HEB 5:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For every high priest, being taken from among men on the behalf of men, is appointed in the things related to God so that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins;

UST When God appoints a person to be a ruling priest, he selects that person from a group of people in order to serve God for that group. The ruling priest then presents to God what people give or sacrifice to take away sins.

BLB For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed on behalf of men in things relating to God, that he should offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,

AICNT For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed on behalf of men in matters pertaining to God, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;

OEB ¶ Every high priest, taken from among the people, is appointed as their representative in their relations with God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices in expiation of sins.

WEBBE For every high priest, being taken from amongst men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

LSV For every chief priest taken out of men is set in things [pertaining] to God in behalf of men, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,

FBV Every high priest is chosen from the people and is appointed to work for the people as they relate to God. He presents to God both their gifts and sacrifices for their sins.

TCNT For every high priest taken from among the people is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

T4T Every Jewish Supreme Priest was chosen by God {God chose every Jewish Supreme Priest} from among ordinary men. They were appointed {He appointed them} in order that they would come before him on behalf of the people. Specifically, God appointed them in order that they would bring gifts to him on behalf of the people, and in order to sacrifice animals to him for people who sinned.

LEB For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in the things relating to God, in order that he can offer both gifts and sacrifices on behalf of sins,

BBE Every high priest who is taken from among men is given his position to take care of the interests of men in those things which have to do with God, so that he may make offerings for sins.

Moff Every high priest who is selected from men and appointed to act on behalf of men in things divine, offering gifts and sacrifices for sins,

Wymth For every High Priest is chosen from among men, and is appointed to act on behalf of men in matters relating to God, in order to offer both gifts and sin-offerings,

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

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

YLT For every chief priest — out of men taken — in behalf of men is set in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,

Drby For every high priest taken from amongst men is established for men in things relating to [fn]God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;

5.1 Elohim

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

SLT For every chief priest taken from men is appointed for men for things to God, that he bring both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

Wbstr 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:

KJB-1769 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:

KJB-1611 ¶ For euery high Priest taken from among men, is ordeined for men in things pertaining to God, that hee may offer both giftes & sacrifices for sins.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps For euery hye priest taken from among men, is ordeined for men, in things parteynyng to God, to offer gyftes & sacrifices for sinne:
(For every high priest taken from among men, is ordained for men, in things parteyning to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin:)

Gnva For euery hie Priest is taken from among men, and is ordeined for men, in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both giftes and sacrifices for sinnes,
(For every high Priest is taken from among men, and is ordained for men, in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, )

Cvdl For euery hye prest that is taken fro amoge men, is ordeyned for men in thinges pertayninge to God, to offer giftes and sacrifices for synne:
(For every high priest that is taken from among men, is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin:)

TNT For every hye prest that is taken from amonge men is ordeyned for men in thynges pertaynynge to god: to offer gyftes and sacryfyses for synne:
(For every high priest that is taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertayning to god: to offer gifts and sacryfyses for sin: )

Wycl For ech bischop takun of men, is ordeyned for men in these thingis `that ben to God, that he offre yiftis and sacrifices for synnes.
(For each bischop taken of men, is ordained for men in these things that been to God, that he offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.)

Luth Denn ein jeglicher Hoherpriester, der aus den Menschen genommen wird, der wird gesetzt für die Menschen gegen GOtt, auf daß er opfere Gaben und Opfer für die Sünden,
(Because a any/each Hoherpriester, the/of_the out_of the people taken becomes, the/of_the becomes set(v) for/in_favour_of the people to/against God, on/in/to that he sacrifice(v) gifts and victim/prey for/in_favour_of the sins(n),)

ClVg Omnis namque pontifex ex hominibus assumptus, pro hominibus constituitur in iis quæ sunt ad Deum, ut offerat dona, et sacrificia pro peccatis:[fn]
(Everyone for_indeed/truly priest from to_humans assumed, for to_humans establishedur in/into/on to_them which are to God, as offer dona, and sacrifices(n) for sins: )

5.1 Omnis namque pontifex. Quia spiritualia non sic introducunt infirmos: ut corporalia; de his incipit, volens ostendere Novum Testamentum esse melius Veteri. Quædam autem Christo communia cum sacerdotibus ponit, quædam altiora pertinentia ad solum Christum. Quædam porro humiliora, illis tantum sacerdotibus convenientia.

