Hebrews 5:7–9

Bible Verses. Also called Hebrews 5:7-9, Heb 5:7-9, Heb. 5:7–9.

Bible Verses

⁷ Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
⁸ Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
⁹ And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 5:7–9 · KJV

Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter

Hebrews 5:7–9 is a passage stating that Jesus Christ, in the days of his flesh, prayed with tears, learned obedience through suffering, and, having been made perfect, became the source of salvation. It is frequently cited as a text showing Christ's true humanity and his high priesthood. The meanings of "was heard" and "being made perfect" are much discussed.

About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.

Origin: Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
Perspective: Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
Sources: None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
Review: Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history

Context

Hebrews 4:14–5:10 is a section presenting Jesus Christ as high priest. The author of Hebrews is not known with certainty. In 5:1–4 the author first sets out the qualifications of a high priest: he is taken from among men, deals gently with the weak, and must be called by God. Then, in verses 5–6, citing Psalm 2:7 and Psalm 110:4, the author states that Christ was appointed by God as a priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Verses 7–9 show that Christ was qualified to be high priest because he suffered as a human being. Verse 10 concludes the section. Within the letter as a whole, the passage belongs to a line of argument encouraging readers who are in danger of drawing back from the faith.

Interpretation

Connection with Gethsemane: Many commentators connect the "strong crying and tears" with Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane or with his cry from the cross. Others extend the reference to the whole of Jesus' earthly life.
The meaning of "was heard": Interpreters differ over what it means that Jesus' prayer was heard, given that he did in fact die. A widely held view takes it to mean not that he escaped death but that he was delivered out of death through the resurrection. Another view understands it to mean that he received strength to submit to the will of God.
"Learned obedience" and "being made perfect": Traditional Christology (the doctrine of Christ) reads the passage this way: the sinless Son did not change from disobedience to obedience; rather, as a man he came to know obedience through personal experience in the midst of suffering. For this reason the passage is frequently cited as a text showing the true humanity of the incarnate Son. "Made perfect" (Greek teleioō) is generally interpreted not as the correction of a moral defect but as being brought to completion for the office of high priest.

Debates and Issues

Translation questions: The Greek word eulabeia, rendered here as reverent or godly fear ("in that he feared," KJV), can also be read as "fear" in the sense of dread. A minority interpretation therefore reads the text as saying that he was "delivered from fear." The German theologian Adolf von Harnack is reported to have conjectured that the original text read "he was not heard." No manuscript, however, supports this reading.
"Them that obey him" and salvation: Denominational traditions place different emphases on "all them that obey him" in verse 9. The Reformed tradition regards obedience not as a condition of salvation but as the fruit and mark of genuine faith. The Wesleyan and Arminian traditions read the verse alongside the warning passages of Hebrews 6 and 10 and place greater emphasis on the importance of continuing in obedience within faith. This difference bears on the discussion of the perseverance of the saints and assurance of salvation.

Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.

In Korean Protestant churches, the passage is frequently cited in Holy Week sermons and in preaching on suffering and obedience. The prayer offered "with strong crying and tears" is sometimes held up as a model of fervent prayer. Others point out, however, that the focus of the passage is on Christ's qualification as high priest.

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