No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
Parallel translations
- WEB Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.
- KJV And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
- NKJV And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
- NASB And no one takes the honor for himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just as Aaron also was.
- NLT And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.
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
The high priesthood is not a self-appointed honor; one must be called by God, as Aaron was. This sets up the case that Christ's priesthood is also a divine appointment.
Overview
Under the law, no one could seize the office of high priest; it was God's to bestow, established when He called Aaron and his line (Exodus 28). The writer lays down this principle to show that legitimate priesthood rests on God's calling, not human ambition. This prepares the argument that Jesus did not presume the office but was appointed by the Father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Exod 28:1“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.
- Num 16:5Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses, He will bring near to Himself.
- Num 16:40just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.
- 1 Chr 23:13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.
- 2 Chr 26:18They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.”
- John 3:27John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
- Num 16:35And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
- Num 18:7But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”
- Num 16:46–48Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.”
- Num 16:10He has brought you near, you and all your fellow Levites, but you are seeking the priesthood as well.
- Num 18:1–5So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood.
- Num 17:3–11and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.
- Lev 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,
- Num 16:7and tomorrow you are to place fire and incense in them in the presence of the LORD. Then the man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. It is you sons of Levi who have taken too much upon yourselves!”
- Num 3:3These were Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.
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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 5:4 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
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