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 man, Melchizedek, King of Salem and priest of the Most High God--he who when Abraham was returning after defeating the kings met him and pronounced a blessing on 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 presented a tenth part of all--being first, as his name signifies, King of righteousness, and secondly King of Salem, that 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.
with no father or mother, and no record of ancestry: having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made a type of the Son of God--this man Melchizedek remains a priest for ever.
4 Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.
Now think how great this priest-king must have been to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth part of the best of the spoil.
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 those of the descendants of Levi who receive the priesthood are authorized by the Law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brethren, though these have sprung from 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, in this instance, one who does not trace his origin from them takes tithes from Abraham, and pronounces a blessing on him to whom the promises belong.
7 And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
And beyond all dispute it is always the inferior who is blessed by the superior.
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.
Moreover here frail mortal men receive tithes: there one receives them about whom there is evidence that he is alive.
9 And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
And Levi too--if I may so speak--pays tithes through Abraham:
10 For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
for Levi was yet in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met Abraham.
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 the crowning blessing was attainable by means of the Levitical priesthood--for as resting on this foundation the people received the Law, to which they are still subject-- what further need was there for a Priest of a different kind to be raised up belonging to the order of Melchizedek instead of being said to belong to the order of Aaron?
12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
For when the priesthood changes, a change of Law also of necessity takes place.
13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
He, however, to whom that prophecy refers is associated with a different tribe, not one member of which has anything to do with 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 undeniable that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe of which Moses said nothing in connection with priests.
15 And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
And this is still more abundantly clear when we read that it is as belonging to the order of Melchizedek that a priest of a different kind is to arise,
16 one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.
and hold His office not in obedience to any temporary Law, but by virtue of an indestructible Life.
For the words are in evidence, "Thou art a priest for ever, belonging to the order of Melchizedek." (aiōn g165)
18 So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
On the one hand we have here the abrogation of an earlier code because it was weak and ineffective--
19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
for the Law brought no perfect blessing--but on the other hand we have the bringing in of a new and better hope by means of which we draw near to God.
20 And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
And since it was not without an oath being taken--
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 these men hold office without any oath having been taken, but He holds it attested by an oath from Him who said to Him, "The Lord has sworn and will not recall His words, Thou art a Priest for ever" -- (aiōn g165)
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
so much the more also is the Covenant of which Jesus has become the guarantor, a better covenant.
23 Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
And they have been appointed priests many in number, because death prevents their continuance in office:
but He, because He continues for ever, has a priesthood which does not pass to any successor. (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.
Hence too He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, seeing that He ever lives to plead 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.
Moreover we needed just such a High Priest as this--holy, guileless, undefiled, far removed from sinful men and exalted above 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, unlike other High Priests, is not under the necessity of offering up sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and afterwards for those of the people; for this latter thing 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 constitutes men High Priests--men with all their infirmity--but the utterance of the oath, which came later than the Law, constitutes High Priest a Son who has been made for ever perfect. (aiōn g165)
