Hebrews Chapter 5

– “Every high priest is selected from among the people”: From Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεὺς ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος (Pas gar archiereus ex anthropon lambanomenos), literally “For every high priest from men being taken,” present passive participle emphasizing human origin; “selected” conveys appointment process without implying self-nomination (theological: contrasts Christ’s divine appointment, cf. Hebrews 5:5-6; Exodus 28:1). – “is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God”: From ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν (hyper anthropon kathistatai ta pros ton theon), literally “on behalf of men is appointed the things toward God,” present passive for ongoing role; “represent” captures intermediary function (cross-reference: Leviticus 16:15-16 for Day of Atonement parallels). – “to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins”: From ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν (hina prosphere dora te kai thysias hyper hamartion), literally “in order that he might offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,” subjunctive purpose; distinguishes voluntary “gifts” from obligatory “sacrifices” (theological: levitical system, cf. Hebrews 8:3; 9:9). – “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray”: From μετριοπαθεῖν δύναται τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσιν καὶ πλανωμένοις (metriopathein dynatai tois agnoousin kai planomenois), literally “to moderate passion is able with the ignorant and erring,” present infinitive; “deal gently” for compassionate restraint (theological: sympathy from shared frailty, cf. Hebrews 4:15; Isaiah 63:9). – “since he himself is subject to weakness”: From ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται ἀσθένειαν (epei kai autos perikeitai astheneian), literally “since also himself is surrounded by weakness,” present passive; “subject to” for encompassed state (cross-reference: Hebrews 7:28 for contrast with Christ’s perfection). – “This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people”: From δι’ ἣν ὀφείλει καθὼς περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ οὕτως καὶ περὶ αὐτοῦ προσφέρειν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν (di’ hen opheilei kathos peri tou laou houtos kai peri autou prospherein hyper hamartion), literally “because of which he is obligated just as for the people so also for himself to offer for sins,” present indicative obligation; emphasizes priest’s sinfulness (cf. Leviticus 16:6,11; Hebrews 9:7). – “And no one takes this honor on himself”: From καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαμβάνει τὴν τιμήν (kai ouch heauto tis lambanei ten timen), literally “And not to himself anyone takes the honor,” present active; “takes…on himself” stresses divine initiative (theological: against self-appointment, cf. Numbers 16:1-35 Korah’s rebellion). – “but he receives it when called by God”: From ἀλλὰ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ (alla kaloumenos hypo tou theou), literally “but being called by God,” present passive participle; “receives it” implied in calling (cross-reference: Exodus 28:1 Aaron’s call). – “just as Aaron was”: From καθώσπερ καὶ Ἀαρών (kathosper kai Aaron), literally “just as also Aaron,” comparative; theological: prototype for levitical priesthood (cf. Exodus 28:1-3).

– “In the same way, Christ did not take on Himself the glory of becoming a high priest”: From οὐδὲ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς ἐδοξάσθη ἑαυτὸν γενηθῆναι ἀρχιερέα (oude gar ho Christos edoxasen heauton genethenai archierea), literally “For not even Christ glorified Himself to become high priest,” aorist passive; “take on Himself the glory” emphasizes non-self-exaltation (theological: contrasts v. 4, cf. John 8:54). – “But God said to Him”: From ἀλλ’ ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς αὐτόν (all’ ho lalesas pros auton), literally “but the One having spoken to Him,” aorist participle; divine initiative. – “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”: From Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε (Huios mou ei sy, ego semeron gegenneka se), from Psalm 2:7, literally “My Son are You, I today have begotten You”; relational declaration (cf. Hebrews 1:5; Acts 13:33 for resurrection context). – “And He says in another place”: From καθὼς καὶ ἐν ἑτέρῳ λέγει (kathos kai en hetero legei), literally “just as also in another He says,” present tense for Scripture’s timelessness. – “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”: From Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ (Sy hiereus eis ton aiona kata ten taxin Melchisedek), from Psalm 110:4, literally “You a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”; introduces Melchizedek theme (theological: eternal priesthood, cf. Hebrews 7:1-28; Genesis 14:18-20). – “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth”: From ὃς ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ (hos en tais hemerais tes sarkos autou), literally “who in the days of His flesh,” idiomatic for earthly life (cf. John 1:14). – “He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears”: From δεήσεις τε καὶ ἱκετηρίας… προσενέγκας μετὰ κραυγῆς ἰσχυρᾶς καὶ δακρύων (deeseis te kai hiketerias… prosenegkas meta krauges ischyras kai dakryon), literally “both prayers and supplications… having offered with cry strong and tears,” aorist participle; vivid Gethsemane allusion (cf. Luke 22:44; Matthew 26:36-46). – “to the One who could save Him from death”: From πρὸς τὸν δυνάμενον σῴζειν αὐτὸν ἐκ θανάτου (pros ton dynamenon sozein auton ek thanatou), literally “to the One being able to save Him out of death,” present participle; “from death” as resurrection (theological: cf. Hebrews 13:20; Psalm 16:10). – “and He was heard because of His reverent submission”: From καὶ εἰσακουσθεὶς ἀπὸ τῆς εὐλαβείας (kai eisakoustheis apo tes eulabeias), literally “and having been heard from the piety,” aorist passive; “reverent submission” for godly fear (cf. Hebrews 12:28; Proverbs 1:7). – “Son though He was”: From καίπερ ὢν υἱός (kaiper on huios), literally “although being Son,” present participle concessive; eternal sonship (cf. Hebrews 1:2). – “He learned obedience from what He suffered”: From ἔμαθεν ἀφ’ ὧν ἔπαθεν τὴν ὑπακοήν (emathen aph’ hon epathen ten hypakoen), literally “learned from what He suffered the obedience,” aorist; experiential learning without prior ignorance (theological: incarnate growth, cf. Luke 2:52; Philippians 2:8). – “and, once made perfect”: From καὶ τελειωθεὶς (kai teleiotheis), literally “and having been perfected,” aorist passive participle; “made perfect” as completed qualification (theological: through suffering, cf. Hebrews 2:10; 7:28). – “He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him”: From ἐγένετο πᾶσιν τοῖς ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ αἴτιος σωτηρίας αἰωνίου (egeneto pasin tois hypakouousin auto aitios soterias aioniou), literally “became to all the ones obeying Him source of salvation eternal,” aorist; “source” for aitios (cause/author) (cross-reference: Hebrews 7:25; Isaiah 45:17). – “and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek”: From προσγορευθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀρχιερεὺς κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ (prosagoreutheis hypo tou theou archiereus kata ten taxin Melchisedek), literally “having been designated by God high priest according to the order of Melchizedek,” aorist passive; “designated” for public declar

