Hebrews · Berean Standard Bible
Hebrews 7 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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,
1 Οὗτος γὰρ ὁ Μελχισεδέκ, βασιλεὺς Σαλήμ, ἱερεὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου, ὁ συναντήσας Ἀβραὰμ ὑποστρέφοντι ἀπὸ τῆς κοπῆς τῶν βασιλέων καὶ εὐλογήσας αὐτόν,
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.”
2 ᾧ καὶ δεκάτην ἀπὸ πάντων ἐμέρισεν Ἀβραάμ, πρῶτον μὲν ἑρμηνευόμενος βασιλεὺς δικαιοσύνης, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ βασιλεὺς Σαλήμ, ὅ ἐστι βασιλεὺς εἰρήνης,
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.
3 ἀπάτωρ, ἀμήτωρ, ἀγενεαλόγητος, μήτε ἀρχὴν ἡμερῶν μήτε ζωῆς τέλος ἔχων, ἀφωμοιωμένος δὲ τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ, μένει ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸ διηνεκές.
4 Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.
4 Θεωρεῖτε δὲ πηλίκος οὗτος, ᾧ καὶ δεκάτην Ἀβραὰμ ἔδωκεν ἐκ τῶν ἀκροθινίων ὁ πατριάρχης.
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.
5 καὶ οἱ μὲν ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Λευῒ τὴν ἱερατείαν λαμβάνοντες ἐντολὴν ἔχουσιν ἀποδεκατοῦν τὸν λαὸν κατὰ τὸν νόμον, τοῦτ᾽ ἔστι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτῶν, καίπερ ἐξεληλυθότας ἐκ τῆς ὀσφύος Ἀβραάμ·
6 But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
6 ὁ δὲ μὴ γενεαλογούμενος ἐξ αὐτῶν δεδεκάτωκε τὸν Ἀβραάμ, καὶ τὸν ἔχοντα τὰς ἐπαγγελίας εὐλόγηκε.
7 And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
7 χωρὶς δὲ πάσης ἀντιλογίας τὸ ἔλαττον ὑπὸ τοῦ κρείττονος εὐλογεῖται.
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.
8 καὶ ὧδε μὲν δεκάτας ἀποθνήσκοντες ἄνθρωποι λαμβάνουσιν, ἐκεῖ δὲ μαρτυρούμενος ὅτι ζῇ.
9 And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
9 καὶ ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, διὰ Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Λευῒ ὁ δεκάτας λαμβάνων δεδεκάτωται·
10 For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
10 ἔτι γὰρ ἐν τῇ ὀσφύϊ τοῦ πατρὸς ἦν ὅτε συνήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Μελχισεδέκ.
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?
11 Εἰ μὲν οὖν τελείωσις διὰ τῆς Λευϊτικῆς ἱερωσύνης ἦν· ὁ λαὸς γὰρ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῇ νενομοθέτητο· τίς ἔτι χρεία κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδὲκ ἕτερον ἀνίστασθαι ἱερέα καὶ οὐ κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Ἀαρὼν λέγεσθαι;
12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
12 μετατιθεμένης γὰρ τῆς ἱερωσύνης ἐξ ἀνάγκης καὶ νόμου μετάθεσις γίνεται.
13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
13 ἐφ᾽ ὃν γὰρ λέγεται ταῦτα, φυλῆς ἑτέρας μετέσχηκεν, ἀφ᾽ ἧς οὐδεὶς προσέσχηκε τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ.
14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
14 πρόδηλον γὰρ ὅτι ἐξ Ἰούδα ἀνατέταλκεν ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν, εἰς ἣν φυλὴν οὐδὲν περὶ ἱερωσύνης Μωϋσῆς ἐλάλησε.
15 And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
15 Καὶ περισσότερον ἔτι κατάδηλόν ἐστιν, εἰ κατὰ τὴν ὁμοιότητα Μελχισεδὲκ ἀνίσταται ἱερεὺς ἕτερος,
16 one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.
16 ὃς οὐ κατὰ νόμον ἐντολῆς σαρκικῆς γέγονεν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν ζωῆς ἀκαταλύτου·
17 For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
17 μαρτυρεῖ γὰρ ὅτι σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ.
18 So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
18 ἀθέτησις μὲν γὰρ γίνεται προαγούσης ἐντολῆς διὰ τὸ αὐτῆς ἀσθενὲς καὶ ἀνωφελές·
19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
19 οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐτελείωσεν ὁ νόμος, ἐπεισαγωγὴ δὲ κρείττονος ἐλπίδος, δι᾽ ἧς ἐγγίζομεν τῷ Θεῷ.
20 And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
20 καὶ καθ᾽ ὅσον οὐ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας· — οἱ μὲν γὰρ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας εἰσὶν ἱερεῖς γεγονότες,
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.’”
21 ὁ δὲ μετὰ ὁρκωμοσίας διὰ τοῦ λέγοντος πρὸς αὐτόν· ὤμοσε Κύριος, καὶ οὐ μεταμεληθήσεται· σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ· —
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
22 κατὰ τοσοῦτον κρείττονος διαθήκης γέγονεν ἔγγυος Ἰησοῦς.
