Hebrews 7
1 For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who did meet Abraham turning back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless 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 a tenth of all did Abraham divide, (first, indeed, being interpreted, 'King of righteousness,' and then 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 genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain 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 And see how great this one [is], to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the spoils,
Consider how great this man must be, that even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils.
5 and those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth out of 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 and he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,
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 apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed —
It is beyond all dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 and here, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there [he], who is testified to that he was living,
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 so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,
One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham.
10 for he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchisedek met him.
For Levi was still in the loins of his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him.
11 If indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood — for the people under it had received law — what further need, according to the order of Melchisedek, for another priest to arise, and not to be called according to 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, of necessity also, of the law a change doth come,
For when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed.
13 for he of whom these things are said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one 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 out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake 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 more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest,
Now this point becomes even more clear when there arises another priest like Melchizedek,
16 who came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to 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.
17 for He doth testify — 'Thou [art] a priest — to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;' (aiōn g165)
For God testifies, “Yoʋ are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)
18 for a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,
The former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and ineffectiveness
19 (for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through 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 [it is] not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,
And none of this happened without an oath. Aaron's descendants become priests without an oath,
21 and he with an oath through Him who is saying unto him, 'The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest — to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;') (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 of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,
Accordingly, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 and those indeed are many who have become priests, because by death they are hindered from remaining;
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 whence also he is able to save to the very end, those coming through him unto God — ever living 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 chief priest did become us — kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and become 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 hath no necessity daily, as the chief priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifice, then for those of the people; for this he did once, having 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 doth appoint men chief priests, having infirmity, but the word of the oath that [is] after the law [appointeth] the Son — to the age having been perfected. (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)
