Bible Strands
Hebrews 4:14
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The anonymous author of Hebrews writes to Jewish Christians under pressure to abandon Christ and return to the Mosaic system. This verse is the pivot after the warning of God's all-seeing judgment (v. 13): the author now names the one who mediates access.
The words — διεληλυθότα (dielēluthota), "having passed through," is a perfect participle of διαβαίνω, marking a completed transit: he has gone through the heavens and is now on the far side, not merely ascending. ἔχοντες (echontes), "having," is a present participle — the possession is current, not prospective.
The thread — Hebrews 9:24 states Christ "entered heaven itself, now to appear before God on our behalf"; Hebrews 9:12 records his entry into the Most Holy Place by his own blood. Hebrews 12:2 issues the parallel command to "fix our eyes on Jesus."
Why it lands — The verse is a command ("let us hold firmly") grounded in a claim (a high priest who has passed through the heavens). It asks the reader to stop drifting back to the old system and to keep their confession fixed on the one who is already on the other side of the barrier.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.
- Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Hebrews 9:12 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
- Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
- Hebrews 6:20 where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
- Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
- Hebrews 2:17 For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.
- Hebrews 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
- Romans 8:34 Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.
- Hebrews 3:14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.