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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
Hebreos 7
Reina-Valera 1995
Hebreos 7
Reina-Valera 1995
El sacerdocio de Melquisedec
7 Este Melquisedec, rey de Salem, sacerdote del Dios Altísimo, salió a recibir a Abraham que volvía de la derrota de los reyes, y lo bendijo. 2 A él asimismo dio Abraham los diezmos de todo. Melquisedec significa primeramente «Rey de justicia», y también «Rey de Salem», esto es, «Rey de paz». 3 Nada se sabe de su padre ni de su madre ni de sus antepasados; ni tampoco del principio y fin de su vida. Y así, a semejanza del Hijo de Dios, permanece sacerdote para siempre.
4 Considerad, pues, cuán grande era éste, a quien aun Abraham el patriarca dio diezmos del botín. 5 Ciertamente los que de entre los hijos de Leví reciben el sacerdocio, tienen mandamiento de tomar del pueblo los diezmos según la Ley, es decir, de sus hermanos, aunque estos también sean descendientes de Abraham. 6 Pero aquel cuya genealogía no es contada de entre ellos, tomó de Abraham los diezmos y bendijo al que tenía las promesas. 7 Y, sin discusión alguna, el menor es bendecido por el mayor. 8 Y aquí ciertamente reciben los diezmos hombres mortales; pero allí, uno de quien se da testimonio de que vive. 9 Y por decirlo así, en Abraham pagó el diezmo también Leví, que recibe los diezmos, 10 porque aún estaba en las entrañas de su padre cuando Melquisedec le salió al encuentro.
11 Si, pues, la perfección fuera por el sacerdocio levítico —bajo el cual recibió el pueblo la Ley—, ¿qué necesidad habría aún de que se levantara otro sacerdote, según el orden de Melquisedec, y que no fuera llamado según el orden de Aarón?, 12 pues cambiado el sacerdocio, necesario es que haya también cambio de ley; 13 y aquel de quien se dice esto, es de otra tribu, de la cual nadie sirvió al altar. 14 Porque sabido es que nuestro Señor vino de la tribu de Judá, de la cual nada habló Moisés tocante al sacerdocio.
15 Y esto es aun más evidente si a semejanza de Melquisedec se levanta un sacerdote distinto, 16 no constituido conforme a la ley meramente humana, sino según el poder de una vida indestructible, 17 pues se da testimonio de él:
«Tú eres sacerdote para siempre,
según el orden de Melquisedec.»
18 Queda, pues, abrogado el mandamiento anterior a causa de su debilidad e ineficacia 19 —pues la Ley nada perfeccionó— y se introduce una mejor esperanza, por la cual nos acercamos a Dios.
20 Y esto no fue hecho sin juramento; 21 porque los otros ciertamente sin juramento fueron hechos sacerdotes; pero éste, con el juramento del que le dijo:
«Juró el Señor y no se arrepentirá:
tú eres sacerdote para siempre,
según el orden de Melquisedec.»
22 Por tanto, Jesús es hecho fiador de un mejor pacto. 23 Y los otros sacerdotes llegaron a ser muchos, debido a que por la muerte no podían continuar; 24 pero éste, por cuanto permanece para siempre, tiene un sacerdocio inmutable. 25 Por eso puede también salvar perpetuamente a los que por él se acercan a Dios, viviendo siempre para interceder por ellos.
26 Tal sumo sacerdote nos convenía: santo, inocente, sin mancha, apartado de los pecadores y hecho más sublime que los cielos; 27 que no tiene necesidad cada día, como aquellos sumos sacerdotes, de ofrecer primero sacrificios por sus propios pecados, y luego por los del pueblo, porque esto lo hizo una vez para siempre, ofreciéndose a sí mismo. 28 La Ley constituye sumos sacerdotes a hombres débiles; pero la palabra del juramento, posterior a la Ley, constituye al Hijo, hecho perfecto para siempre.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Reina-Valera 1995 (RVR1995)
Copyright © 1995 by United Bible Societies