Hebrews 5 10

Hebrews 5:10 kjv

Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 5:10 nkjv

called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,"

Hebrews 5:10 niv

and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:10 esv

being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:10 nlt

And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5 verses

Hebrews 5 10 Meaning

Hebrews 5:10 declares the divine appointment of Jesus Christ as High Priest. This appointment is specifically "after the order of Melchizedek," signifying a unique and superior priesthood that is not temporary like the Levitical priesthood but eternal, combining both kingly and priestly roles. It affirms His completed qualification and divine authorization for His perpetual intercessory work on behalf of believers.

Hebrews 5 10 Context

Hebrews chapter 5 opens a crucial discussion about the qualifications and superiority of Jesus Christ as High Priest. Verses 1-4 establish the requirements for an earthly high priest under the Old Covenant: being chosen from among men, able to sympathize, and appointed by God. Verses 5-8 apply these qualifications to Jesus, demonstrating His divine appointment (not self-appointed) and His experiential learning through suffering obedience (Garden of Gethsemane). Verse 9 declares His perfection through suffering, making Him the source of eternal salvation. Thus, Hebrews 5:10, standing as a conclusion to this section, confidently asserts the Father's authoritative designation of Jesus as the ultimate High Priest. The historical context for the original Jewish-Christian audience of Hebrews was their temptation to revert to the familiar, visible, and ceremonial Levitical system due to persecution. The letter provides compelling arguments for Christ's superiority to everything in the Old Covenant, including the Aaronic priesthood, culminating in the unique and permanent "order of Melchizedek."

Hebrews 5 10 Word analysis

• called (προσαγορευθείς - prosagoreutheis): This is a perfect passive participle, indicating an action completed in the past with ongoing results. It means "to be designated," "to be formally addressed," or "to be named." The passive voice strongly emphasizes that the action of calling originated from an external agent, highlighting divine initiative and appointment. It implies an official, permanent naming.
• by God (ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ - hypo tou Theou): This phrase unequivocally identifies the source of Jesus' high priestly office. It removes any doubt about the authority and legitimacy of His appointment, stressing that this was a divine decree, not a self-assumption or human selection. This stands in stark contrast to humanly appointed priests and establishes a foundational truth for His ministry.
• a high priest (ἀρχιερέα - archierea): This Greek term, archiereus, specifically denotes the chief or leading priest, signifying the supreme office in the religious hierarchy. In the Old Testament, the High Priest was the spiritual head of the nation, performing critical sacrificial and intercessory functions, particularly on the Day of Atonement. When applied to Jesus, it indicates that He fulfills and vastly transcends the functions of the Old Testament high priesthood, becoming the ultimate mediator and sacrifice.
• after the order (κατὰ τὴν τάξιν - kata ten taxin):
  • κατὰ (kata): Meaning "according to," "in the manner of," or "in agreement with." It signifies not merely a chronological succession but a deeper alignment with the nature, character, and spiritual principles of Melchizedek's priesthood.
  • τὴν τάξιν (ten taxin): Meaning "arrangement," "rank," "class," or "pattern." It refers to the kind or quality of priesthood. It's not a hereditary lineage (like Aaron's) but a classification of priesthood that has a distinct spiritual essence. This points to a priesthood that is non-hereditary, unblemished, and permanent, unlike the Aaronic which depended on birth and physical purity and was interrupted by death.
• of Melchizedek (Μελχισεδέκ - Melchisedek): A significant figure introduced in Gen 14:18-20, identified as "King of Salem" (King of Peace) and "priest of God Most High." He predates the Mosaic Law and the Aaronic priesthood, received tithes from Abraham, and had no recorded genealogy or death (in Scripture's account, allowing the writer of Hebrews to use this typologically). His unique dual role as both King and Priest, and his enigmatic appearance and disappearance in the narrative, make him a perfect prefigurement of Christ's superior and eternal priesthood, which is also both royal and priestly, transcending the temporary Levitical order.

Words-group Analysis:

• "called by God a high priest": This phrase underlines the absolute divine authority and appointment behind Jesus' role. His priesthood is not by human tradition, lineage, or self-proclamation, but by the Father's direct, eternal will and word. This validates His unique qualifications to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice and to mediate the New Covenant.
• "after the order of Melchizedek": This pivotal phrase directs the reader's attention away from the familiar Levitical priesthood, which was a system of limitations and shadows, to a completely different, ancient, and superior pattern of priesthood. It emphasizes Jesus' eternal, unchangeable, and perfect priesthood, which combines both kingly and priestly authority—a characteristic unique to Melchizedek and fulfilled in Christ alone. This framework provides the theological foundation for the New Covenant's superiority over the Old.

Hebrews 5 10 Bonus section

The Melchizedekian priesthood is described in Hebrews as superior to the Aaronic priesthood primarily because Abraham, the patriarch of Israel and forefather of Levi, paid tithes to Melchizedek (Heb 7:4-7). This implies that the lesser (Levi, through Abraham) was blessed by the greater (Melchizedek), thus establishing Melchizedek's hierarchical superiority. Furthermore, unlike the Levitical priests who served and died, passing their office on to successors, Jesus' priesthood "does not pass away" (Heb 7:24) because He lives forever. This makes His intercession and advocacy on behalf of believers continuous and eternally effective, providing an unbreakable bridge to God that the old system could never offer.

Hebrews 5 10 Commentary

Hebrews 5:10 acts as the climactic declaration of Jesus' perfected and eternally designated high priestly office. Following His earthly suffering, obedience, and ultimate exaltation, the Father formally designates Him as "a high priest after the order of Melchizedek." This divine proclamation highlights several critical truths: Firstly, it confirms that Jesus’ high priesthood is by direct divine appointment, underscoring its legitimacy and divine authority. It is not something He chose for Himself, but an office ordained for Him by God. Secondly, the reference to "the order of Melchizedek" is the linchpin, signaling a radical shift from the temporal, Levitical priesthood based on ancestral descent and law. The Melchizedekian order, which predates the Law and is characterized by a "life of indestructibility" (Heb 7:16), represents an eternal, kingly, and priestly function that only Christ can embody. This means His priestly service and intercession are perpetual and unfailing, offering perfect access to God. Thus, this verse lays the groundwork for the more extensive theological development in Hebrews 7, showcasing Christ’s perfect suitability, enduring power, and the superiority of the New Covenant He inaugurated.Example: Just as an architect officially designates a building as complete and fit for purpose after all plans are executed, God formally and eternally "called" Jesus as High Priest after He had completed His perfect work of obedience and suffering.