Hebrews 5:7

KJV

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;

KJV (with Strong's)

Who {G3739} in {G1722} the days {G2250} of his {G846} flesh {G4561}, when he had offered up {G4374} prayers {G1162} and {G5037}{G2532} supplications {G2428} with {G3326} strong {G2478} crying {G2906} and {G2532} tears {G1144} unto {G4314} him that was able {G1410} to save {G4982} him {G846} from {G1537} death {G2288}, and {G2532} was heard {G1522} in that {G575} he feared {G2124};

Complete Jewish Bible

During Yeshua’s life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions, crying aloud and shedding tears, to the One who had the power to deliver him from death; and he was heard because of his godliness.

Berean Standard Bible

During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.

American Standard Version

Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 5:7 vividly portrays Jesus Christ's profound humanity and His intense spiritual agony during His earthly ministry, particularly emphasizing His prayers and supplications offered "with strong crying and tears" to God the Father. This verse underscores His complete reliance on the Father, His perfect obedience even unto death, and the divine acceptance of His reverent submission, establishing His qualifications as a compassionate and effective High Priest for humanity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hebrews 5:7 is situated within a broader argument (Hebrews 4:14-5:10) establishing Jesus Christ's superiority as High Priest, fulfilling the qualifications outlined in the Old Testament. The preceding verses (Hebrews 5:1-6) detail the requirements for a high priest—one who is chosen by God, can sympathize with human weakness, and offers sacrifices. The author then pivots to demonstrate how Jesus perfectly embodies these qualifications, not by self-appointment but by divine call, and crucially, through His shared human experience. This verse specifically highlights His capacity for empathy and His perfect obedience, which are foundational to His priestly ministry, leading into the declaration that He "learned obedience by the things which he suffered" ([Hebrews 5:8](/hebrews/5-8 "Hebrews 5:8 - Christ Learns Obedience")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The audience of the Book of Hebrews was likely Jewish Christians facing persecution and temptation to revert to Judaism. To bolster their faith and prevent apostasy, the author systematically demonstrates Christ's superiority over foundational aspects of the Old Covenant: the prophets, angels, Moses, the Aaronic priesthood, and the sacrificial system. The concept of a high priest was central to Jewish worship, serving as the mediator between God and humanity. By depicting Jesus' fervent prayers and suffering, the author connects Him to the human experience of the audience, while simultaneously elevating His priestly office above the Levitical system. The mention of "strong crying and tears" would have resonated with the Jewish tradition of lament and fervent prayer in times of distress, as seen in the Psalms and prophetic literature.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major theological themes within Hebrews and the broader New Testament. It powerfully illustrates **The Humanity of Christ**, showing that Jesus fully experienced human weakness, sorrow, and dependence, yet without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Christ's Sinless Humanity")). It highlights **Fervent Prayer and Dependence on God**, presenting Jesus as the ultimate model of prayer, demonstrating that even the Son of God relied utterly on the Father in His deepest anguish. This reliance underscores His role as our sympathetic High Priest who intercedes for us ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Perpetual Intercession")). Furthermore, the phrase "was heard in that he feared" introduces the theme of **Obedience and Divine Acceptance**, emphasizing that Christ's perfect reverence and submission were the basis for God's favorable response, ultimately leading to His becoming the source of eternal salvation ([Hebrews 5:9](/hebrews/5-9 "Hebrews 5:9 - Christ, the Source of Eternal Salvation")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **flesh (Greek, _sárx'_):** This term refers to the human body, human nature, or humanity in its frailties and limitations. In this context, it emphasizes the genuine, tangible humanity of Jesus, indicating that His suffering and prayers occurred within the full experience of human existence, subject to its weaknesses and pains, though without sin.
* **crying (Greek, _kraugḗ'_):** Denotes a loud, vehement outcry, often associated with intense distress, anguish, or urgency. Coupled with "tears," it paints a vivid picture of Jesus' profound emotional and spiritual agony, likely alluding to His Gethsemane experience, where His prayer was so intense that His sweat became like drops of blood ([Luke 22:44](/luke/22-44 "Luke 22:44 - Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane")).
* **feared (Greek, _eulábeia'_):** This word does not imply terror or cowardice in the face of death, but rather profound reverence, piety, or godly awe. It signifies Jesus' perfect submission and devotion to the Father's will, even when that will involved immense suffering. His "fear" was an expression of perfect obedience, trust, and a deep, reverent respect for God's holiness and plan.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Who in the days of his flesh,"**: This clause immediately establishes the context of Jesus' earthly life, emphasizing His full and authentic humanity. It means that during His time as a human being, subject to all the conditions and limitations of human existence (apart from sin), these events transpired.
* **"when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears"**: This describes the intense nature of Jesus' communion with God the Father. The combination of "prayers and supplications" (general and specific requests) with "strong crying and tears" signifies a profound, agonizing, and deeply emotional outpouring. This is widely understood to refer to His Gethsemane experience, where He wrestled with the Father's will concerning the cup of suffering.
* **"unto him that was able to save him from death,"**: This identifies the object of Jesus' fervent prayers: God the Father, who possesses the ultimate power over life and death. The phrase "save him from death" does not mean to spare Him from the act of dying on the cross, but rather to deliver Him from the permanent power and dominion of death, ensuring His ultimate victory and resurrection. It was a prayer for strength to endure and for the Father's will to be accomplished through His suffering.
* **"and was heard in that he feared;"**: This pivotal clause confirms that Jesus' prayers were indeed answered. The reason for being heard is given as "in that he feared," which, as discussed in the key word analysis, refers to His perfect reverence, piety, and obedient submission to the Father's will. God heard and responded to His prayer not by removing the cross, but by empowering Him to endure it and by raising Him from the dead, thereby saving Him from the *power* of death and the grave.

#### Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews employs several powerful literary devices in this verse. **Imagery** is prominent, particularly in the vivid description of "strong crying and tears," which paints a picture of profound human anguish and desperate earnestness. This evokes **Pathos**, stirring the reader's sympathy and understanding for the depth of Christ's suffering. There is also a subtle **Paradox** at play: the Son of God, who is divine, is depicted in the utmost human weakness, crying out for deliverance. This paradox underscores the reality of the **Incarnation** and the authenticity of Jesus' humanity. Furthermore, the phrase "was heard in that he feared" utilizes **Synecdoche**, where "feared" (referring to reverence and obedience) stands for the entirety of Jesus' perfect submission and devotion to the Father, which was the basis for God's favorable response.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 5:7 is a cornerstone for understanding the full scope of Christ's redemptive work. It profoundly connects His humanity and suffering to His priestly office, demonstrating that He is uniquely qualified to mediate between God and humanity because He has fully experienced the human condition. His fervent prayers in the face of death underscore His absolute dependence on the Father, even as the Son of God, providing a perfect model of trusting obedience. The "hearing" of His prayer, not as an escape from death but as a victory over its power through resurrection, reveals God's acceptance of His perfect sacrifice and His ultimate triumph. This verse thus links Christ's Gethsemane agony to His ultimate exaltation and His ongoing role as our sympathetic and effective High Priest.

