Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Who can—Greek, "being able"; not pleasing himself (Romans 15:3).
have compassion—Greek, "estimate mildly," "feel leniently," or "moderately towards"; "to make allowance for"; not showing stern rigor save to the obstinate (Hebrews 10:28).
ignorant—sins not committed in resistance of light and knowledge, but as Paul's past sin (I Timothy 1:13). No sacrifice was appointed for wilful sin committed with a high hand; for such were to be punished with death; all other sins, namely, ignorances and errors, were confessed and expiated with sacrifices by the high priest.
out of the way—not deliberately and altogether wilfully erring, but deluded through the fraud of Satan and their own carnal frailty and thoughtlessness.
infirmity—moral weakness which is sinful, and makes men capable of sin, and so requires to be expiated by sacrifices. This kind of "infirmity" Christ had not; He had the "infirmity" of body whereby He was capable of suffering and death.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Hebrews 5:2:
1 Timothy 1:13
Titus 3:3
Hebrews 2:18
Hebrews 5:1
Hebrews 10:26
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