Priest Forever

Every high priest is chosen from among men and appointed to act for men in their dealings with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Πᾶςall, the whole, every kind of γὰρfor ἀρχιερεὺςhigh priest, chief priest ἐξout of, from ἀνθρώπωνa man, one of the human race λαμβανόμενοςI receive, take ὑπὲρin behalf of, above ἀνθρώπωνa man, one of the human race καθίσταταιI set, establish, appoint, conduct τὰthe πρὸςto, towards, with τὸνthe θεόν,God ἵναin order that, so that προσφέρῃto offer, bring δῶράgift τεand, both καὶand, also θυσίαςsacrifice ὑπὲρin behalf of, above ἁμαρτιῶν,a sin

He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is wrapped in weakness,

μετριοπαθεῖνI bear gently with, have compassion δυνάμενοςI am powerful, am able τοῖςthe ἀγνοοῦσιI do not know, am ignorant of καὶand, also πλανωμένοιςI lead astray, deceive ἐπεὶafter, for, since, otherwise καὶand, also αὐτὸςhe, his, it περίκειταιI surround, am surrounded with ἀσθένειαν,want of strength, weakness, illness

and because of this weakness he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people.

καὶand, also δι’through αὐτὴνhe, his, it ὀφείλει,I owe, ought καθὼςjust as, as περὶabout, concerning, around τοῦthe λαοῦ,a people, the crowd οὕτως  καὶand, also περὶabout, concerning, around αὑτοῦhimself, herself, itself προσφέρεινto offer, bring περὶabout, concerning, around ἁμαρτιῶν.a sin

And no one takes this honor on himself; he receives it when he is called by God, just as Aaron was.

καὶand, also οὐχnot ἑαυτῷhimself, herself, itself τιςany one, some one λαμβάνειI receive, take τὴνthe τιμήν,a price, honor ἀλλὰbut, except καλούμενοςI call, invite, name ὑπὸby, under, about τοῦthe θεοῦ,God καθώσπερ  καὶand, also Ἀαρών.Aaron

In the same way, Christ did not glorify himself by becoming high priest. It was God who said to him, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father.'

Οὕτως  καὶand, also ὁthe Χριστὸςanointed, the Messiah, the Christ οὐχnot ἑαυτὸνhimself, herself, itself ἐδόξασενI glorify, honor, bestow glory on γενηθῆναιto come to be, be made ἀρχιερέα,high priest, chief priest ἀλλ’but, except ὁthe λαλήσαςto speak πρὸςto, towards, with αὐτόν·he, his, it Υἱόςa son, descendent μουI εἶto be σύ,you ἐγὼI σήμερονtoday, now γεγέννηκάI beget, bring forth, give birth to σε·you

And in another place he says, 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'

καθὼςjust as, as καὶand, also ἐνin, by ἑτέρῳanother, different λέγει·I say, speak Σὺyou ἱερεὺςa priest εἰςinto, so that τὸνthe αἰῶναage; the ages, the universe κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τὴνthe τάξινorder, position, rank Μελχισέδεκ,Melchizedek

During the days of his earthly life, he offered up prayers and pleas, with loud crying and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

ὃςwho, which ἐνin, by ταῖςthe ἡμέραιςa day τῆςthe σαρκὸςflesh, body αὐτοῦhe, his, it δεήσειςsupplication, prayer τεand, both καὶand, also ἱκετηρίαςsupplication, entreaty πρὸςto, towards, with τὸνthe δυνάμενονI am powerful, am able σῴζεινI save, heal αὐτὸνhe, his, it ἐκout of, from θανάτουdeath μετὰwith, after κραυγῆςa shout, clamor, outcry ἰσχυρᾶςstrong, mighty, powerful καὶand, also δακρύωνa tear προσενέγκαςto offer, bring καὶand, also εἰσακουσθεὶςI hear, listen to ἀπὸfrom, away from τῆςthe εὐλαβείας,reverence, piety

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered,

καίπερalthough ὢνto be υἱός,a son, descendent ἔμαθενI learn, ascertain ἀφ’from, away from ὧνwho, which ἔπαθενI am acted upon, suffer τὴνthe ὑπακοήν,obedience

and once he had been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who obeys him,

καὶand, also τελειωθεὶςI complete, accomplish, make perfect ἐγένετοto come to be, be made πᾶσινall, the whole, every kind of τοῖςthe ὑπακούουσινI listen, obey αὐτῷhe, his, it αἴτιοςthe cause of, the originator of σωτηρίαςdeliverance, salvation αἰωνίου,eternal, unending

and he was designated by God a high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

προσαγορευθεὶςI address by name, designate ὑπὸby, under, about τοῦthe θεοῦGod ἀρχιερεὺςhigh priest, chief priest κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τὴνthe τάξινorder, position, rank Μελχισέδεκ.Melchizedek

We have a lot to say about this, and it is hard to explain, because you have become slow to listen.

Περὶabout, concerning, around οὗwho, which πολὺςmuch, great; here 'better, greater' ἡμῖνI ὁthe λόγοςa word, speech, divine utterance, analogy καὶand, also δυσερμήνευτοςdifficult to interpret λέγειν,I say, speak ἐπεὶafter, for, since, otherwise νωθροὶdull, sluggish γεγόνατεto come to be, be made ταῖςthe ἀκοαῖς·hearing, faculty of hearing, ear

By this time you ought to be teachers, but you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God's word all over again. You have come to need milk, not solid food.

καὶand, also γὰρfor ὀφείλοντεςI owe, ought εἶναιto be διδάσκαλοιa teacher διὰthrough τὸνthe χρόνον,time, a particular time, season πάλινagain, further, on the other hand χρείανneed, necessity, business ἔχετεI have, hold, possess τοῦthe διδάσκεινI teach ὑμᾶςyou τινὰany one, some one τὰthe στοιχεῖαa heavenly body, an element τῆςthe ἀρχῆςruler, beginning τῶνthe λογίωνdivine communication τοῦthe θεοῦ,God καὶand, also γεγόνατεto come to be, be made χρείανneed, necessity, business ἔχοντεςI have, hold, possess γάλακτος,milk οὐnot στερεᾶςsolid, firm, steadfast τροφῆς.food, nourishment

Anyone who lives on milk is still an infant and has no experience of the word of righteousness.

πᾶςall, the whole, every kind of γὰρfor ὁthe μετέχωνI participate in, share γάλακτοςmilk ἄπειροςinexperienced, unskillful λόγουa word, speech, divine utterance, analogy δικαιοσύνης,justice, justness, righteousness νήπιοςan infant, child, unlearned γάρfor ἐστιν·to be

But solid food is for the mature, for those who by constant practice have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

τελείωνperfect, full-grown δέnow, but ἐστινto be ἡthe στερεὰsolid, firm, steadfast τροφή,food, nourishment τῶνthe διὰthrough τὴνthe ἕξινcondition, state, habit τὰthe αἰσθητήριαperceptive faculty γεγυμνασμέναI train by physical exercise ἐχόντωνI have, hold, possess πρὸςto, towards, with διάκρισινdistinguishing, deciding, passing sentence on καλοῦbeautiful, good, worthy τεand, both καὶand, also κακοῦ.bad, evil