Hebrews 5 9

Hebrews 5:9 kjv

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

Hebrews 5:9 nkjv

And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Hebrews 5:9 niv

and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

Hebrews 5:9 esv

And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

Hebrews 5:9 nlt

In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

Hebrews 5 verses

Hebrews 5 9 Meaning

Hebrews 5:9 reveals that Jesus Christ, having fully accomplished His mission of redemption through suffering and obedience, became the definitive and ultimate source of everlasting salvation for all who choose to follow and submit to His divine authority. His 'perfection' here signifies His completed qualification as the sinless High Priest and Savior, enabling Him to grant a salvation that is final and enduring.

Hebrews 5 9 Context

Hebrews Chapter 5 begins by detailing the qualifications and role of a high priest, using the example of Aaron from the Old Covenant (v. 1-4). It emphasizes that a high priest must be divinely called and able to empathize with humanity. The chapter then transitions to present Jesus as the supreme High Priest, called by God directly (v. 5-6) and not by human appointment, according to the order of Melchizedek. Crucially, verses 7 and 8 highlight Jesus' own experiences of intense suffering, prayer, and "learned obedience" through His earthly trials, including Gethsemane and the cross. This deeply personal experience of suffering allows Him to sympathize fully with humanity. Verse 9 then serves as the culminating point, stating the result of Christ's "perfection" through these sufferings and obedience: He became the unique source of salvation, forever available to those who respond in obedient faith.

Hebrews 5 9 Word analysis

• And being made perfect (τελειωθεὶς, teleiotheis):

  • Teleiotheis is a Greek aorist passive participle of teleioō.
  • It does not imply Christ was previously imperfect morally, but rather refers to His completion, consummation, or being brought to the intended goal.
  • In context, it means Jesus was fully qualified and consecrated for His high-priestly role, having completed His work, particularly His sufferings, obedience, and glorification. He has attained the highest possible state necessary for His redemptive office.

• He became (ἐγένετο, egeneto):

  • Signifies a resulting state or condition. Following His 'perfection', this became His new reality and function.
  • It points to a factual outcome of His completed work.

• the author (αἴτιος, aitios):

  • Refers to the cause, source, originator, or responsible one.
  • It emphasizes that Jesus is not just a facilitator, but the very fount and beginning of salvation. There is no other origin point for this salvation.

• of eternal salvation (σωτηρίας αἰωνίου, sōtērias aiōniou):

  • Sōtērias means salvation, deliverance, preservation. It encompasses rescue from sin, death, and God's wrath, bringing spiritual healing and wholeness.
  • Aiōniou means eternal, everlasting, belonging to the ages. It denotes not just duration, but quality – a salvation that is permanent, complete, and effective throughout eternity, unlike temporary Old Covenant provisions. It has its origin and nature in the eternal God Himself.

• to all who obey Him (πᾶσιν τοῖς ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ, pasin tois hypakouousin autō):

  • Pasin means "all," indicating the universal availability of this salvation, regardless of background.
  • Hypakouousin is a present active participle of hypakouō, meaning "to hear under," "to listen attentively," and thus "to obey."
  • The present participle indicates continuous, habitual, or ongoing obedience, not a one-time act. It points to a life of responsive submission to Christ's teachings and Lordship.
  • It links genuine saving faith with an obedient life, demonstrating that true belief results in a submission to His will. This "obedience of faith" (Rom 1:5) is foundational.

Hebrews 5 9 Bonus section

The concept of Christ being "made perfect" (teleioo) is found in a few places in Hebrews (2:10, 5:9, 7:28), always in the context of His priestly or salvific work. It is a key argument in the letter asserting His superiority over the Levitical priesthood. Earthly priests were "made perfect" through various purification rituals, but Christ was "made perfect" through the completion of His unique, self-sacrificial obedience, culminating in His exaltation. This perfection is directly linked to the efficacy and finality of His mediatorial role.

The phrase "eternal salvation" is highly significant. It differentiates Christ's work from any temporary deliverances in the Old Testament. It assures believers of an unending, secured standing with God, contrasting with the temporary covering of sins provided by the Mosaic Law. It reinforces the new covenant as a covenant of permanence, unlike the old.

Hebrews 5 9 Commentary

Hebrews 5:9 encapsulates a profound theological truth about Jesus Christ's completed work and its implications for humanity. After vividly portraying Christ's unique qualifications as a compassionate High Priest through His human experience and profound suffering, the verse declares the triumphant outcome: He was "made perfect." This "perfection" is not about overcoming personal sin, as Jesus was inherently sinless, but about achieving His appointed destiny and full qualification as the perfect mediator and Savior. His trials, particularly learning obedience through what He suffered (v. 8), served to equip Him fully for His unparalleled redemptive task, setting Him apart from any earthly high priest.

The consequence of this completed perfection is immense: He "became the author of eternal salvation." This highlights His exclusive role as the unique source and originator of lasting deliverance from sin and its effects. Unlike the fleeting rituals and sacrifices of the Old Covenant that had to be repeated, Christ's salvation is "eternal" – a complete, permanent, and ever-effective rescue that spans all time and eternity. This emphasizes the finality and superiority of His once-for-all sacrifice.

Crucially, this magnificent gift of eternal salvation is available "to all who obey Him." This condition is not about earning salvation, but about the characteristic response of genuine faith. True belief in Christ inherently involves submitting to His authority, acknowledging His Lordship, and diligently following His commands. This obedience is the evidence of a heart transformed by His grace, a consistent walking in His ways that demonstrates saving faith is alive and active. It's a relationship of trust that expresses itself in active adherence to His revealed will, underscoring that while salvation is by grace, it leads to a life of willing submission to the Savior. This verse beautifully bridges Christ's completed work, the eternal nature of His salvation, and the required responsive faith-obedience of believers.