Hebrews 5:3
And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 15
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
διὰ
by reason
G1223
διὰ
by reason
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
2 of 15
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
ὀφείλει
he ought
G3784
ὀφείλει
he ought
Strong's:
G3784
Word #:
4 of 15
to owe (pecuniarily); figuratively, to be under obligation (ought, must, should); morally, to fail in duty
περὶ
for
G4012
περὶ
for
Strong's:
G4012
Word #:
6 of 15
properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λαοῦ
the people
G2992
λαοῦ
the people
Strong's:
G2992
Word #:
8 of 15
a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
10 of 15
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
περὶ
for
G4012
περὶ
for
Strong's:
G4012
Word #:
11 of 15
properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas
ἑαυτοῦ
himself
G1438
ἑαυτοῦ
himself
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
12 of 15
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
προσφέρειν
to offer
G4374
προσφέρειν
to offer
Strong's:
G4374
Word #:
13 of 15
to bear towards, i.e., lead to, tender (especially to god), treat
Cross References
Hebrews 9:7But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:Leviticus 9:7And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.Hebrews 7:27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.Leviticus 16:6And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.Leviticus 16:15Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
Historical Context
On the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), the high priest first sacrificed for his own sins before offering for the people's. This annual reminder of priestly inadequacy pointed to the need for a better priest.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the inadequacy of human mediators highlight Christ's sufficiency?
- What does the priest's need for atonement teach about universal human sinfulness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The Aaronic high priest 'must offer sacrifices for his own sins.' This necessity ('opheilei' - is obligated) reveals human priesthood's fundamental limitation. No fallen priest can perfectly mediate between God and man. Christ's sinlessness eliminates this need, making His sacrifice sufficient. Reformed substitutionary atonement requires a sinless substitute - Christ could die for others' sins precisely because He had no sin of His own requiring payment.