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Hebrews 7
1599 Geneva Bible
Hebrews 7
1599 Geneva Bible
7 1 He hath hitherto stirred them up, to mark diligently what things are to be considered in Melchizedek, 15 wherein he is like unto Christ. 20 Wherefore the Law should give place to the Gospel.
1 For this [a]Melchizedek (A)was King of Salem, the Priest of the most high God, who met Abraham, as he returned from the slaughter of the Kings, and [b]blessed him:
2 To whom also Abraham gave the tithe of all things: who first is by interpretation King of righteousness: after that, he is also King of Salem, that is, King of peace,
3 [c]Without father, without mother, without kindred, and hath neither beginning of his days, neither end of life: but is likened unto the Son of God, and continueth a Priest forever.
4 [d]Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the Patriarch Abraham gave the tithe of the spoils.
5 For verily they which are the children of Levi, which receive the office of the Priesthood, have a (B)commandment to take, according to the Law, tithes of the people (that is, of their brethren) though they [e]came out of the loins of Abraham.
6 But he whose kindred is not counted among them, received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And [f]without all contradiction the less is blessed of the greater.
8 And here men that die, receive tithes: but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed, that he liveth.
9 [g]And to say as the thing is, Levi also which receiveth tithes, payeth tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father Abraham, when Melchizedek met him.
11 [h]If therefore [i]perfection had been by the Priesthood of the Levites (for under it the Law was established to the people) what needed it furthermore, that another Priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not to be called after the order of Aaron?
12 [j]For if the Priesthood be changed, then of necessity must there be a change of the [k]Law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken, pertaineth unto another tribe, whereof no man [l]served at the altar.
14 For it is evident, that our Lord sprung out of Judah, concerning the which tribe Moses spake nothing, touching the Priesthood.
15 [m]And it is yet a more evident thing, because that after the similitude of Melchizedek, there is risen up another Priest,
16 [n]Which is not made Priest after the [o]Law of the carnal commandment, but after the power of the endless life.
17 For he testifieth thus, (C)Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
18 [p]For the [q]commandment that went afore, is disannulled, because of the weakness thereof, and unprofitableness.
19 For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope made perfect, whereby we draw near unto God.
20 [r]And forasmuch as it is not without an oath (for these are made Priests without an oath:
21 But this is made with an oath by him that said unto him, (D)The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.)
22 By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better Testament.
23 [s]And among them many were made Priests, because they were not suffered to endure, by the reason of death.
24 But this man, because he endureth ever, hath a Priesthood, which [t]cannot pass from one to another.
25 Wherefore, he is [u]able also perfectly to save them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth, to make intercession for them.
26 [v]For such an high Priest it became us to have, which is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:
27 Which needeth not daily as those high Priests to offer up sacrifice, (E)first for his own sins, and then for the peoples: [w]for [x]that did he [y]once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the Law maketh men high Priests, which have infirmity: but the [z]word of the oath [aa]that [ab]was since the Law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 7:1 Declaring those words, According to the order of Melchizedek, whereupon that comparison standeth of the Priesthood of Christ with the Levitical: first Melchizedek himself is considered as the figure of Christ, and these are the hands of that comparison, Melchizedek was a King and a Priest: and such an one indeed is Christ alone. He was a King of peace and righteousness: such an one indeed is Christ alone.
- Hebrews 7:1 With a solemn and Priestly blessing.
- Hebrews 7:3 Another figure: Melchizedek set before us to be considered as one without beginning and without ending, for neither his father, nor his mother, nor his ancestors, nor his death are written of: and such an one indeed is the Son of God, to wit, an everlasting Priest: as he is God, without mother wonderfully begotten: as he is man, without father wonderfully conceived.
- Hebrews 7:4 Another figure: Melchizedek in consideration of his Priesthood was above Abraham, for he took tenths of him, and blessed him as a Priest: Such an one indeed is Christ, upon whom dependeth even Abraham’s sanctification, and all the believers, and whom all men ought to worship and reverence as the author of all.
- Hebrews 7:5 Were begotten by Abraham.
- Hebrews 7:7 He speaketh of the public blessing which the Priests used.
- Hebrews 7:9 A double amplification: The first, that Melchizedek took the tenths, as one immortal (to wit, in respect, that he is the figure of Christ, for his death is in no place made mention of, and David setteth him forth as an everlasting Priest) but the Levitical Priests, as mortal men, for they succeed one another: the second, that Levi himself was tithed in Abraham by Melchizedek. Therefore the Priesthood of Melchizedek (that is, Christ’s who is pronounced to be an everlasting Priest according to his order) is more excellent than the Levitical.
- Hebrews 7:11 The third treatise of this Epistle, wherein after he hath proved Christ to be a King, a Prophet, and a Priest, he now handleth distinctly the condition and excellency of all these offices, showing that all these were but shadows in all other, but in Christ they are true and perfect. And he beginneth with the Priesthood, wherewith also the former treatise ended, that by this means all the parts and members of this disputation, may better hang together. And first of all he proveth that the Levitical Priesthood was imperfect because another Priest is promised a long time after according to another order, that is to say, of another manner of rule and fashion.
