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Hebrews 5 Bible study: Called by God

In Hebrews 5, the author of "the author of eternal salvation" (5:9) is a different Greek word from the author of 2:10; Acts has it as cause (Acts 19:40). And the word behind dull in "dull of hearing" (5:11) comes back as sluggish in 6:12: the New Testament has it only in those two verses.

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“But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.”
Hebrews 5:14 · World English Bible

Easily missed

Two words for author

"he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation" (5:9). The WEB has author in Hebrews 2 as well: "the author of their salvation" (2:10). In the Greek they are two different nouns, in all eight editions TAGNT compares: in 5:9 it is aitios (tap author), and in 2:10 archegos, which Favor's Hebrews 2 studies.

Hebrews 5:9 · Hebrews 2:10

What's really going on

Every high priest

In the text

Chapter 5 opens with For, straight after the call of 4:16, and speaks of every high priest: "For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." (5:1) (tap high priest). "The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness. Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself." (5:2-3) (tap deal gently). "Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was." (5:4). These notes quote the four verses as the WEB has them and add nothing to them. Favor's Exodus 28 draws a line onto 5:4-5 (see Lines that land here).

Where the Old Testament leads here

Called, just like Aaron

In the text

Exodus 28:1leads toHebrews 5:4-5

"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" (28:1). Hebrews says, "every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God" (Hebrews 5:1), and "Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was" (Hebrews 5:4). "So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest" (Hebrews 5:5); he was "named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 5:10). Hebrews also marks a difference. Such a high priest "is also surrounded with weakness" and must offer sacrifices "for himself" (Hebrews 5:2-3), while Jesus "has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).

Honest questions

Questions people ask about Hebrews 5

That was a taste

The rest of Hebrews 5 is waiting in Favor

  • So also Christ
  • In the days of his flesh
  • Milk, and not solid food
  • Lines that land here
  • Asked elsewhere in Favor
  • Set beside this chapter elsewhere in Favor
  • 9 questions as you read
  • 12 more Greek words
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The Greek word behind it

μετριοπαθέωmetriopatheosay met-ree-op-ath-EH-o

Strong's: "to be moderate in passion, i.e. gentle (to treat indulgently)". "The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray" (5:2): behind deal gently is this one verb, and this is the only place the New Testament has it (counted in RP2018, and in all eight editions TAGNT compares).

For your group

Hebrews 5 Bible study questions

  1. 1"having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears" (5:7). What do you make of the letter telling of prayers like these?
  2. 2"About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret" (5:11). What do you make of the letter saying this about what it has to say?
  3. 3"who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil" (5:14). What do you think the letter's picture of senses exercised by use is getting at?

Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Hebrews 5 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.

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Questions

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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home