Hebrews 4:14–16
We can approach the throne of grace with boldness
Study it word by word14Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold on to the confession.
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
16Let us draw near, then, with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help.
In its context
12For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13And there is no creature hidden before him, but all things are naked and laid bare to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
…
Its words in the original
- ἜχοντεςEchontes· have
Have, possess, hold.
- ἀρχιερέαarchierea· chief priest, high priest
High priest. In the plural, the one then in office, those who had held it before, and the heads of the priestly families: the chief priests.
- μέγανmegan· great
Great, large.
- διεληλυθόταdielēlythota· pass through
Pass through, go through, travel through.
- οὐρανούςouranous· heaven, sky
Heaven: the sky and, above all, the place of God. "The heavens" is sometimes a respectful way of saying "God".
- ἸησοῦνIēsoun· Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
- υἱὸνhuion· son, Son
Son. Also descendant: "son of David" means one of King David's family, and is a title of the promised Messiah.
- θεοῦtheou· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- κρατῶμενkratōmen· seize, retain
Take hold of, seize; also retain, keep.
- ὁμολογίαςhomologias· confession
Confession: saying the same thing, declaring aloud what one believes.
- δυνάμενονdynamenon· can, be able
Can, be able.
- συμπαθῆσαιsympathēsai· sympathize
Sympathize: suffer with someone, feel along with the one who suffers.
- ἀσθενείαιςastheneiais· weakness, illness
Weakness, illness.
- πεπειρασμένονpepeirasmenon· test, tempt
Put to the test; when the devil does it, tempt: push someone to fall. "The tempter" comes from the same verb.
- ὁμοιότηταhomoiotēta· likeness
Likeness, resemblance: being like something else.
- χωρὶςchōris· without, apart from
Without, apart from.
- ἁμαρτίαςhamartias· sin
Sin: missing the mark, failing God and what he commands.
- προσερχώμεθαproserchōmetha· come to, approach
Come up to, approach someone.
- παρρησίαςparrēsias· boldness, openness
Frankness; speaking openly and with courage.
- θρόνῳthronōi· throne
Throne: the seat of a king or a judge; hence royal power.
- χάριτοςcharitos· grace
Grace, favor.
- λάβωμενlabōmen· take, receive
Take, receive.
- ἔλεοςeleos· mercy
Mercy: compassion that acts.
- εὕρωμενheurōmen· find
Find; in the passive, turn out to be, be found to be so.
- εὔκαιρονeukairon· suitable, timely
Suitable, timely.
- βοήθειανboētheian· help, supports
Help, aid; "supports", the ropes or means used to brace a ship.