Hebrews 5:4
2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.
3 That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”
6 And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
- KJV
- And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
- WEB
- Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.
- ASV
- And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron.
- DARBY
- And no one takes the honour to himself but [as] called by God, even as Aaron also.
- BLB
- And no one takes upon himself the honor, but is being called by God, just as Aaron also.
- ÅB
- Og ingen tiltar seg selv den ære, men den som kalles av Gud, slik som Aron.
- OTB
- Og ingen tar denne æren på seg selv, men han mottar den når han blir kalt av Gud, slik som Aron ble.
- B1930
- Og ingen tiltar sig selv den ære, men den som kalles av Gud, likesom Aron.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Exodus 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.
Read in contextNumbers 16:40
just 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.
Read in contextNumbers 16:5
Then 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.
Read in context1 Chronicles 23:13
The 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.
Read in context2 Chronicles 26:18
They 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.”
Read in contextNumbers 18:7
But 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.”
Read in contextNumbers 16:46–48
Moses 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.”
Read in contextJohn 3:27
John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
Read in context