Hebrews 5 · Verse 9

Hebrews 5:9

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 5:9, King James Version

Hebrews 5:9 in other translations

BSBAnd having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
WEBHaving been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,
ASVand having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;
YLTand having been made perfect, he did become to all those obeying him a cause of salvation age-during,
DARBYand having been perfected, became to all them that obey him, author of eternal salvation;
BBEAnd when he had been made complete, he became the giver of eternal salvation to all those who are under his orders;
WebsterAnd being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him;

What does Hebrews 5:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. made perfect--completed, brought to His goal of learning and suffering through death (He 2:10) [Alford], namely, at His glorious resurrection and ascension. author--Greek, "cause." eternal salvation--obtained for us in the short "days of Jesus' flesh" (He 5:7; compare He 5:6, "for ever," Is 45:17). unto all ... that obey him--As Christ obeyed the Father, so must we obey Him by faith.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. And being made perfect. That is, being made a complete Saviour--a Saviour fitted in all respects to redeem men. Sufferings were necessary to the completeness or the finish of his character as a Saviour--not to his moral perfection, for he was always without sin. See this explained Heb 2:10.

He became the Author, That is, he was the procuring cause (αιτιος) of salvation. It is to be traced wholly to his sufferings and death. Heb 2:10.

Unto all them that obey him. It is not to save those who live in sin. Only those who obey him have any evidence that they will be saved. Jn 14:15.

(b) "being made perfect" Heb 2:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 And being made perfect - Και τελειωθεις· And having finished all - having died and risen again. Τελειωθηναι signifies to have obtained the goal; to have ended one's labor, and enjoyed the fruits of it. Heb 12:23 : The spirits of just men made perfect, πνευμασι δικαιων τετελειωμενων, means the souls of those who have gained the goal, and obtained the prize. So, when Christ had finished his course of tremendous sufferings, and consummated the whole by his death and resurrection, he became αιτιος σωτηριας αιωνιου, the cause of eternal salvation unto all them who obey him. He was consecrated both highs priest and sacrifice by his offering upon the cross. "In this verse," says Dr. Macknight, "three things are clearly stated: 1. That obedience to Christ is equally necessary to salvation with believing on him. 2. That he was made perfect as a high priest by offering himself a sacrifice for sin, Heb 8:3. 3. That, by the merit of that sacrifice, he hath obtained pardon and eternal life for them who obey him." He tasted death for every man; but he is the author and cause of eternal salvation only to them who obey him. It is not merely believers, but obedient believers, that shall be finally saved. Therefore this text is an absolute, unimpeachable evidence, that it is not the imputed obedience of Christ that saves any man. Christ has bought men by his blood; and by the infinite merit of his death he has purchased for them an endless glory; but, in order to be prepared for it, the sinner must, through that grace which God withholds from no man, repent, turn from sin, believe on Jesus as being a sufficient ransom and sacrifice for his soul, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, be a worker together with him, walk in conformity to the Divine will through this Divine aid, and continue faithful unto death, through him, out of whose fullness he may receive grace upon grace.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 5:1-10

The High Priest must be a man, a partaker of our nature. This shows that man had sinned. For God would not suffer sinful man to come to him alone. But every one is welcome to God, that comes to him by this High Priest; and as we value acceptance with God, and pardon, we must apply by faith to this our great High Priest Christ Jesus, who can intercede for those that are out of the way of truth, duty, and happiness…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 5:1-10 →

Hebrews 5:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiandG2532
τελειωθεὶςteleiōtheishaving been perfectedG5048
ἐγένετοegenetoHe becameG1096
πᾶσινpasinto allG3956
τοῖςtoisthoseG3588
ὑπακούουσινhupakouousinobeyingG5219
αὐτῷautōHimG846
αἴτιοςaitios[the] authorG159
σωτηρίαςsōtēriasof salvationG4991
αἰωνίου,aiōnioueternal,G166

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hebrews 5:9

  • Hebrews 9:15

    And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

  • Hebrews 2:10

    For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

  • Hebrews 12:2

    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Hebrews 9:12

    Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

  • Acts 5:32

    And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

  • 1 Peter 1:22

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:8

    In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

  • Romans 1:5

    By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

  • Isaiah 50:10

    Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

  • Daniel 9:24

    Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

  • Hebrews 11:8

    By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

  • Romans 2:8

    But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
being.
2:10; 11:40; Da 9:24; Lu 13:32; Joh 19:30; *Gr:
he became.
12:2; Ps 68:18-20; Isa 45:22; 49:6; Ac 3:15; *marg:
Ac 4:12
eternal.
2:3; 9:12,15; Ps 45:17; 51:6,8; 2Th 2:16; 2Ti 2:10; 1Jo 5:20; Jude 1:21
unto.
11:8; Isa 50:10; 55:3; Zec 6:15; Mt 7:24-27; 17:5; Ac 5:32; Ro 1:5
Ro 2:8; 6:17; 10:16; 15:18; 2Co 10:5; 2Th 1:8; 1Pe 1:22

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hebrews 5:8

    Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

  • Hebrews 5:9

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

  • Hebrews 5:10

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

Read all of Hebrews 5

Hebrews 5:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y consumado, vino á ser causa de eterna salud á todos los que le obedecen;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et ayant été consommé, il est devenu, pour tous ceux qui lui obéissent, l’auteur du salut éternel,
German
Elberfelder 1871		und, vollendet worden, ist er allen, die ihm gehorchen, der Urheber ewigen Heils geworden,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et consummatus, factus est omnibus obtemperantibus sibi, causa salutis æternæ,