Melchizedek,(BW) not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,(BX) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.(BY) 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,(BZ) and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless(CB) 19 (for the law made nothing perfect),(CC) and a better hope(CD) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.(CE)
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.(CH)
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.(CI) 25 Therefore he is able to save(CJ) completely[i] those who come to God(CK) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.(CL)
26 Such a high priest(CM) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,(CN) exalted above the heavens.(CO) 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices(CP) day after day, first for his own sins,(CQ) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all(CR) when he offered himself.(CS) 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;(CT) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,(CU) who has been made perfect(CV) forever.
The High Priest of a New Covenant
8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,(CW) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,(CX) 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle(CY) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
3 Every high priest(CZ) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,(DA) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.(DB) 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.(DC) 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy(DD) and shadow(DE) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned(DF) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[j](DG) 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant(DH) of which he is mediator(DI) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.(DJ) 8 But God found fault with the people and said[k]:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant(DK)
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors(DL)
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant(DM) I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.(DN)
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.(DO)
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,(DP)
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.(DQ)”[l](DR)
13 By calling this covenant “new,”(DS) he has made the first one obsolete;(DT) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7
- Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals
- Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms
- Hebrews 6:6 Or age, 6 if they fall
- Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17
- Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:25 Or forever
- Hebrews 8:5 Exodus 25:40
- Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts may be translated fault and said to the people.
- Hebrews 8:12 Jer. 31:31-34
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.