Hebrews 4:14 · Bible study
Hebrews 4:14 Commentary: Our Great High Priest Above the Heavens
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Discover what it means that Jesus passed through the heavens as our great high priest, and why this truth strengthens us to hold fast our confession.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus, as great high priest who has passed through the heavens, provides the sure foundation for holding fast our confession.
- Key words: great (μέγας, megas), passed through (διέρχομαι, dierchomai), hold fast (κρατέω, krateō), confession (ὁμολογία, homologia).
- Main debate: Whether 'passed through the heavens' implies successive layers of heavens (Cambridge, Jamieson) or simply entering into heaven (Wesley).
- Theological theme: The ascended Christ as the basis for perseverance in faith.
- Best use: Encouragement for believers facing pressure to abandon their faith, showing that our High Priest's exaltation secures our hope.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession.
KJV King James Version 1769
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Having, then, a great chief priest passed through the heavens--Jesus the Son of God--may we hold fast the profession,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Having therefore a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Having therefore a great high priest that hath passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God: let us hold fast our confession.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Por tanto, teniendo un gran Pontífice, que penetró los cielos, Jesús el Hijo de Dios, retengamos nuestra profesión.
Já que temos um grande Sumo Sacerdote, Jesus, o Filho de Deus, que passou através dos céus, mantenhamos firme a nossa declaração de fé.
Ainsi, puisque nous avons un grand souverain sacrificateur qui a traversé les cieux, Jésus, le Fils de Dieu, demeurons fermes dans la foi que nous professons.
Dieweil wir denn einen großen Hohenpriester haben, Jesum, den Sohn Gottes, der gen Himmel gefahren ist, so lasset uns halten an dem Bekenntnis.
Dewijl wij dan een groten Hogepriester hebben, Die door de hemelen doorgegaan is, namelijk Jezus, den Zoon van God, zo laat ons deze belijdenis vasthouden.
Avendo noi dunque un gran Sommo Sacerdote che è passato attraverso i cieli, Gesù, il Figliuol di Dio, riteniamo fermamente la professione della nostra fede.
Przetoż mając najwyższego kapłana wielkiego, który przeniknął niebiosa, Jezusa, Syna Bożego, trzymajmyż się tego wyznania.
Итак, имея Первосвященника великого, прошедшего небеса, Иисуса Сына Божия, будем твердо держаться исповедания нашего.
我們既然 有 一位已經升入 高天 尊榮的大 祭司，就是 神 的兒子 耶穌，便當持定 所承認的道。
Having then a great high priest, who has made his way through the heavens, even Jesus the Son of God, let us be strong in our faith.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Hebrews 4:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse marks a turning point in Hebrews, resuming the theme of Christ's high priesthood first introduced in Hebrews 2:17 and 3:1. The phrase 'great high priest' (μέγαν ἀρχιερέα) deliberately echoes the language for the Levitical high priest while elevating Christ above him. Vincent notes that the perfect participle διεληλυθότα ('having passed through') emphasizes a completed action with lasting significance: Christ has passed through the layers of the heavens, aerial and celestial, and now occupies the very throne of God, fulfilling what the high priest's entry through the veil only pictured. Wesley and Calvin both draw the parallel: as the high priest passed through the veil into the Holy of Holies, so Christ passed through the visible heavens into God's presence. The titles 'Jesus' (his human name) and 'Son of God' (his divine dignity) together affirm his two natures, which make his priesthood both compassionate and effective (Cambridge Bible). The consequence is the hortatory subjunctive κρατῶμεν ('let us hold fast'): because our High Priest has truly entered heaven, our confession is secure and we must cling to it.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus is a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, and this provides a sure foundation for holding fast our confession.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of 'great high priest' | Christ is superior to the Levitical high priests in office, person, and sacrifice. | Some emphasize his divine nature as the basis for greatness (Gill); others focus on his ongoing intercession and once-for-all sacrifice (Barnes). |
| 'Passed through the heavens' | Christ ascended into heaven, fulfilling the type of the high priest entering the Holy of Holies. | Whether this means Christ passed through the multiple heavens of Jewish cosmology (Cambridge, Jamieson) or simply entered into heaven (Wesley). |
| 'Hold fast our confession' | This is a call to persevere in faith and public commitment under pressure. | Whether the genitive case after κρατῶμεν implies 'taking hold of' the confession as an object to grasp (Tittmann via JFB), or simply 'holding firmly' as in other texts. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians tempted to abandon their confession and return to temple worship, which seemed more established and less dangerous. In that system, the high priest was the central figure on the Day of Atonement, the only one who could enter the Holy of Holies. The writer draws on that imagery but transforms it. The word 'great high priest' would resonate powerfully with readers who knew that the high priest was called 'the great priest' in Leviticus 21:10. But Christ is greater still.