- Hebrews 7:11 If the priesthood of Levi could have made any man perfect.
- Hebrews 7:12 He showeth how that by the institution of the new Priesthood, not only the imperfection of the Priesthood of Levi was declared, but also that it was changed for this: for these two cannot stand together, because that first appointment of the tribe of Levi, did shut forth the tribe of Judah, and made it also inferior to Levi: and this latter doth place the Priesthood in the tribe of Judah.
- Hebrews 7:12 Of the institution of Aaron.
- Hebrews 7:13 Had anything to do about the altar.
- Hebrews 7:15 Lest any man might object, that the Priesthood indeed was translated from Levi to Judah, but yet notwithstanding the same remaineth still, he both weigheth and expoundeth these words of David, forever, according to the order of Melchizedek, whereby also a divers institution of priesthood is well perceived.
- Hebrews 7:16 He proveth the diversity and excellency of the institution of Melchizedek’s Priesthood, by this, that the priesthood of the Law did stand upon an outward and bodily anointing: but the sacrifice of Melchizedek is set out to be everlasting and more spiritual.
- Hebrews 7:16 Not after the ordination, which commandeth frail and transitory things, as was done in Aaron’s consecration, and all that whole Priesthood.
- Hebrews 7:18 Again, that no man might object that the last Priesthood was added to make a perfect one, by the coupling of them both together, he proveth that the first was abrogated by the latter as unprofitable, and that by the nature of them both. For how could those corporal and transitory things sanctify us, either of themselves, or being joined with another?
- Hebrews 7:18 The ceremonial law.
- Hebrews 7:20 Another argument whereby he proveth that the Priesthood of Christ is better than the Priesthood of Levi, because his was established with an oath, but theirs was not so.
- Hebrews 7:23 Another argument tending to the same purpose. The Levitical Priests (as mortal men) could not be everlasting, but Christ as he is everlasting, so hath he also an everlasting Priesthood making most effectual intercession for them which by him come unto God.
- Hebrews 7:24 Which cannot pass away.
- Hebrews 7:25 He is fit and meet.
- Hebrews 7:26 Another argument: There are required in an high Priest innocency, and perfect pureness, which may separate him from sinners, for whom he offereth. But the Levitical high Priests shall not be found to be such, for they offer first for their own sins: But Christ only is such a one; and therefore the true and only high Priest.
- Hebrews 7:27 Another argument which notwithstanding he handleth afterward: The Levitical Priests offered sacrifice after sacrifice, first for themselves, and then for the people. But Christ offered not for himself, but for others, not sacrifices, but himself, not oftentimes, but once. And this ought not to seem strange; saith he, forsomuch as they are weak, but this man is consecrated an everlasting Priest, and that by an oath.
- Hebrews 7:27 That sacrifice which he offered.
- Hebrews 7:27 It was so done, that it needeth not be repeated or offered again anymore.
- Hebrews 7:28 The commandment of God which was bound with an oath.
- Hebrews 7:28 Another argument taken of the time: former things are taken away by the latter.
- Hebrews 7:28 Exhibited.
Hebrews 7
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Hebrews 7
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
The Priestly Order of Melchizedek
7 This ‘King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him’; 2 and to him Abraham apportioned ‘one-tenth of everything’. His name, in the first place, means ‘king of righteousness’; next he is also king of Salem, that is, ‘king of peace’. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest for ever.
4 See how great he is! Even[a] Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils. 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes[b] from the people, that is, from their kindred,[c] though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes[d] from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Another Priest, Like Melchizedek
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under this priesthood—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, 16 one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of him,
‘You are a priest for ever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.’
18 There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.
20 This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath, 21 but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him,
‘The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest for ever”’—
22 accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. 25 Consequently he is able for all time to save[e] those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other[f] high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 7:4 Other ancient authorities lack Even
- Hebrews 7:5 Or a tenth
- Hebrews 7:5 Gk brothers
- Hebrews 7:6 Or a tenth
- Hebrews 7:25 Or able to save completely
- Hebrews 7:27 Gk lacks other
Hebrews 7
New Catholic Bible
Hebrews 7
New Catholic Bible
A Different Kind of High Priest[a]
Chapter 7
Melchizedek.[b] 1 This Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, met Abraham as he was returning from his defeat of the kings, and he blessed him. 2 Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. His name first means “king of righteousness,” and then “king of Salem,” that is, “king of peace.” 3 Without father, or mother, or genealogy, and without beginning of days or end of life, thus bearing a resemblance to the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 Just consider now how great this man must have been for the patriarch Abraham to give him a tenth of his spoils. 5 The descendants of Levi who succeed to the priestly office are required by the Law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descended from Abraham. 6 However, Melchizedek, who was not of the same ancestry, received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises.
