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Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.
Hebrews 5:8 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.
  • KJV Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
  • NKJV though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
  • NASB Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
  • NLT Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

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

Although he was the eternal Son, Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered. He experientially walked the path of obedience under trial.

Overview

This does not imply Jesus moved from disobedience to obedience; rather, as a man he learned obedience by living it out through real suffering, fully proving his faithfulness. His sinless endurance qualifies him to be our representative and high priest. It also encourages believers that suffering can be a school of obedience under God's hand.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 11

  • Phil 2:8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
  • Heb 10:5–9Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.
  • John 4:34Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
  • Isa 50:5–6The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back.
  • John 15:10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
  • John 6:38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
  • Heb 3:6But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.
  • Heb 1:8But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
  • Heb 1:5For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”? Or again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?
  • Matt 3:15“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
  • Heb 1:2But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Hebrews videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Hebrews 5:8YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on HebrewsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 5:8 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.