Hebrews 4:15 Meaning and Explanation
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus is a high priest who truly understands our weakness, because He felt it all Himself.
The Context of Hebrews 4:15
The writer has been showing Jesus as our great high priest, the one who represents us before God. Here he answers a fear we might have, that such a high One could never grasp what our small struggles feel like.
What Does Hebrews 4:15 Mean?
An ancient high priest stood between the people and God, carrying their needs to the altar. The writer assures us that ours is not a distant figure who 'cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.' He knows our weakness from the inside, because He 'was in all points tempted like as we are.' Jesus lived a fully human life: He grew tired, felt hunger, knew grief, faced the pull of temptation at every point we do. He has stood where we stand. And He came through 'without sin,' never once giving way, so the help He offers is unbroken and whole.
This is the tenderness at the center of the gospel. The One we come to is not shielded from human pain; He waded into all of it. When we bring Him our exhaustion or our temptation, we are met by someone who remembers exactly how it feels. He is fully God, able to save, and fully one of us, able to sympathize. Because He understands and never failed, He is the perfect place to bring everything we carry.
Hebrews 4:15 in the Original Language
sympatheo (συμπαθέω), 'be touched with the feeling' -- to suffer along with, to feel another's pain as one's own.
How to Apply Hebrews 4:15 Today
When we struggle, we are not bringing it to someone who cannot relate. Jesus felt the full weight of human weakness and temptation, and came through without sin, so His understanding and His strength are both complete. We can hand Him our hardest moments knowing He has been there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 4:15
What does Hebrews 4:15 mean?
Jesus is a high priest who truly understands our weakness, because He felt it all Himself.
What is the context of Hebrews 4:15?
The writer has been showing Jesus as our great high priest, the one who represents us before God. Here he answers a fear we might have, that such a high One could never grasp what our small struggles feel like.
How can I apply Hebrews 4:15 today?
When we struggle, we are not bringing it to someone who cannot relate. Jesus felt the full weight of human weakness and temptation, and came through without sin, so His understanding and His strength are both complete. We can hand Him our hardest moments knowing He has been there.