7 It is indisputable that a lesser person is blessed by one who is greater. 8 In the one case, it is ordinary mortal men who receive tithes; in the other, the recipient is one of whom it is attested that he is alive. 9 One could even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, actually paid tithes through Abraham, 10 inasmuch as he was still in his father’s loins when Melchizedek met Abraham.
11 Another High Priest according to the Order of Melchizedek.[c] If perfection was therefore achieved through the Levitical priesthood, on the basis of which the Law was given to the people, what need would there have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek rather than one according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is any change in the priesthood, there must also be a change in the Law.
13 Now the one about whom these things were said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing in regard to priests.
15 This becomes even more obvious now that another priest has arisen, one like Melchizedek, 16 who was one not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of him:
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
18 The earlier commandment is abrogated because of its weakness and ineffectiveness, 19 since the Law brought nothing to perfection. On the other hand, a better hope is introduced through which we draw nearer to God.
20 This was confirmed by an oath. When others became priests, no oath was required, 21 but this one became a priest with the swearing of an oath by the one who said to him,
“The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent:
‘You are a priest forever.’ ”
22 Accordingly, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from remaining in office. 24 However, Jesus holds a perpetual priesthood because he remains forever. 25 Therefore, he has the full power to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to intercede for them.
26 The High Priest That We Needed.[d] It was fitting that we should have such a high priest—holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and raised high above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people. He accomplished this once for all when he offered himself. 28 The Law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the Law, appointed the Son who has been made perfect forever.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 7:1 A mysterious figure made his appearance in the story of Abraham: Melchizedek (see Gen 14:17-20), and Ps 110—which held a special place in Israel’s meditation on the Messiah—speaks of a mysterious priesthood of the kind exercised by Melchizedek (v. 4). The Letter to the Hebrews says that those passages foretell the priesthood of Christ. Yet the priesthood of Christ cannot be measured by the same standard as the Jewish priesthood, because it renders the latter obsolete.
- Hebrews 7:1 The figure of Melchizedek is full of symbols. His name means “king of righteousness”; his reign was one of “peace.” Most unusually, the Bible gives us no chronological or genealogical information about him, naming neither his ancestors nor his descendants. His priesthood does not seem to be connected in any way with a hereditary line of priests, but only with his own person, as though it were something everlasting. And Abraham, to whom is given all the power to bless and the promises for Israel, receives a blessing from Melchizedek and offers him a tithe. All the more, then, does this priest stand above all the descendants of the Patriarch, and especially Levi, from whom descends all the Jewish priests whose standing the people acknowledge by paying them a tithe (see Lev 27:30-33; Num 18:21f). In the person of Abraham, they all bowed down to the mysterious priesthood of Melchizedek, who prefigured Jesus.
- Hebrews 7:11 Jesus Christ, foretold by the person of Melchizedek, does not have a place in the priestly genealogies that were set up after Moses; his priesthood is based on the commitment of God himself, on the divine oath (vv. 20-22). He is the definitive mediator between God and humanity.
- Hebrews 7:26 A first conclusion rises as a chant of freedom and a beautiful hymn to Christ. Perishable offerings are no longer anything but a symbol of self-giving already completed in reality: Christ alone can commit himself completely to God, become an offering, and in his very person be the representative of human beings before God. The Son who has been made perfect forever: Jesus, the Son, is God, and he shares the divine attributes, e.g., holiness (see v. 26; Jn 8:46; 2 Cor 5:21); eternity (see Mic 5:2; Jn 1:1; 8:58; 17:5, 24; Col 1:17); omnipotence (see Heb 1:3; Mt 28:18; Rev 1:8); omniscience (see Mt 9:4; Jn 6:64; 16:30; Col 2:3); immutability (see Heb 1:11f; 13:8); omnipresence (see Mt 28:20; Jn 3:13; Eph 1:23); creative power (see Heb 1:8, 10; Jn 1:3; 1 Cor 8:6; Col 1:16f); power to forgive sins (see Mk 2:5, 7-10; Lk 24:47; Jn 1:29; Acts 10:43; 1 Jn 1:7); the right to be worshiped (see Mt 8:2; Phil 2:10).
Hebrews 7
New International Version
Hebrews 7
New International Version
Melchizedek the Priest
7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem(A) and priest of God Most High.(B) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,(C) 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy,(D) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,(E) he remains a priest forever.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch(F) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!(G) 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people(H)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed(I) him who had the promises.(J) 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.(K) 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus Like Melchizedek
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people(L) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,(M) one in the order of Melchizedek,(N) not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,(O) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.(P) 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,(Q) and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless(S) 19 (for the law made nothing perfect),(T) and a better hope(U) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.(V)
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.(Y)
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.(Z) 25 Therefore he is able to save(AA) completely[c] those who come to God(AB) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.(AC)
26 Such a high priest(AD) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,(AE) exalted above the heavens.(AF) 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices(AG) day after day, first for his own sins,(AH) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all(AI) when he offered himself.(AJ) 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;(AK) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,(AL) who has been made perfect(AM) forever.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:25 Or forever
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New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)
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