Melchizedek’s Priesthood like Christ’s

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, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, (C)without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like (D)the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the (E)patriarch, (F)gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. And those indeed of (G)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 countrymen, although they [c]are descended from Abraham. But the one (H)whose genealogy is not traced from them (I)collected [d]a tenth from Abraham and [e](J)blessed the one who (K)had the promises. But without any dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater. In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, (L)of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his [f]forefather when Melchizedek met him.

11 (M)So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it (N)the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise (O)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 (P)the one about whom (Q)these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord [g]was (R)descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses said nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of [h](S)physical requirement, but according to the power of (T)an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of Him,

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

18 For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment (V)because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for (W)the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better (X)hope, through which we (Y)come near to God. 20 And to the extent that 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,

(Z)The Lord has sworn
And (AA)will not change His mind,
You are a priest (AB)forever’”);

22 by the same extent Jesus also has become the [i](AC)guarantee of (AD)a better covenant.

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

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a (AI)high priest, (AJ)holy, (AK)innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and (AL)exalted above the heavens; 27 who has no daily need, like those high priests, to (AM)offer up sacrifices, (AN)first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this (AO)once for all time when He (AP)offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests (AQ)who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints (AR)a Son, who has been (AS)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 7:10 Lit father
  7. Hebrews 7:14 Lit has arisen from
  8. Hebrews 7:16 Lit fleshly commandment; i.e., to be a descendant of Levi
  9. Hebrews 7:22 Or guarantor
  10. Hebrews 7:23 Lit The greater number have become priests...
  11. Hebrews 7:24 Lit He
  12. Hebrews 7:25 Or completely

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

For this (A)Melchizedek, king of (B)Salem, priest of (C)the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother (D)or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

See how great this man was to whom Abraham (E)the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And (F)those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers,[a] though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man (G)who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed (H)him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one (I)of whom it is testified that (J)he lives. 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.

Jesus Compared to Melchizedek

11 (K)Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after 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 For 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 (L)from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,

(M)“You are a priest forever,
    after the order of Melchizedek.”

18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside (N)because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for (O)the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, (P)a better hope is introduced, through which (Q)we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

(R)“The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”

22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of (S)a better covenant.

23 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 (T)forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[b] (U)those who draw near to God (V)through him, since he always lives (W)to make intercession for them.

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, (X)holy, innocent, unstained, (Y)separated from sinners, and (Z)exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, (AA)first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this (AB)once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men (AC)in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made (AD)perfect forever.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 7:5 Or brothers and sisters
  2. Hebrews 7:25 That is, completely; or at all times

Melchizedek, a Kohen Forever

For this Melchizedek was king of Salem, kohen of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, [a] and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything. First, by the translation of his name, he is “King of Righteousness”[b]; and then also King of Salem, which is “King of Shalom.” Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like Ben-Elohim, he remains a kohen for all time.

Now see how great this man is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth out of the plunder. Indeed, those sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have, according to Torah, a command to collect a tithe from the people[c]—that is, from their kin, although they have come out of the loins of Abraham. But this one—who did not have their genealogy—has collected tithes from Abraham and has blessed him, the one holding the promises. Now it is beyond dispute that the lesser is blessed by the greater. In one case, dying men receive tithes; but in the other, one about whom it is testified that he lives on. Through Abraham even Levi, the one receiving tithes, has paid the tithe, so to speak— 10 for he was still in his father’s loins when Melchizedek met him.

Yeshua, Our Kohen Gadol Forever

11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for based on it the people had been given the Torah[d]), what further need was there for a different kohen to arise—designated according to the order of Melchizedek, not according to the order of Aaron? 12 For whenever the priesthood is altered, out of necessity an alteration[e] of law also takes place. 13 For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord has sprung forth[f] from Judah—concerning this tribe, Moses said nothing about kohanim. 15 And it is even more evident, if another kohen arises like Melchizedek— 16 one made not by virtue of a Torah requirement of physical descent,[g] but by virtue of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is testified,

“You are a kohen forever,
    according to the order of Melchizedek.”[h]

18 For on the one hand, a former requirement is set aside because of its weakness and ineffectiveness— 19 for Torah made nothing perfect. But on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

20 Moreover, it was not without a sworn oath. (Others indeed have become kohanim without a sworn oath, 21 but He with an oath—sworn by the One who said to Him, “Adonai has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a kohen forever.’”[i]) 22 How much more then has Yeshua become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23 Now on the one hand, many have become kohanim, who through death are prevented from continuing in office. [j] 24 But on the other hand, the One who does remain forever has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, always living to make intercession for them.

26 For such a Kohen Gadol was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need to offer up sacrifices day by day like those other kohanim g’dolim—first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people.[k] For when He offered up Himself, He did this once for all. 28 For the Torah appoints as kohanim g’dolim men who have weakness; but the word of the oath,[l] which came after the Torah, appoints a Son—made perfect forever.