Hebrews 7
1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him,
2 and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
to 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;
3 Without 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.
without 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.
4 Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils.
5 Now 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.
And 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:
6 But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.
7 And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better.
8 In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.
And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;
10 For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.
11 Now 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?
Now 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?
12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.
14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests.
15 And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
And [what we say] is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,
16 one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.
who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:
for it is witnessed [of him], Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek. (aiōn g165)
18 So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness
19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
And inasmuch as [it is] not without the taking of an oath
21 but 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.’” (aiōn g165)
(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); (aiōn g165)
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.
23 Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:
but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable. (aiōn g165)
25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Wherefore 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.
26 Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Unlike 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.
who 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.
28 For 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. (aiōn g165)
For 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. (aiōn g165)