The phrase 'passed through the heavens' reflects a Jewish cosmology of multiple heavens, the atmosphere, the starry sky, and the third heaven, the dwelling place of God (2 Corinthians 12:2). Unlike the Levitical high priest who entered a man-made sanctuary year after year, Christ passed through the created heavens themselves and sat down at God's right hand (Mark 16:19). His ascension was not a retreat from earth but an elevation to cosmic authority. Earlier in the chapter, the writer spoke of entering God's rest through faith and obedience (Hebrews 4:9-13). Now the tone shifts from warning to assurance: the same Jesus who leads us into rest is the heavenly intercessor. The call to 'hold fast our confession' (τῆς ὁμολογίας) echoes warnings of drifting away (2:1) and falling away (3:12). The confession likely included both a personal faith in Christ and the public commitment of baptism and community life. In a hostile environment, maintaining that confession required courage. The writer anchors that courage in the fact of Christ's ascension and heavenly priesthood.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Greek text is stable across major manuscripts, with only minor scribal differences in punctuation that do not affect meaning.
Reception History
Hebrews 4:14 has been central in Christian teaching on the ascension and heavenly intercession of Christ. Early church fathers like Athanasius used it to affirm Christ's full humanity and divinity, arguing that only one who was both God and man could serve as a priest for humanity. During the Reformation, Luther and Calvin pointed to this verse to ground assurance: we have a High Priest who has already entered heaven, so our confidence rests on his finished work. The verse echoes in hymns such as 'Before the Throne of God Above' and 'Jesus, Our Great High Priest', celebrating Christ's ongoing intercession. For persecuted Christians across centuries, it has been a rallying cry to hold fast the confession even under pressure.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- We have a great high priest. Christ is not a distant figure but a priest appointed by God and superior to all others.
- He has passed through the heavens. His ascension is not merely a change of location but an exaltation to the throne, where he exercises his priesthood forever.
- Let us hold fast our confession. Because our High Priest is already where we hope to be, we can persevere with confidence.
Five-point outline
- The context: The previous warning about rest and the searching word of God (4:11-13).
- The resumption: The writer returns to Christ's high priesthood from 2:17 and 3:1.
- The description: Great high priest, passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.
- The imperative: Hold fast the confession. The verb κρατῶμεν in the subjunctive calls the community to a shared, active grip on their faith.
- The ground: The ascension and Sonship of Christ guarantee the efficacy of his priestly work.
Illustration hooks
- A child learns to swim by trusting that a parent's arms are already outstretched in the water, they don't have to reach safety alone.
- When climbing a steep trail, the leader reaches the summit first and shouts down that the path is clear. Those below hear the voice and keep climbing.
- A lawyer who is also a family member may have access to the judge's chambers. Christ not only has access but is the Judge's Son.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know my faith will hold up when I feel weak?
- What difference does Jesus being in heaven right now make to my Tuesday morning?
- Am I allowed to doubt and still hold fast my confession?
