Devine Scripture

Hebrews 5:3

What does Hebrews 5:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 5:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 5:3 means

Because the high priest is weak like the people, he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins in addition to theirs. This duty underscores that the Aaronic priesthood is imperfect and needs repeated cleansing. The priest does not stand above the people as sinless; he stands among them, needing mercy himself. This built-in limitation means his ministry cannot bring final, once-for-all salvation; it must be repeated. The verse therefore exposes the temporary and provisional nature of the Levitical system. It meets a real need but points beyond itself to a better priest who does not need to atone for himself and can effectively deal with sin at its root.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And being feeble, he has to make sin-offerings for himself as well as for the people.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and because of this infirmity he ought, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and, on account of this [infirmity], he ought, even as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

Context

This statement completes the portrayal of the human high priest’s condition: compassionate yet flawed. Verses 1–3 form a realistic description of earthly priesthood. Verse 4 will add the critical element that such an office is by divine call, not personal ambition. With that groundwork laid, verses 5–6 apply the pattern to Christ, showing His divine appointment and unique order. Verses 7–9 then explain how His suffering prepared Him to be the true, effective mediator, unlike the priests who continually addressed their own sins.

v.2who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity;

v.3This passage

v.4And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Hebrews 7:27

    who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.

  • Leviticus 8:14

    And he brought the bullock of the sin-offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock of the sin-offering.

  • Leviticus 9:7

    And Moses said unto Aaron, Draw near unto the altar, and offer thy sin-offering, and thy burnt-offering, and make atonement for thyself, and for the people; and offer the oblation of the people, and make atonement for them; as Jehovah commanded.

  • Leviticus 16:15

    Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat:

  • Leviticus 4:3

    if the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto Jehovah for a sin-offering.

  • Exodus 29:12

    And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger; and thou shalt pour out all the blood at the base of the altar.

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