Hebrews 7

Modern

Literal

Melchizedek and Abraham

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

¹For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, the one having met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and having 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.”

²to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all, first indeed being translated, “king of righteousness;” and then also, “king of Salem,” which is, “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.

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

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

⁴Now behold how great this one was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth out of the best spoils.

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.

⁵And indeed, those out from the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood have a commandment to take a tenth from the people, according to the law—that is, from their brothers, though having come forth out of the loin of Abraham.

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

⁶But the one not tracing his descent out from them has collected a tenth from Abraham and has blessed the one having the promises.

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

⁷And apart from all dispute, 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.

⁸And here indeed, dying men receive the tenths; but there, it is being testified that he lives.

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

⁹and so to say a word, even Levi, the one receiving the tenths, has paid the tenth through Abraham.

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

¹⁰For he was still in the loin of his father when Melchizedek met him.

A Superior Priesthood

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?

¹¹Then indeed, if perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for upon it the people had received the law) what need was still for another priest to arise, according to the order of Melchizedek and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?

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

¹²For the priesthood being changed, out of necessity a change of law also takes place.

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

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

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

¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, a tribe in regard to which Moses spoke nothing about priests.

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

¹⁵And it is yet more abundantly evident if another priest according to the likeness of Melchizedek arises,

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

¹⁶who has become such not according to a law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

¹⁷For it is testified:

“You are a priest forever

in the order of Melchizedek.”^a

¹⁷For it is testified: “You are a priest to the age, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

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

¹⁸For indeed, there is a putting away of the preceding commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

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

¹⁹(for the law perfected nothing), and the introduction of a better hope, by which we draw near to God.

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

²⁰And inasmuch as it was not without an oath (for those indeed apart from an oath are become priests),

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.’”^a

²¹the One, however, was with an oath through the One saying to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind; ‘You are a priest to the age.’”

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

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

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

²³And indeed those having become priests are many, because of by death being prevented from continuing.

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

²⁴But because of His remaining to the age, He has the permanent priesthood,

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

²⁵wherefore also He is able to save to the uttermost those drawing near to God through Him, always living 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.

²⁶For such for us indeed was fitting—a high priest holy, innocent, undefiled, having been separated from sinners, and having become higher than 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.

²⁷who has no need every day, as the first high priests, to offer up sacrifices for his own sins, then for those of the people; for He did this once for all, having 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.

²⁸For the law appoints as high priests men having weakness; but the word of the oath, which is after the law, appoints a Son having been perfected to the age.