Hebrews · Catholic Public Domain Version
Hebrews 7 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was 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 divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that is, 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, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, he is thereby likened to the Son of God, who remains a priest continuously.
3 ἀπάτωρ, ἀμήτωρ, ἀγενεαλόγητος, μήτε ἀρχὴν ἡμερῶν μήτε ζωῆς τέλος ἔχων, ἀφωμοιωμένος δὲ τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ, μένει ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸ διηνεκές.
4 Next, consider how great this man is, since the Patriarch Abraham even gave tithes to him from the principal things.
4 Θεωρεῖτε δὲ πηλίκος οὗτος, ᾧ καὶ δεκάτην Ἀβραὰμ ἔδωκεν ἐκ τῶν ἀκροθινίων ὁ πατριάρχης.
5 And indeed, those who are from the sons of Levi, having received the priesthood, hold a commandment to take tithes from the people in accord with the law, that is, from their brothers, even though they also went forth from the loins of 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 this man, whose lineage is not enumerated with them, received tithes from Abraham, and he blessed even the one who held the promises.
6 ὁ δὲ μὴ γενεαλογούμενος ἐξ αὐτῶν δεδεκάτωκε τὸν Ἀβραάμ, καὶ τὸν ἔχοντα τὰς ἐπαγγελίας εὐλόγηκε.
7 Yet this is without any contradiction, for what is less should be blessed by what is better.
7 χωρὶς δὲ πάσης ἀντιλογίας τὸ ἔλαττον ὑπὸ τοῦ κρείττονος εὐλογεῖται.
8 And certainly, here, men who receive tithes still die; but there, he bears witness that he lives.
8 καὶ ὧδε μὲν δεκάτας ἀποθνήσκοντες ἄνθρωποι λαμβάνουσιν, ἐκεῖ δὲ μαρτυρούμενος ὅτι ζῇ.
9 And so it may be said that even Levi, who received tithes, was himself a tithe through Abraham.
9 καὶ ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, διὰ Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Λευῒ ὁ δεκάτας λαμβάνων δεδεκάτωται·
10 For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.
10 ἔτι γὰρ ἐν τῇ ὀσφύϊ τοῦ πατρὸς ἦν ὅτε συνήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Μελχισεδέκ.
11 Therefore, if consummation had occurred through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), then what further need would there be for another Priest to rise up according to the order of Melchizedek, one who was not called according to 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 since the priesthood has been transferred, it is necessary that the law also be transferred.
12 μετατιθεμένης γὰρ τῆς ἱερωσύνης ἐξ ἀνάγκης καὶ νόμου μετάθεσις γίνεται.
13 For he about whom these things have been spoken is from another tribe, in which no one attends before the altar.
13 ἐφ᾽ ὃν γὰρ λέγεται ταῦτα, φυλῆς ἑτέρας μετέσχηκεν, ἀφ᾽ ἧς οὐδεὶς προσέσχηκε τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ.
14 For it is evident that our Lord arose out of Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.
14 πρόδηλον γὰρ ὅτι ἐξ Ἰούδα ἀνατέταλκεν ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν, εἰς ἣν φυλὴν οὐδὲν περὶ ἱερωσύνης Μωϋσῆς ἐλάλησε.
15 And yet it is far more evident that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there rises up another priest,
15 Καὶ περισσότερον ἔτι κατάδηλόν ἐστιν, εἰ κατὰ τὴν ὁμοιότητα Μελχισεδὲκ ἀνίσταται ἱερεὺς ἕτερος,
16 who was made, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the virtue of an indissoluble life.
16 ὃς οὐ κατὰ νόμον ἐντολῆς σαρκικῆς γέγονεν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν ζωῆς ἀκαταλύτου·
17 For he testifies: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
17 μαρτυρεῖ γὰρ ὅτι σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ.
18 Certainly, there is a setting aside of the former commandment, because of its weakness and lack of usefulness.
18 ἀθέτησις μὲν γὰρ γίνεται προαγούσης ἐντολῆς διὰ τὸ αὐτῆς ἀσθενὲς καὶ ἀνωφελές·
19 For the law led no one to perfection, yet truly it introduced a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
19 οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐτελείωσεν ὁ νόμος, ἐπεισαγωγὴ δὲ κρείττονος ἐλπίδος, δι᾽ ἧς ἐγγίζομεν τῷ Θεῷ.
20 Moreover, it is not without an oath. For certainly, the others were made priests without an oath.
20 καὶ καθ᾽ ὅσον οὐ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας· — οἱ μὲν γὰρ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας εἰσὶν ἱερεῖς γεγονότες,
21 But this man was made a priest with an oath, by the One who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and he will not repent. 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 By so much, Jesus has been made the sponsor of a better testament.
22 κατὰ τοσοῦτον κρείττονος διαθήκης γέγονεν ἔγγυος Ἰησοῦς.
23 And certainly, so many of the others became priests because, due to death, they were prohibited from continuing.
23 Καὶ οἱ μὲν πλείονές εἰσι γεγονότες ἱερεῖς διὰ τὸ θανάτῳ κωλύεσθαι παραμένειν·
24 But this man, because he continues forever, has an everlasting priesthood.
24 ὁ δὲ διὰ τὸ μένειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἀπαράβατον ἔχει τὴν ἱερωσύνην·
25 And for this reason, he is able, continuously, to save those who approach God through him, since he is ever alive to make intercession on our behalf.
25 ὅθεν καὶ σῴζειν εἰς τὸ παντελὲς δύναται τοὺς προσερχομένους δι᾽ αὐτοῦ τῷ Θεῷ, πάντοτε ζῶν εἰς τὸ ἐντυγχάνειν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν.
26 For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens.
26 Τοιοῦτος γὰρ ἡμῖν ἔπρεπεν ἀρχιερεύς, ὅσιος, ἄκακος, ἀμίαντος, κεχωρισμένος ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ ὑψηλότερος τῶν οὐρανῶν γενόμενος,
27 And he has no need, daily, in the manner of other priests, to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people. For he has done this once, by offering 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 men as priests, though they have infirmities. But, by the word of the oath that is after the law, the Son has been perfected for eternity.
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)