Hebrews — Chapter 7

1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

3Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

4Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.

5Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

6But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

7And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.

8In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.

9And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.

10For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

15And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

16one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.

17For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

18So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless

19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

21but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”

22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.

24But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.

25Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

27Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

5And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

6But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

11If 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?

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

13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;

3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.

4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils.

5And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest`s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:

6but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.

7But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better.

8And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

9And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;

10for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

11Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need [was there] that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?

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

13For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.

14For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests.

15And [what we say] is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,

16who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:

17for it is witnessed [of him,] Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.

18For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness

19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.

20And inasmuch as [it is] not without the taking of an oath

21(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);

22by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.

23And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:

24but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.

25Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

26For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the [sins] of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.

28For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, [appointeth] a Son, perfected for evermore.

1Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.

2To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace.

3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time.

4But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder.

5And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they, too, are descendants of Abraham.

6But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise.

7Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,

8and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive.

9And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.

10For he was still in his ancestor Abraham’s loins when Melchizedek met him.

11So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood—for on that basis the people received the law—what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?

12For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well.

13Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar.

14For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.

15And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,

16who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life.

17For here is the testimony about him: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

18On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless,

19for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

20And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation—for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,

21but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”—

22accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23And the others who became priests were numerous because death prevented them from continuing in office,

24but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever.

25So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them.

26For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

27He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.

28For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.

1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, “king of righteousness”, and then also “king of Salem”, which means “king of peace”;

3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually.

4Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best plunder.

5They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,

6but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.

7But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

8Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.

9We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,

10for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

11Now if there were perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.

13For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

14For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

15This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,

16who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:

17for it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

18For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath

21(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’”

22By so much, Jesus has become the collateral of a better covenant.

23Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

24But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.

25Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.

26For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.

28For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.