Bible Strands
Hebrews 5:1
Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author addresses Jewish believers familiar with temple rituals, defining the high priest’s role before describing his capacity for compassion in the following verse.
The words — ἀρχιερεὺς (archiereus) designates the high priest, and λαμβανόμενος (lambanomenos) literally means being taken. The construction ἐξ ἀνθρώπων (ex anthrōpōn) specifies that this selection occurs from within the human population.
The thread — The function of offering gifts and sacrifices for sins appears in Hebrews 8:3 and Hebrews 10:11, while the procedural pattern of presenting the people’s sin offering is recorded in Leviticus 9:15.
Why it lands — The text establishes the earthly priestly model so readers can measure the superiority of the one who fulfills it. It requires a precise understanding of human mediation before introducing Christ’s distinct priesthood.
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
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:
Cross-references
- Hebrews 8:3 And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.
- Hebrews 10:11 Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
- Leviticus 9:15 Aaron then presented the people’s offering. He took the male goat for the people’s sin offering, slaughtered it, and offered it for sin like the first one.
- 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 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
- Hebrews 9:9 It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.
- Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
- Exodus 29:1 “Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish,
- Leviticus 8:2 “Take Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread,
- Leviticus 9:7 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering to make atonement for yourself and for the people. And sacrifice the people’s offering to make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.”