5:9a
And: Here some translations continue the sentence that started at the beginning of verse 5:8. In some languages, it is more natural to begin a new sentence at 5:9, as modelled by the Berean Standard Bible.
having been made perfect: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as having been made perfect is a form of the same verb that was used in 2:10. The verb has several meanings, which are based on being complete or mature. In this context the verb refers to being completely qualified. It indicates that Christ was totally prepared for the work of being high priest.
Jesus never sinned, so the phrase having been made perfect does not refer to being purified from sin. Rather, it refers back to 5:8 where Christ obeyed God, though it caused him to suffer and die. The phrase indicates that when Christ obeyed God like that, he became completely qualified to give his people eternal salvation.
Some other ways to translate the verb in this context are:
In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
And then after he was completely prepared
See how you translated this verb in 2:10, and translate it in a similar way here.
5:9b–c
He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as source can also mean “cause.” In this context both meanings indicate that Christ became the one who can cause people who obey him to receive eternal salvation.
Some other ways to translate this meaning are:
he became the one who can cause all people who obey him to receive eternal salvation
-or-
now he is able to give/offer eternal salvation to everyone who obeys him
-or-
now he is the one who is able to save forever all who ⌊listen to⌋ him ⌊and⌋ do what he says
He: Remember that He refers back to “Christ” in 5:5.
eternal salvation: The phrase eternal salvation refers to salvation that continues forever. The word salvation occurred in 1:14 with the same meaning as it has here. You may translate it in the same way here.
In some languages it is more natural to translate salvation as a verb or a phrase. For example:
to save forever
-or-
to rescue ⌊people⌋ ⌊to live⌋ forever ⌊with God⌋
As mentioned in 5:6b, eternal is a key word in Hebrews. For more information on salvation, see save, sense B, in Key Biblical Terms.
to all who obey Him: The phrase to all who obey Him means “for each person who obeys Christ.” It indicates that people who submit to Christ will receive the salvation which he provided for them. The verb obey has the same meaning as the noun “obedience” in 5:8b. Translate it in a similar way here.
Some other ways to translate the phrase to all who obey Him are:
all the people who do what he tells them
-or-
all people who ⌊listen and⌋ follow/obey him
Him: The pronoun Him refers to Christ.
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