Hebrews 7:11-19
Wycliffe Bible
11 Therefore if perfection was by the priesthood of Levi, for under him the people took the law, what yet was it needful, another priest to rise, by the order of Melchisedec, and not to be said by the order of Aaron [what yet was it needful, another priest to rise, after the order of Melchisedec, and not to be said after the order of Aaron]?
12 For why when the priesthood is translated, it is need [it is needful] that also [the] translation of the law be made.
13 But he in whom these things be said, is of another lineage, of which no man was priest to the altar [of which no man was priest, or ready, to the altar].
14 For it is open [Soothly it is openly known], that our Lord is born of Juda, in which lineage Moses spake nothing of priests.
15 And more yet it is known, if by the order of Melchisedec another priest is risen up; [And more yet it is known, if after the order of Melchisedec another priest riseth;]
16 which is not made by the law of fleshly commandment, but by [the] virtue of life that may not be undone. [the which is not made after the law of fleshly commandment, but after virtue of life indissoluble, or that may not be undone.]
17 For he witnesseth, That thou art a priest without end, by the order of Melchisedec; [Soothly he witnesseth, For thou art a priest into without end, after the order of Melchisedec;]
18 that reproving of the commandment before-going is made, for the unfirmness and unprofit of it.
19 For why the law brought nothing to perfection, but there is a bringing in of a better hope, by which we approach to God [by which we nigh to God].
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Hebrews 7:11-19
New Matthew Bible
11 If now therefore perfection came by the priesthood of the Levites (for under that priesthood the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not after the order of Aaron? 12 Now no doubt if the priesthood is translated, then of necessity the law must be translated also. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, of which no man ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, of which tribe Moses said nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet a more evident thing if another priest in the similitude of Melchizedek arises, 16 who is not made priest by the law of the carnal commandment, but by the power of the endless life. 17 For he testifies: You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
18 So then, the previous commandment is abrogated, because of its weakness and unprofitableness. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but was a preparation for a better hope, by which hope we draw near to God.
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Hebrews 7:11-19
1599 Geneva Bible
11 [a]If therefore [b]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 [c]For if the Priesthood be changed, then of necessity must there be a change of the [d]Law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken, pertaineth unto another tribe, whereof no man [e]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 [f]And it is yet a more evident thing, because that after the similitude of Melchizedek, there is risen up another Priest,
16 [g]Which is not made Priest after the [h]Law of the carnal commandment, but after the power of the endless life.
17 For he testifieth thus, (A)Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
18 [i]For the [j]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.
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- 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 7:11-19
Authorized (King James) Version
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Read full chapter2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
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