5.1 Everyone for_indeed/truly priest. Because spiritual_(things) not/no so they_introduce sick: as bodilya; from/about his begins, willing to_show Novum Testamentum to_be better Veteri. Some however to_Christ/Messiah common when/with to_the_priests puts, some higher pertinentia to only Christ/Messiah. Some besides/further more_humble, to_them only to_the_priests convenientia.

UGNT πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεὺς ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν;
(pas gar arⱪiereus ex anthrōpōn lambanomenos huper anthrōpōn kathistatai ta pros ton Theon, hina prosferaʸ dōra kai thusias huper hamartiōn;)

SBL-GNT Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεὺς ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν,
(Pas gar arⱪiereus ex anthrōpōn lambanomenos huper anthrōpōn kathistatai ta pros ton theon, hina prosferaʸ dōra te kai thusias huper hamartiōn,)

RP-GNT Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεύς, ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος, ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν·
(Pas gar arⱪiereus, ex anthrōpōn lambanomenos, huper anthrōpōn kathistatai ta pros ton theon, hina prosferaʸ dōra te kai thusias huper hamartiōn;)

TC-GNT Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεύς, ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος, ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν·
(Pas gar arⱪiereus, ex anthrōpōn lambanomenos, huper anthrōpōn kathistatai ta pros ton Theon, hina prosferaʸ dōra te kai thusias huper hamartiōn; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:1–10: God appointed Jesus Christ to be our high priest

The term “high priest” connects Section 4:14–16 with this section (5:1–10). In this section the author gives more information about the high priests of Israel and the work that they did. Then he compares the work of those high priests to the work of Christ as our high priest. The main point of this section is that Christ is the high priest because God said that he is.

The author mentions three facts about a high priest’s role and applies them to Christ:

A high priest is appointed by God. The Scriptures show that Jesus Christ was appointed by God. In Hebrews 5:5–6, the author quotes Psalm 2:7 and 110:4 as evidence that God appointed him.Lane (page 118) says, “The writer correctly interprets Ps 2:7 as a declaration of appointment…. The same emphasis is evident in the quotation of Ps 110:4.”
A high priest should understand and sympathize with the weaknesses of his people. In 5:7–8 the author talked about how Christ suffered and prayed to God with tears.
A high priest must offer a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people. In 5:8–9 the author indicated that when Christ suffered and offered himself as a perfect sacrifice, he obtained eternal salvation for his people. This implies that he atoned for their sins.

In the Greek text for this section, the author usually used a pronoun (“he” or “him”) to refer to Christ. He referred to him as “Christ” only once (5:5), and he did not use the term “Jesus” in this section. However, in the previous section (4:14) the author used the term “Jesus, the Son of God.” Consider carefully how to refer to Christ in the verses where only a pronoun is used in Greek or English. You should use the term “Christ” instead of a pronoun in places where you think that the reader will be confused about who the pronoun refers to.

Remember to read the section carefully before deciding on a heading for it. Some other examples of headings for this section are:

Jesus Christ is the perfect high priest

God made his Son the high priest for his people

God declares that Jesus is a priest

Paragraph 5:1–4

This paragraph explains the duties of a high priest. He must offer the people’s gifts to God, and he must offer sacrifices for their sins. He must also offer sacrifices for his own sins, since he, too, is sinful. He is a weak human being, so he is able to sympathize with his fellow human beings.

5:1a

Every high priest is appointed from among men

¶ Each high priest is chosen from among other human beings and appointed
¶ Every high priest whom God selects for us^(incl) Israel people is a human being like us.
¶ Whenever God chooses a high priest, he chooses a human being like other human beings.

In the Greek text, this verse begins with a conjunction that is often translated as “for.” It introduces background information about the high priests of the people of Israel. The author gives this information because in 5:5–10 he will compare these priests to Christ, our great high priest.

Every high priest is appointed from among men: This clause indicates that each high priest is a human being like other human beings. The verb appointed is passive. It implies that God selects a person from among other people to be the high priest.

