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Hebrews 7
New English Translation

The Nature of Melchizedek’s Priesthood

7 Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.[a] 2 To him[b] also Abraham apportioned a tithe[c] of everything.[d] His name first means[e] king of righteousness, then king of Salem,[f] that is, king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time. 4 But see how great he must be, if[g] Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe[h] of his plunder. 5 And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office[i] have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen,[j] although they too are descendants of Abraham.[k] 6 But Melchizedek[l] who does not share their ancestry[m] collected a tithe[n] from Abraham and blessed[o] the one who possessed the promise. 7 Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior, 8 and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive. 9 And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham. 10 For he was still in his ancestor Abraham’s loins[p] when Melchizedek met him.

Jesus and the Priesthood of Melchizedek

11 So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood—for on that basis[q] the people received the law—what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order? 12 For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come[r] as well. 13 Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to[s] a different tribe, and no one from that tribe[t] has ever officiated at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. 15 And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent[u] but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For here is the testimony about him:[v] “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”[w] 18 On the one hand a former command is set aside[x] because it is weak and useless,[y] 19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And since[z] this was not done without a sworn affirmation—for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 21 but Jesus[aa] did so[ab] with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”[ac]— 22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee[ad] of a better covenant. 23 And the others[ae] who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them[af] from continuing in office,[ag] 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. 25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness,[ah] but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 7:1 sn A series of quotations from Gen 14:17-19.
  2. Hebrews 7:2 tn Grk “to whom,” continuing the description of Melchizedek. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  3. Hebrews 7:2 tn Or “a tenth part.”
  4. Hebrews 7:2 sn A quotation from Gen 14:20.
  5. Hebrews 7:2 tn Grk “first being interpreted,” describing Melchizedek.
  6. Hebrews 7:2 sn These words are repeated from the quotation of Gen 14:18 in the previous verse.
  7. Hebrews 7:4 tn Grk “to whom.”
  8. Hebrews 7:4 tn Or “a tenth part.”
  9. Hebrews 7:5 tn Or “the priesthood.”
  10. Hebrews 7:5 tn Grk “from their brothers.” See BDAG 18-19 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.b.
  11. Hebrews 7:5 tn Grk “have come from the loins of Abraham.”
  12. Hebrews 7:6 tn Grk “the one”; in the translation the referent (Melchizedek) has been specified for clarity.
  13. Hebrews 7:6 tn Grk “is not descended from them.”
  14. Hebrews 7:6 tn Or “a tenth part.”
  15. Hebrews 7:6 sn The verbs “collected…and blessed” emphasize the continuing effect of the past actions, i.e., Melchizedek’s importance.
  16. Hebrews 7:10 tn Grk “in the loins of his father” (a reference to Abraham). The name “Abraham” has been repeated in the translation at this point (cf. v. 9) in order to clarify the referent (i.e., what ancestor was in view).sn The point of the phrase still in his ancestor’s loins is that Levi was as yet unborn, still in his ancestor Abraham’s body. Thus Levi participated in Abraham’s action when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.
  17. Hebrews 7:11 tn Grk “based on it.”
  18. Hebrews 7:12 tn Grk “of necessity a change in the law comes to pass.”
  19. Hebrews 7:13 tn Grk “shares in.”
  20. Hebrews 7:13 tn Grk “from which no one.”
  21. Hebrews 7:16 tn Grk “a law of a fleshly command.”
  22. Hebrews 7:17 tn Grk “for he/it is witnessed that.”
  23. Hebrews 7:17 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6 and 6:20).
  24. Hebrews 7:18 tn Grk “the setting aside of a former command comes to pass.”
  25. Hebrews 7:18 tn Grk “because of its weakness and uselessness.”
  26. Hebrews 7:20 sn The Greek text contains an elaborate comparison between v. 20a and v. 22, with a parenthesis (vv. 20b-21) in between; the comparison is literally, “by as much as…by so much” or “to the degree that…to that same degree.”
  27. Hebrews 7:21 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  28. Hebrews 7:21 tn The words “did so” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
  29. Hebrews 7:21 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6; 6:20, and 7:17).
  30. Hebrews 7:22 tn Or “surety.”
  31. Hebrews 7:23 tn Grk “they on the one hand” in contrast with “he on the other hand” in v. 24.
  32. Hebrews 7:23 tn Grk “they were prevented by death.”
  33. Hebrews 7:23 tn Grk “from continuing” (the words “in office” are supplied for clarity).
  34. Hebrews 7:28 sn See Heb 5:2 where this concept was introduced.
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Hebrews 7
Legacy Standard Bible

The Priesthoods of Melchizedek and Christ

7 For this (A)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the (B)Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 (C)to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, (D)without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like (E)the Son of God, he remains a priest continually.

4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the (F)patriarch, (G)gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And those indeed of (H)the sons of Levi, who receive the priest’s office, have a commandment [a]in the Law to collect [b]a tenth from the people, that is, from their brothers, although these [c]are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one (I)whose genealogy is not traced from them had (J)collected [d]a tenth from Abraham and [e](K)blessed the one who (L)had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, (M)of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

11 (N)Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it (O)the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise (P)according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For (Q)the one concerning whom (R)these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord [f]was (S)descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not according to a law of [g](T)physical requirement, but according to the power of (U)an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed about Him,

“(V)You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment (W)because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for (X)the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better (Y)hope, through which we (Z)draw near to God. 20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

“(AA)The [h]Lord has sworn
And (AB)will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest (AC)forever’”);

22 so much more Jesus also has become the (AD)guarantee of (AE)a better covenant.

23 And [i]the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues (AF)forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to (AG)save [j]forever those who (AH)draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to (AI)make intercession for them.

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a (AJ)high priest, (AK)holy, (AL)innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and (AM)exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to (AN)offer up sacrifices, (AO)first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did (AP)once for all when He (AQ)offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests (AR)who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints (AS)a Son, who has been (AT)made perfect forever.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 7:5 Lit according to
  2. Hebrews 7:5 Or tithes
  3. Hebrews 7:5 Lit have come out of the loins of
  4. Hebrews 7:6 Or tithes
  5. Hebrews 7:6 Lit has blessed
  6. Hebrews 7:14 Lit has arisen from
  7. Hebrews 7:16 To be a descendant of Levi; lit fleshly commandment
  8. Hebrews 7:21 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 110:4
  9. Hebrews 7:23 Lit the greater number have become priests...
  10. Hebrews 7:25 Or completely
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