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Now Observe How Great This Melchizedek Is

For this Melchizedek[a], king of Salem, priest of the Most-High God, remains[b] a priest perpetually[c]— the one having met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and having blessed him; to whom also Abraham divided a tenth from everything; who is first ([his name] being translated), king of righteousness; and then also king of Salem, which is[d] king of peace; fatherless, motherless, genealogy-less, having[e] neither a beginning of days nor an end of life, but having been made-like[f] the Son of God. Now observe how great this one is to whom indeed Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth from the choicest-spoils:

He Is Greater Than Abraham

Indeed, the ones from the sons of Levi receiving the priestly-office have a commandment to be collecting-a-tenth-from the people according to the Law (that is, from their brothers, even though their brothers have come-out of the loins of Abraham)— yet the one not tracing-his-genealogy from them has collected-a-tenth from Abraham, and has blessed the one having the promises! And apart from all dispute, the lesser one is blessed by the better one.

He Is Living As a Priest Perpetually

And here, dying men[g] receive the tenths— yet there, it is being attested[h] that he is living!

He Is Greater Than Levi And His Priesthood

And so to speak, through Abraham even Levi[i], the one receiving the tenths, has paid-a-tenth. 10 For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him!

Now Why Did Another Priesthood Need To Arise After Aaron?

11 Now indeed, if perfection had been through the Levitical priesthood (for the [Jewish] people have received-the-Law on the basis of it) what further need would there have been that another priest should arise according to the order[j] of Melchizedek, and not be named according to the order of Aaron?

For This New Priesthood Also Brings a Change of Law

12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is[k] also a change of law.

For Its High Priest Is From The Tribe of Judah

13 For the One about Whom these[l] things are spoken has partaken of another tribe from which no one has attended-to the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord has risen from Judah— for which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

And He Became High Priest Based On His Indestructible Life

15 And it is still even-more very-clear[m] if Another Priest arises in accordance with the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 Who has become such not based-on the law of a fleshy[n] commandment, but based on the power of an indestructible life! 17 For it is attested that “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” [Ps 110:4].

The New Sets Aside The Old And Brings In a Better Hope

18 For a setting-aside[o] of the preceding commandment takes place because of its weakness and unprofitableness 19 (for the Law perfected nothing)— and a bringing-in of a better hope through which we draw-near to God.

Jesus Is a Better Priest Because His Priesthood Is Based On God’s Oath

20 And[p] to the degree that it was not without an oath-swearing (for the ones have become[q] priests without an oath-swearing, 21 but the One with an oath-swearing, through the One saying to Him [in Ps 110:4]: “The Lord swore and He will not change-His-mind, You are a priest forever”)— 22 to that degree also Jesus has become the guarantee[r] of a better covenant.

Jesus Serves As High Priest Forever

23 And[s] the many have been [Levitical] priests because of their being prevented from continuing by death— 24 but the One, because of His remaining forever, has a permanent[t] priesthood. 25 Hence also, He is able to save completely[u] the ones coming-to God through Him, always living so as to intercede for them.

God’s Son Perfected Forever Is a Fitting High Priest For Us

26 For such a High Priest was indeed fitting for us— holy, innocent, undefiled, having been separated[v] from sinners, and having become higher than the heavens— 27 Who does not have the daily necessity (as indeed the high priests) to be offering sacrifices first for His own sins, then the sins of the people. For He did this once-for-all, having offered Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men having weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath-swearing after[w] the Law appoints a Son having been perfected forever.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 7:1 The meaning of this man is explained by examining the two places he is mentioned in the OT, Gen 14:17-20 (in v 1-10) and Ps 110 (in v 11-28).
  2. Hebrews 7:1 remains a priest perpetually. In the Greek word order this phrase is at the end of v 3, placing emphasis on it.
  3. Hebrews 7:1 Or, continually, and in this sense, for all time, forever.
  4. Hebrews 7:2 That is, means.
  5. Hebrews 7:3 That is, in the OT record.
  6. Hebrews 7:3 Or, made-to-resemble, copied-from. He is made to appear as a prefigurement of Christ.
  7. Hebrews 7:8 That is, Levitical priests, who all eventually die.
  8. Hebrews 7:8 That is, because Genesis records no end of life, v 3.
  9. Hebrews 7:9 Thus, the entire Levitical priesthood is inferior to the priesthood of Melchizedek.
  10. Hebrews 7:11 This new priestly order is mentioned in Ps 110, long after the establishment of the Levitical priesthood. This implies that the Levitical priesthood was imperfect and temporary.
  11. Hebrews 7:12 Or, occurs.
  12. Hebrews 7:13 That is, Ps 110:4.
  13. Hebrews 7:15 That is, that there is a change of law.
  14. Hebrews 7:16 That is, a law pertaining to the flesh, to the candidate’s physical lineage.
  15. Hebrews 7:18 Or, annulment, abolishment, abrogation. The conclusion is that Ps 110 predicts a new High Priest in a new priesthood, which requires a new law. This means the old is set aside and the new brought in by Jesus.
  16. Hebrews 7:20 Now an inference is drawn from ‘swore’ in Ps 110.
  17. Hebrews 7:20 The grammar implies have become and continue to be.
  18. Hebrews 7:22 Or, pledge, security.
  19. Hebrews 7:23 Now an inference is drawn from ‘forever’ in Ps 110.
  20. Hebrews 7:24 Or, unchangeable. It does not pass to another.
  21. Hebrews 7:25 That is, in contrast to the Law, which perfected nothing. Or, forever.
  22. Hebrews 7:26 That is, in character, taking this with what precedes; or, physically, to heaven, taking it with what follows.
  23. Hebrews 7:28 That is, written after, in Ps 110.

Melchizedek the Priest

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) 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.” 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.

Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch(F) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!(G) 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. 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) And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 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) 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:

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”[a](R)

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:

“The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind:(W)
    ‘You are a priest forever.’”[b](X)

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

  1. Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
  2. Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
  3. Hebrews 7:25 Or forever