Hebrews 7:1–13

The Priesthoods of Melchizedek and Christ

¹For this ^aMelchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the ^bMost High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

^2ato whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.

³Without father, without mother, ^awithout genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like ^bthe Son of God, he remains a priest continually.

⁴Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the ^apatriarch, ^bgave a tenth of the spoils.

⁵And those indeed of ^athe sons of Levi, who receive the priest’s office, have a commandment ¹in the Law to collect ²a tenth from the people, that is, from their brothers, although these ³are descended from Abraham.

⁶But the one ^awhose genealogy is not traced from them had ^bcollected ¹a tenth from Abraham and ^2cblessed the one who ^dhad the promises.

⁷But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

⁸And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, ^aof whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

⁹And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,

¹⁰for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

^11aNow if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it ^bthe people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise ^caccording to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

¹²For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

¹³For ^athe one concerning whom ^bthese things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.