Hebrews 7
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Now this Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning from the slaughter of the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him,
2 To 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;
and Abraham gave him a tenth of all the spoils. His name means “king of righteousness,” but he is also “king of Salem,” which means, “king of peace.”
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like to the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
He is without father, without mother, and without genealogy; there is no beginning to his days or end to his life. But resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 Now consider how great this man [was], to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Consider how great this man must be, that even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they come from the loins of Abraham:
Now the law commands the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office to collect tithes from the people, that is, their brothers, even though their brothers are also descended from Abraham.
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
But Melchizedek, who was not among the descendants of Levi, received a tithe from Abraham. He also blessed Abraham, who had received the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed by the better.
It is beyond all dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is testified that he liveth.
In the one case, tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, they are received by one who is attested to be living.
9 And as I may say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
For Levi was still in the loins of his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him.
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?
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under this priesthood the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek rather than the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
For when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
Now he of whom these things are spoken belongs to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14 For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
For it is clear that our Lord arose from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Now this point becomes even more clear when there arises another priest like Melchizedek,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an endless life.
For God testifies, “Yoʋ are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the preceding commandment on account of its weakness and unprofitableness.
The former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and ineffectiveness
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the introduction of a better hope [did]; by which we draw nigh to God.
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:
And none of this happened without an oath. Aaron's descendants become priests without an oath,
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath, by him that said to him, The Lord swore, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: ) (aiōn g165)
but Jesus was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘Yoʋ are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” (aiōn g165)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Accordingly, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
Now the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;
but because Jesus continues forever, he has a permanent priesthood. (aiōn g165)
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Therefore he is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 For such a high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
It was fitting for us to have such a high priest, one who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 Who 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.
He has no need, like the other high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, 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.
28 For the law maketh men high priests who have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. (aiōn g165)
For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son, who has been made perfect forever. (aiōn g165)
