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, 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,) 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. 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, 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; 6 and he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed, 7 and apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed — 8 and here, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there [he], who is testified to that he was living, 9 and so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes, 10 for he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchisedek 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? 12 for the priesthood being changed, of necessity also, of the law a change doth come, 13 for he of whom these things are said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave attendance 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. 15 And it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest, 16 who came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life, 17 for He doth testify — 'Thou [art] a priest — to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;' 18 for a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness, 19 (for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God. 20 And inasmuch as [it is] not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests, 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;') 22 by so much of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety, 23 and those indeed are many who have become priests, because by death they are hindered from remaining; 24 and he, because of his remaining — to the age, hath the priesthood not transient, 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. 26 For such a chief priest did become us — kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and become higher than 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; 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.
Hebrews · Young's Literal Translation
Hebrews 7 Young's Literal Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)