Some other ways to translate the passive clause are:

it is from among people that he is chosen

God selects him from among his fellow human beings

is chosen from among other people (NCV)

Every high priest: The phrase Every high priest refers to each high priest of the people of Israel. It does not include the high priests of other peoples or religions. In some languages it is necessary to indicate that the phrase refers to high priests of Israel. For example:

The one who is appointed highest priest for us

With us Israel people, each time the Most-important Priest is chosen

Each high priest of Israel

Remember that the Jewish author was speaking to Jewish people who were Christians. When Jews spoke of themselves, they used the term “Israel.” Notice the final two examples in the note above, which correctly use “Israel.” For more information, see Israel, Jew, Hebrew, the Circumcised in KBT.

high priest: The term high priest occurred first in Hebrews at 2:17. Translate it as you did there.

from among men: The Greek word that the BSB translates as men means “people.” The word refers to human beings, male and female (though the high priest was always male). He was chosen from among his fellow human beings. Some other ways to translate from among men are:

from his fellow men

from among other human beings

5:1b

to represent them in matters relating to God,

to represent them as they worship God.
God gives him responsibility for the people’s service/worship

to represent them in matters relating to God: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as to represent them means “appoint (assign) someone to be in authority.”See καθίστημι meaning 2 BDAG, page 492, “to assign someone a position of authority, appoint, put in charge.” The verb is passive. It implies that God is the one who puts the high priest in charge.

The phrase to represent them in matters relating to God means that God gives the high priest authority to represent the people in serving God. The high priest brings the people’s sacrifices to God and communicates with God for the people.

Some other ways to translate this part of the verse are:

is appointed to represent the people in the things/matters that God has determined

God entrusts him with the work of serving him in the name of the people

to represent them: The phrase to represent them means “representing the people,” “for the people,” “for the people’s benefit.” The high priest had the authority to speak to God for the people. He also did other things for God as the people’s representative, such as offer sacrifices.The Greek text is literally, “for them” or “on behalf of them.” The author makes a contrast between ex anthrōpōn (“from men”) and huper anthrōpōn (“for men” or “on behalf of men”).

Some other ways to translate the phrase to represent them are:

bringing the name of the peopleUma back translation on TW.

to be their representatives

matters relating to God: The phrase matters relating to God refers to matters that are related to God. In this context it refers to service to God. This service includes things that are done for God, to him, or with him, or things that he himself does. Here the author refers mainly to matters of worshiping God and making sacrifices to him.

This phrase was also used in 2:17, where the BSB translates it as “in service to God.” You may be able to translate it in a similar way here. However, it is a general phrase, so it may be translated in different ways to fit the context.

5:1c

to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

The high priest must offer gifts and sacrifices to God because of the people’s sins.
to offer gifts and animal sacrifices so that God will forgive their sins.

to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins: This clause tells the purpose of appointing the high priest on behalf of other people. He is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices to God so that God will forgive the people’s sins.

Some other ways to translate this purpose are:

so that he may present their offerings and sacrifices to God to atone for their sins

to offer to God the animals or other offerings that they bring so that God will forgive their sins

to help others by offering gifts and sacrifices to God because of their sins (CEV)

In some languages it is more natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

He offers gifts and sacrifices to God so that God will forgive their sins.

offer: The Greek word that the BSB translates as offer is a common word that often means “bring (or take).” In this context it refers to bringing something (to offer or present) to God. When an Israelite brought an animal or a different offering for God, a priest took the offering and presented it to God in the proper way. If the offering was an animal, the priest killed it. Then he burned all or part of it on the altar or in another special place.