23 Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
23 Καὶ οἱ μὲν πλείονές εἰσι γεγονότες ἱερεῖς διὰ τὸ θανάτῳ κωλύεσθαι παραμένειν·
24 But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.
24 ὁ δὲ διὰ τὸ μένειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἀπαράβατον ἔχει τὴν ἱερωσύνην·
25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
25 ὅθεν καὶ σῴζειν εἰς τὸ παντελὲς δύναται τοὺς προσερχομένους δι᾽ αὐτοῦ τῷ Θεῷ, πάντοτε ζῶν εἰς τὸ ἐντυγχάνειν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν.
26 Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
26 Τοιοῦτος γὰρ ἡμῖν ἔπρεπεν ἀρχιερεύς, ὅσιος, ἄκακος, ἀμίαντος, κεχωρισμένος ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ ὑψηλότερος τῶν οὐρανῶν γενόμενος,
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.
27 ὃς οὐκ ἔχει καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ἀνάγκην, ὥσπερ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς, πρότερον ὑπὲρ τῶν ἰδίων ἁμαρτιῶν θυσίας ἀναφέρειν, ἔπειτα τῶν τοῦ λαοῦ· τοῦτο γὰρ ἐποίησεν ἐφάπαξ ἑαυτὸν ἀνενέγκας.
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.
28 ὁ νόμος γὰρ ἀνθρώπους καθίστησιν ἀρχιερεῖς ἔχοντας ἀσθένειαν, ὁ λόγος δὲ τῆς ὁρκωμοσίας τῆς μετὰ τὸν νόμον υἱὸν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τετελειωμένον.
Cross references (28)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Genesis 14:18–20; Psalm 57:2; Hebrews 6:20; Micah 6:6; Daniel 5:18
- 2 Numbers 18:21; 1 Samuel 8:15; 1 Samuel 8:17; 2 Samuel 23:3; Psalm 85:10–11
- 3 Hebrews 7:17; Exodus 6:20–27; Hebrews 7:23–28; Hebrews 7:6; Matthew 4:3
- 4 Genesis 14:20; Acts 2:29; Genesis 17:5–6; Genesis 12:2; Acts 7:8–9
- 5 Leviticus 27:30–33; 2 Chronicles 31:4–6; Numbers 16:10–11; Numbers 18:21–32; Numbers 17:3–10
- 6 Romans 4:13; Hebrews 7:3–4; Genesis 13:14–17; Genesis 17:4–8; Hebrews 11:17
- 7 2 Chronicles 30:27; Genesis 48:15–20; Genesis 27:20–40; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Kings 8:55
- 8 Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 5:6; Revelation 1:18; Hebrews 7:23; John 14:19
- 9 Romans 5:12; Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:4
- 10 Hebrews 7:5; Genesis 46:26; Genesis 35:11
- 11 Hebrews 8:7; Galatians 2:21; Galatians 4:9; Hebrews 7:17–19; Hebrews 8:10–13
- 12 Jeremiah 31:31–34; Isaiah 66:21; Acts 6:13–14; Ezekiel 16:61
- 13 Hebrews 7:11; Hebrews 7:14; Numbers 17:5; 2 Chronicles 26:16–21; Numbers 16:40
- 14 Micah 5:2; Isaiah 11:1; Revelation 5:5; Luke 3:33; Genesis 49:10
- 15 Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:17–21; Hebrews 7:3; Hebrews 7:11
- 16 Revelation 1:18; Galatians 4:9; Galatians 4:3; Colossians 2:20; Hebrews 10:1
- 17 Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 7:15; Hebrews 7:21; Hebrews 5:10
- 18 Romans 8:3; Acts 13:39; Hebrews 7:11–12; Galatians 4:9; Hebrews 8:7–13
- 19 Acts 13:39; Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 9:9; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 6:18
- 20 Numbers 18:7; Hebrews 5:6; Psalm 110:4
- 21 Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:17; Hebrews 6:16–18; 1 Samuel 15:29
- 22 1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 8:6–12; Hebrews 13:20; Luke 22:20; Hebrews 12:24
- 23 Nehemiah 12:10–11; Hebrews 7:8; 1 Chronicles 6:3–14
- 24 John 12:34; Hebrews 7:28; Isaiah 9:6–7; Revelation 1:18; Hebrews 7:8–25
- 25 Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1–2; 1 Timothy 2:5; Jude 24; John 14:6
- 26 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:14–15; 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 8:1
- 27 Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:28; Hebrews 9:14; Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 10:6–12
- 28 Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews 7:21; Hebrews 5:1–2; Luke 13:32
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Paul wishing to show the difference between the New and Old [Covenant], scatters it everywhere; and shoots from afar, and noises it abroad, and prepares beforehand. For at once even from the introduction, he laid down this saying, that "to them indeed He spake by prophets, but to us by the Son" ( c. i.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
… elegantly expresses the very kind of sacrifice of which the Priest Himself says, "The bread which I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The same is the sacrifice not after the order of Aaron, but after the order of Melchisedec: let him that readeth understand.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… but before all ages by the Father; and He so far excels the others as with an oath He is made Priest: For they are priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him that said, The Lord sware, and will not repent.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
Ninthly, they allege, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for us. O, how beautiful and mystical and kind.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
To the priests it is said, "First offer sacrifices for your own sins, and so for the people." The sacrifices convicted the priests that if any one should call himself righteous and without sin, it might be answered him, "I look not at what thou sayest, but at what thou offerest; thine own victim convicteth thee.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)