Leading a Discussion
This verse stands at the hinge of Hebrews, turning from warning to assurance. The writer calls us to look not at the dangers around us but at our High Priest above us. Christ has passed through the heavens, and that changes everything about how we hold our faith.
Discussion questions
- What does the writer say about Jesus in this verse? What titles and actions are named?
- Why is Jesus called a 'great' high priest? What comparisons with the Old Testament priesthood might the original readers have made?
- What does the perfect tense 'has passed through' (διεληλυθότα) tell us about the lasting effect of Christ's ascension?
- How does the fact that Jesus has passed through the heavens ground the command to hold fast our confession?
- The Greek word for 'confession' (ὁμολογία) can mean both the content of what we believe and the act of declaring it. Which meaning do you think is primary here, and how does that affect the exhortation?
- In your own life, what pressures, external or internal, make you want to loosen your grip on your confession?
- How might remembering Christ's present position in heaven change the way you pray, suffer, or witness this week?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Mark 1:1 | The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. |
| Mark 16:19 | So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. |
| Luke 24:51 | While he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. |
| Acts 1:11 | who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.” |
| Acts 3:21 | whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets. |
| Romans 8:34 | Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. |
| Ephesians 4:10 | He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. |
| Hebrews 1:2 | has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that the Greek particle here should be translated "now" rather than "therefore," because the writer is not concluding a prior argument but beginning a new, extended proof that Christ is a greater high priest than Aaron. He sees this verse as resuming a discourse after a lengthy parenthesis.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that the Jewish high priest entered the earthly holy of holies once a year, but Jesus has passed into heaven itself as the Christian High Priest. This superiority over the Levitical priesthood is the apostle’s reason for urging believers to hold fast their profession without apostatizing.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Christ came in two roles: teacher and priest. The teaching must come first, since the value of his priesthood can only be understood through his instruction. Only after becoming teachable disciples can believers grasp what his priesthood accomplishes and how it brings them to God.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary emphasizes that Christ is called a "great High Priest" to highlight His infinite superiority over Aaron and the Levitical priests. The phrase "passed through the heavens" means He has gone through the lower heavens as a curtain into God's very presence, not merely entering them. The title "Jesus the Son of God" combines His human name with divine dignity, showing the two natures that make His priesthood eternal and sufficient.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Because Jesus has entered heaven as our great high priest, Christians are called to hold firmly to their faith. The Geneva Note draws a direct link between Christ's completed work above and our endurance below: his exaltation is the ground for our steadfastness.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights five specific reasons Christ is called a great high priest: the dignity of his person, the power of his sacrifice, his heavenly ministry, the permanence of his priesthood, and his ability to make others priests. The names Jesus and Son of God confirm his fitness for this role, which grounds the call to hold firmly to our profession.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB stresses that Jesus, as the great High Priest, passed through the physical heavens like the Levitical high priest passed through the temple veil. This journey through the aerial and celestial heavens into God's immediate presence is what Moses and Joshua could not accomplish, but Jesus already enters it spiritually on behalf of His people. The command to "hold fast" means to take firm hold of the faith we profess.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that Jesus' passing through the heavens is not a parallel to the Jewish high priest's entry but a unique token of His incomparable majesty as the divine Son. This sublime exaltation is set against His genuine, sinless participation in human weakness and temptation, which gives believers confident access to the throne of grace.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry stresses that entering spiritual rest requires diligent labor; those who will not work now will not rest hereafter. He sees mutual encouragement as a true act of friendship, urging believers to call one another to earnest effort.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent emphasizes the word "great" to underscore Christ's supremacy over the Levitical priests, presenting him as the ideal high priest. He also notes that "passed through the heavens" means Christ went through to God's throne, and that calling him "Jesus" recalls his humanity and prepares readers for his compassionate character.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws a direct parallel between the Jewish high priest passing through the veil into the holy of holies with sacrificial blood and Christ passing through the visible heavens with his own blood into God's immediate presence. The key distinction is finality: Christ, the eternal Son of God, did this once for all.