Some other ways to translate offer are:

give to God

sacrifice/present to God

take/bring to God

In some languages there are special ways to refer to making offerings to God. If you must use different terms for different types of offerings in your language, you may refer here to the type of sacrifice that requires killing an animal or bird. Use a natural way in your language to refer to a priest presenting this type of offering to God.

gifts and sacrifices for sins: The author connected the words gifts and sacrifices with two Greek conjunctions. This connection probably implies that both the gifts and the sacrifices are offered to obtain forgiveness for sins.Allen (page 315, Kindle edition) says, “The final phrase ‘for sins’ probably refers to both gifts and sacrifices since the two nouns are connected by the Greek particle te.” However, some scholars consider that the word gifts has no connection with the phrase “for sins,” implying that the gifts are offered for a different purpose. Most English versions are ambiguous about this. The NLT and JBP are the only English versions on TW that explicitly do not connect gifts with the phrase “for sins.” O’Brien (page 190) says, “The sphere in which the high priest represents men and women is ‘in matters related to God’…. This general expression is further explained in the words that follow, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. Although it has been suggested that the gifts are peace and cereal offerings, while the ‘sacrifices’ are animal sacrifices, the terms are probably being used synonymously, even as a fixed phrase for sacrifices generally (as elsewhere in Heb. 8:3–4; 5:9; 11:4; see 5:3). Thus, the prepositional phrase, for sins, qualifies the whole, not simply the latter term. The expiatory activity of offering gifts and sacrifices for sins was integral to the work of Israel’s high priest, and is central to the work of Jesus as high priest, as Hebrews will proceed to show (9:26; 10:12).”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

taking the gifts and sacrifices that the people bring and giving them to God so that he will forgive their sins

gifts and sacrifices: The Greek words that the BSB translates as gifts and sacrifices are similar in meaning. The word gifts refers to whatever people bring to the priest to give to God for them. The word sacrifices refers to offerings that involve killing an animal or bird as a gift to God. The people of Israel brought both animal sacrifices and other types of offerings to God.Montefiore (page 93) says, “if sacrifice was at the heart of the Hebrew religion, gifts were at the heart of sacrifice. No-one could appear before God with empty hands; the gift represented the worshipper’s acknowledgment of God in His sovereign lordship;…The sacrifice must also be offered for expiation of sins.”

Use appropriate words in your language to describe such offerings to God. Avoid words that refer only to offerings made to spirits, idols, rulers, or something else besides God. For more information, see sacrifice, sense 1(a), in KBT.

for sins: The phrase for sins implies the meaning “in order to atone for sins” or “to remove sins.” For more translation examples, see the first note in 5:1c.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: πᾶς Γάρ ἀρχιερεύς ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος ὑπέρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τά πρός τόν Θεόν ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρα τέ καί θυσίας ὑπέρ ἁμαρτιῶν)

The word For indicates that the author is going to explain more about high priests and about how Jesus is a high priest. It also signals that the author is beginning a new section. Use a word or phrase that indicates that a new section is beginning, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [Now]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

λαμβανόμενος

˓being˒_taken

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. The author uses the passive form here to focus on those who are taken rather than on the person doing the taking. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that God did it. Alternate translation: [God taking him] or [whom God takes]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἐξ ἀνθρώπων & ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων

from people & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: πᾶς Γάρ ἀρχιερεύς ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος ὑπέρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τά πρός τόν Θεόν ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρα τέ καί θυσίας ὑπέρ ἁμαρτιῶν)

Although the word men is masculine, the author is using it to refer to all the people in a group, both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word that applies to both men and women or you could refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [from among humans on the behalf of humans]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

καθίσταται

˓is_being˒_appointed

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. The author uses the passive form here to focus on those who are appointed rather than on the person doing the appointing. If you must state who did the action, the author implies that God did it. Alternate translation: [God appointed] or [is one whom God appointed]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

προσφέρῃ

˱he˲_˓may_be˒_offering

The word he refers to the high priest that the author is discussing. In Israelite and Jewish culture, only men could be high priests, so he does refer to a man. However, the author is not emphasizing that the high priest is male, so you can use a word that refers to both men and women if it is clearer. Alternate translation: [this person may offer]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

δῶρά καὶ θυσίας

The words gifts and sacrifices function together to refer to anything that an Israelite would have offered to God. It is probable that sacrifices refers to animals that would be killed and offered to God, while gifts identifies anything else that a person would give to God. If you do not have two words for these categories, you could use a single word or phrase to refer to what an Israelite would offer to God. Alternate translation: [sacrifices] or [things presented to God]

Parallel HEB 5:1

Section 5:1–10: God appointed Jesus Christ to be our high priest

Paragraph 5:1–4

5:1a

5:1b

5:1c