* [Matthew 26:36-44](/matthew/26-36-44 "Matthew 26:36-44 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")
* [Luke 22:41-44](/luke/22-41-44 "Luke 22:41-44 - Jesus' Agony and Angelic Strengthening")
* [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Christ's Sympathy as High Priest")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 5:7 offers profound comfort and instruction for believers today. It assures us that we have a High Priest who truly understands our struggles, temptations, and sorrows, having Himself experienced intense suffering and profound reliance on God. Because He endured such anguish and cried out to the Father, we can approach Him with confidence, knowing He sympathizes with our weaknesses and intercedes for us. Jesus' example teaches us the vital importance of fervent, persistent, and honest prayer, especially in times of deep distress. We are encouraged to pour out our hearts to God, holding nothing back, trusting that He hears us. This verse reminds us that God's answers to prayer are not always what we expect (e.g., removal of suffering), but are always according to His perfect will, often leading to a deeper deliverance or strengthening that enables us to endure and ultimately triumph, just as Christ was delivered from the power of death through resurrection. Our "fear" should be one of reverent submission and trust, knowing that such devotion is heard by our loving Father.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' "strong crying and tears" in Hebrews 5:7 deepen your understanding of His humanity and His empathy for our suffering?**
* **What does Jesus' example of fervent prayer teach you about how to approach God in your own times of intense distress or spiritual struggle?**
* **The verse states Jesus "was heard in that he feared." How does understanding "fear" as reverence and obedience, rather than terror, transform your view of His prayer and God's response?**
* **How does the ultimate outcome of Jesus' prayer (deliverance from the power of death through resurrection, not escape from physical death) inform your expectations for God's answers to your own prayers?**

### FAQ

**Did Jesus pray to be saved from dying on the cross, and was His prayer denied?**

Answer: No, the phrase "save him from death" in Hebrews 5:7 does not mean Jesus prayed to avoid physical death on the cross, nor was His prayer denied in that sense. The context, particularly the subsequent verses in Hebrews 5 and the broader New Testament narrative, makes it clear that Christ's death was a necessary part of God's redemptive plan ([John 12:27-28](/john/12-27-28 "John 12:27-28 - Jesus' Soul Troubled")). Instead, "save him from death" refers to His deliverance from the ultimate power and dominion of death, meaning His resurrection and triumph over the grave. His prayer was for the strength and resolve to endure the cross, and for the Father's will to be accomplished through His suffering. God heard His prayer and answered it by empowering Him to fulfill His mission and by raising Him from the dead, thereby conquering death itself ([Romans 6:9](/romans/6-9 "Romans 6:9 - Christ's Victory Over Death")).

**What does "was heard in that he feared" truly mean? Does it imply Jesus was afraid in a negative sense?**

Answer: The word translated "feared" (Greek: _eulábeia_) in this context does not denote terror or cowardice. Rather, it signifies profound reverence, piety, and godly awe. It speaks to Jesus' perfect submission and devotion to the Father's will, even in the face of immense suffering and the prospect of death. God heard Jesus' prayers because of His perfect obedience, His unwavering trust, and His reverent submission to the divine plan. It was His filial piety and perfect alignment with the Father's will that made His prayers acceptable and effective, leading to His ultimate vindication and resurrection, not an escape from His divinely appointed suffering ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience Unto Death")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 5:7 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus' unique role as the compassionate and perfectly obedient High Priest, whose suffering and triumph pave the way for humanity's salvation. The "days of his flesh" highlight the Incarnation, where the eternal Son of God fully entered human experience, including its deepest anguish, making Him perfectly suited to sympathize with our weaknesses ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Christ's Sympathy as High Priest")). His "strong crying and tears" in Gethsemane, vividly described here, foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, demonstrating His perfect obedience even unto death ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience Unto Death")). The Father's "hearing" of His prayer "in that he feared" signifies not a rescue from the cross, but God's divine affirmation of Jesus' reverent submission and the ultimate victory over death through His resurrection ([Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Jesus From the Dead")). Thus, Jesus, through His suffering and perfect obedience, became "the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him" ([Hebrews 5:9](/hebrews/5-9 "Hebrews 5:9 - Christ, the Source of Eternal Salvation")), establishing a new and living way for us to draw near to God with confidence ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Confidence to Enter the Holy Places")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 22:41

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Luke 22:44

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Mark 14:32

¶ And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

Mark 14:39

And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.

John 17:1

¶ These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

John 17:4

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

John 17:5

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.