Hebrews 5:4
Good News Translation
No one chooses for himself the honor of being a high priest. It is only by God's call that a man is made a high priest--just as Aaron was.

New Revised Standard Version
And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

Contemporary English Version
But no one can have the honor of being a high priest simply by wanting to be one. Only God can choose a priest, and God is the one who chose Aaron.

New American Bible
No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.

Exodus 28:1 Take unto thee also Aaron thy brother with his sons, from among the children of Israel, that they may minister to me in the priest's office: Aaron, Nadab, and Abiu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Leviticus 8:2 Take Aaron with his sons, their vestments, and the oil of unction: a calf for sin, two rams, a basket with unleavened bread.

Numbers 3:3 These the names of the sons of Aaron the priests that were anointed, and whose hands were filled and consecrated, to do the functions of priesthood.

Numbers 16:5,7,10,35,40,46-48 And speaking to Core and all the multitude, he said: In the morning the Lord will make known who belong to him, and the holy he will join to himself: and whom he shall choose, they shall approach to him. . . .

Numbers 17:3-11 And the name of Aaron shall be for the tribe of Levi, and one rod shall contain all their families: . . .

Numbers 18:1-5 And the Lord said to Aaron: Thou, and thy sons, and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the sins of your priesthood. . . .

1 Chronicles 23:13 The sons of Amram, Aaron, and Moses. And Aaron was separated to minister in the holy of holies, he and his sons for ever, and to burn incense before the Lord, according to his ceremonies, and to bless his name for ever.

2 Chronicles 26:18 Withstood the king and said: It doth not belong to thee, Ozias, to burn incense to the Lord, but to the priests, that is, to the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated for this ministry: go out of the sanctuary, do not despise: for this thing shall not be accounted to thy glory by the Lord God.

John 3:27 John answered and said: A man cannot receive any thing, unless it be given him from heaven.

Context
The Perfect High Priest
3And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was. 5So Christ also did not glorify himself, that he might be made a high priest: but he that said unto him: Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee.…
Cross References
Exodus 28:1
Take unto thee also Aaron thy brother with his sons, from among the children of Israel, that they may minister to me in the priest's office: Aaron, Nadab, and Abiu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Numbers 16:40
That the children of Israel might have for the time to come wherewith they should be admonished, that no stranger or any one that is not of the seed of Aaron should come near to offer incense to the Lord, lest he should suffer as Core suffered, and all his congregation, according as the Lord spoke to Moses.

Numbers 18:7
But thou and thy sons look ye to the priesthood: and all things that pertain to the service of the altar, and that are within the veil, shall be executed by the priests. If any stranger shall approach, he shall be slain.

1 Chronicles 23:13
The sons of Amram, Aaron, and Moses. And Aaron was separated to minister in the holy of holies, he and his sons for ever, and to burn incense before the Lord, according to his ceremonies, and to bless his name for ever.

2 Chronicles 26:18
Withstood the king and said: It doth not belong to thee, Ozias, to burn incense to the Lord, but to the priests, that is, to the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated for this ministry: go out of the sanctuary, do not despise: for this thing shall not be accounted to thy glory by the Lord God.

John 3:27
John answered and said: A man cannot receive any thing, unless it be given him from heaven.

Hebrews 5:3
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