For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
Parallel translations
- WEB For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
- KJV For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- NKJV For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
- NASB For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.
- NLT This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Our high priest is not unable to sympathize with our weaknesses but was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Jesus understands our struggles and remains sinless.
Overview
This beloved verse assures believers that Christ fully sympathizes with human frailty, having faced temptation in every respect. Yet He never sinned, so He is both a compassionate helper and a flawless mediator. His sinless solidarity with us makes Him uniquely qualified to represent us before God and to aid us in temptation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Heb 2:17–18For 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.
- 2 Cor 5:21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Isa 53:4–5Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted.
- 1 Pet 2:22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
- 1 Jn 3:5But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.
- Phil 2:7–8but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
- Heb 7:26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
- Heb 4:14Therefore, 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.
- Matt 8:16–17When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
- Heb 5:2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.
- John 8:46Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?
- Isa 53:9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
- Luke 22:28You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials.
- Hos 11:8How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
- Luke 4:2where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.
- Exod 23:9Do not oppress a foreign resident, since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
- Matt 12:20A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 4:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.