5:2
He is able to deal gently…since he himself is beset by weakness: This verse tells the reason that human high priests are able to be gentle with weak people. The high priests are able to be gentle (5:2a) because they know that they themselves are weak and sinful (5:2b).
In some languages it is more natural to change the order of 5:2a and 5:2b, so that the reason in 5:2b comes first. For example:
2b Since he himself is weak in many ways, 2a he is able to be gentle with those who are ignorant and make mistakes. (Good News Translation)
-or-
2b Chief Priests are just human too, and they certainly also have many weaknesses. 2a That’s why they know how to be gentle to take care of people who are not yet mature and who do not yet know the right way.
If you put the reason first like this, it may also affect the first part of 5:3. You may need to repeat information in 5:3a. For an example, see the General Comment on 5:2–3 at the end of 5:3a–b.
5:2a
He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided: This clause indicates that the high priest was able to be calm and moderate with those who were weak and ignorant. He controlled himself so that he would not become angry.
Other ways to translate this clause are:
he knows how to be gentle/merciful towards ignorant people and people who go astray
-or-
he can be patient with people who do not know ⌊how to do God’s will⌋ and do wrong
deal gently with: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deal gently with occurs only here in the New Testament. It refers to treating other people with calmness and respect. It indicates that the high priest should control his own feelings so that he will be patient even with the sinfulness of the people. He should be gentle with them and not treat them harshly.
Some other ways to translate this verb are:
be patient with
-or-
treat with compassion
-or-
feel pity for
those who are ignorant and misguided: Here the words ignorant and misguided both refer to the same type of people. These people sin because they do not know the way that God wants them to live or they do not seem to be able to live that way.
The word ignorant indicates that the people do not know how to behave. The word misguided indicates that they live without knowing what they should do. They act without being aware of the purpose of those actions. The author uses these similar words to emphasize the meaning.
Some other ways to translate this meaning are:
his fellow men who do not know what to do, who are overcome by sin because they are not strong.
-or-
his companions who go astray who don’t know that what they are doing is not right
5:2b
since he himself is beset by weakness: This clause tells the reason why the high priest was able to help weak and ignorant people (5:2a). He could help them because he himself was a weak human being, so he understood the weakness of others.
beset by weakness: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beset by weakness is more literally “surrounded by weakness” or “clothed with weakness.” It indicates that a high priest is affected in many ways by human weakness. The word weakness refers here to a type of weakness that makes it difficult for a person to do what is right. It refers to moral or spiritual weakness, not to bodily weakness.
Some other ways to translate the phrase beset by weakness are:
he also has faults.
-or-
he also is not strong/able ⌊to overcome all sins⌋
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