– “We have much to say about this”: From Περὶ οὗ πολὺς ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος (Peri hou polys hemin ho logos), literally “Concerning which much to us the word,” idiomatic for extensive discourse; refers to Melchizedek priesthood (cf. Hebrews 5:10; 7:1ff). – “but it is hard to make it clear to you”: From καὶ δυσερμήνευτος λέγειν (kai dysermeneutos legein), literally “and hard to explain to say,” adjective for interpretive difficulty. – “because you no longer try to understand”: From ἐπεὶ νωθροὶ γεγόνατε ταῖς ἀκοαῖς (epei nothroi gegonate tais akoais), literally “since sluggish you have become in the hearings,” perfect tense; “no longer try” for dulled perception (theological: spiritual immaturity, cf. Hebrews 6:12). – “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers”: From καὶ γὰρ ὀφείλοντες εἶναι διδάσκαλοι διὰ τὸν χρόνον (kai gar opheilontes einai didaskaloi dia ton chronon), literally “For indeed being obligated to be teachers because of the time,” present participle obligation; maturity expected (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3). – “you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again”: From πάλιν χρείαν ἔχετε τοῦ διδάσκειν ὑμᾶς τινὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς τῶν λογίων τοῦ θεοῦ (palin chreian echete tou didaskein hymas tina ta stoicheia tes arches ton logion tou theou), literally “again need you have someone to teach you the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God,” “elementary truths” for ABCs (theological: basics, cf. Hebrews 6:1-2; Galatians 4:3). – “You need milk, not solid food”: From καὶ γεγόνατε χρείαν ἔχοντες γάλακτος οὐ στερεᾶς τροφῆς (kai gegonate chreian echontes galaktos ou stereas trophes), literally “and you have become need having of milk not solid food,” perfect tense regression; metaphor for immaturity (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:2; 1 Peter 2:2). – “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant”: From πᾶς γὰρ ὁ μετέχων γάλακτος ἄπειρος λόγου δικαιοσύνης νήπιος γάρ ἐστιν (pas gar ho metechon galaktos apeiros logou dikaiosynes nepios gar estin), literally “For everyone partaking of milk inexperienced of word of righteousness infant for is,” present participle; “lives on” for ongoing diet. – “is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness”: From ἄπειρος λόγου δικαιοσύνης (apeiros logou dikaiosynes), literally “inexperienced of word of righteousness,” “teaching about righteousness” as mature doctrine (theological: cf. Romans 1:17; Hebrews 12:11). – “But solid food is for the mature”: From τελείων δέ ἐστιν ἡ στερεὰ τροφή (teleion de estin he sterea trophe), literally “But of perfect the solid food is,” genitive possession; “mature” for teleioi (complete/perfect, cf. Hebrews 6:1; James 1:4). – “who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil”: From τῶν διὰ τὴν ἕξιν τὰ αἰσθητήρια γεγυμνασμένα ἐχόντων πρὸς διάκρισιν καλοῦ τε καὶ κακοῦ (ton dia ten hexin ta aistheteria gegymnasmena echonton pros diakrisin kalou te kai kakou), literally “the ones through the habit the senses having been exercised having toward discernment of good both and evil,” perfect participle for trained faculties; “constant use” for habit/practice (theological: moral discernment, cf. Isaiah 7:15-16; Philippians 1:9-10).