Devine Scripture

Hebrews 5:9

What does Hebrews 5:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 5:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 5:9 means

Having been made perfect—completed in His role through obedient suffering—Christ became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. His perfection is not moral improvement but vocational completion: He is fully qualified to save. The salvation He gives is eternal, not temporary or repetitive like the old sacrifices. It reaches its goal and endures. Those who “obey Him” respond in faith that yields allegiance; His lordship and our trust are inseparable. The verse gathers the threads of the chapter: divine appointment, sympathetic suffering, and effective mediation, all converging in a salvation that finally reconciles and secures those who come under His priestly care.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when he had been made complete, he became the giver of eternal salvation to all those who are under his orders;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having been made perfect, he did become to all those obeying him a cause of salvation age-during,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And being consummated, he became, to all that obey him, the cause of eternal salvation:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and having been perfected, became to all them that obey him, author of eternal salvation;

Context

This is the climactic statement of Christ’s priestly qualification and saving work, following verses 7–8. It shows the outcome of His suffering obedience: a completed fitness to save forever. Verse 10 immediately ties this to His divine designation as High Priest. With the doctrinal case stated, the writer then pauses (vv. 11–14) to admonish the readers, who are struggling to grasp these deeper truths because of spiritual sluggishness.

v.8though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;

v.9This passage

v.10named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 68:18

    Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led away captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Yea, among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell with them.

  • Isaiah 50:10

    Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God.

  • Hebrews 9:12

    nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.

  • Acts 3:15

    and killed the Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

  • Zechariah 6:15

    And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of Jehovah; and ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of Jehovah your God.

  • Psalms 45:17

    I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: Therefore shall the peoples give thee thanks for ever and ever.

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