For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

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.

And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

For every high priest (A)taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in (B)things pertaining to God, in order to (C)offer both gifts and sacrifices (D)for sins, (E)being able to deal gently with the (F)ignorant and (G)misguided, since he himself also is [a](H)beset with weakness; and because of it, he is obligated, (I)just as for the people, to also offer sacrifices (J)for sins in the same way for himself. And (K)no one takes this honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even (L)as Aaron was.

In this way also Christ (M)did not glorify Himself to become a (N)high priest, but He who (O)said to Him,

(P)You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”;

just as He says also in another passage,

(Q)You are a priest forever
According to (R)the order of Melchizedek.”

He, [b]in the days of His flesh, [c](S)offered up both prayers and supplications with (T)loud crying and tears to the One (U)able to save Him [d]from death, and He [e]was heard because of His (V)reverence. Although He was (W)a Son, He learned (X)obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made (Y)perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as (Z)a high priest according to (AA)the order of Melchizedek.

11 Concerning [f]him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though [g]by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you (AB)the [h](AC)elementary principles of the (AD)oracles of God, and you have come to need (AE)milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an (AF)infant. 14 But solid food is for (AG)the [i]mature, who because of practice have their senses (AH)trained to (AI)discern both good and evil.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:2 Or subject to weakness
  2. Hebrews 5:7 During Christ’s earthly life
  3. Hebrews 5:7 Lit who having offered up
  4. Hebrews 5:7 Or out of
  5. Hebrews 5:7 Lit having been heard
  6. Hebrews 5:11 Lit whom, which
  7. Hebrews 5:12 Lit because of the time
  8. Hebrews 5:12 Lit elementary principles of the beginning
  9. Hebrews 5:14 Or perfect, cf. 5:9

Todo sumo sacerdote es escogido de entre los hombres. Él mismo es nombrado para representar a su pueblo ante Dios y ofrecer dones y sacrificios por los pecados. Puede tratar con paciencia a los ignorantes y extraviados, ya que él mismo está sujeto a las debilidades humanas. Por tal razón se ve obligado a ofrecer sacrificios por sus propios pecados, como también por los del pueblo.

Nadie ocupa ese cargo por iniciativa propia; más bien, lo ocupa el que es llamado por Dios, como sucedió con Aarón. Tampoco Cristo se glorificó a sí mismo haciéndose sumo sacerdote, sino que Dios le dijo:

«Tú eres mi Hijo;
    hoy mismo te he engendrado».[a]

Y en otro pasaje dice:

«Tú eres sacerdote para siempre,
    según el orden de Melquisedec».[b]

En los días de su vida mortal, Jesús ofreció oraciones y súplicas con fuerte clamor y lágrimas al que podía salvarlo de la muerte y fue escuchado por su temor reverente. Aunque era Hijo, mediante el sufrimiento aprendió a obedecer. Al ser así perfeccionado, llegó a ser autor de salvación eterna para todos los que le obedecen 10 y Dios lo nombró sumo sacerdote según el orden de Melquisedec.

Advertencia contra la apostasía

11 Sobre este tema tenemos mucho que decir, aunque es difícil explicarlo porque ustedes se han vuelto apáticos y no escuchan.[c] 12 En realidad, a estas alturas ya deberían ser maestros; sin embargo, necesitan que alguien vuelva a enseñarles los principios más elementales de la palabra de Dios. Dicho de otro modo, necesitan leche en vez de alimento sólido. 13 El que solo se alimenta de leche es inexperto en el mensaje de justicia; es como un niño de pecho. 14 En cambio, el alimento sólido es para los adultos, pues han ejercitado la capacidad de distinguir entre el bien y el mal.

Footnotes

  1. 5:5 Sal 2:7.
  2. 5:6 Sal 110:4.
  3. 5:11 ustedes … y no escuchan. Lit. se han vuelto torpes en los oídos.