Hebrews 5:1
Hebrews 5:11Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
Read as background to Christ's role as high priest — a priest is taken from among men and appointed on their behalf, which the Watchtower takes as underlining that Jesus had to become a perfect man to serve as the ransom. The appointment language also supports the reading of him as one given a role by Jehovah.
The verse is describing the ordinary high priest, and the letter is about to show how Christ both fits and exceeds the description. He fits it in the way that matters: taken from among men. says he had to become like his brothers in every respect in order to be a merciful high priest. The genuine humanity is not a concession Christians make reluctantly; it is required by the argument. Where he exceeds it: the priests of this verse offer sacrifices for their own sins as well (5:3), and they die and are replaced (7:23). Christ offers himself, once, and holds his priesthood permanently because he continues for ever (7:24-25). So the appointment language does not settle anything about his nature. A person can be appointed to an office he was not previously exercising without that telling you what he was. — "today I have become your father" — is quoted at for precisely this appointment, and applies the same words to the resurrection. Compare , , .