Hebrews 5:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →No one takes the honor of the priesthood for himself; it is received only when God calls him, as God called Aaron.
What Does Hebrews 5:4 Mean?
The writer names a second great principle of the office: the high priesthood is not seized but given. Just as Aaron did not appoint himself but was set apart by God's own call, so the honor of standing before God for others must come from God's hand.
This guards the heart of true worship. Sacred standing is a gift, not an ambition; it rests on God's choosing, not on human striving. The principle prepares us for the next verses, where Christ Himself does not grasp at glory but receives His priesthood from the Father. What is true of every faithful servant is supremely true of Him: the call comes from above.
Hebrews 5:4 in the Original Language
time (τιμή), 'honour' -- the dignity or privilege of an office, here something conferred by God rather than claimed by a person.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 5:4
What does Hebrews 5:4 mean?
No one takes the honor of the priesthood for himself; it is received only when God calls him, as God called Aaron.