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.
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.
- BSB No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
- 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.
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“Bring Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, near to you from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
- Num 16:5He said to Korah and to all his company, “In the morning, Yahweh will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him. Even him whom he shall choose, he will cause to come near to him.
- Num 16:40to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, who isn’t of the offspring of Aaron, would come near to burn incense before Yahweh, that he not be as Korah, and as his company; as Yahweh spoke to him by Moses.
- 1 Chr 23:13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, forever, to burn incense before Yahweh, to minister to him, and to bless in his name, forever.
- 2 Chr 26:18They resisted Uzziah the king, and said to him, “It isn’t for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, but for the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed. It will not be for your honor from Yahweh God.”
- John 3:27John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.
- Num 16:35Fire came out from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.
- Num 18:7You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil. You shall serve. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”
- Num 16:46–48Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire from off the altar in it, and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from Yahweh! The plague has begun.”
- Num 16:10and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? Do you seek the priesthood also?
- Num 18:1–5Yahweh said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your fathers’ house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
- Num 17:3–11You shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses.
- Lev 8:2“Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread;
- Num 16:7and put fire in them, and put incense on them before Yahweh tomorrow. It shall be that the man whom Yahweh chooses, he shall be holy. You have gone too far, you sons of Levi!”
- Num 3:3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.
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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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