Hebrews 7:1–25

Melchizedek’s Priesthood Like Christ’s

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,

²to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, 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 perpetually.

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

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

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

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

⁸In 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.

¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord ¹was ^adescended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

¹⁵And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,

¹⁶who has become such not on the basis of a law of ^1aphysical requirement, but according to the power of ^ban indestructible life.

¹⁷For it is attested of Him,

“^aYou are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek.”

¹⁸For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment ^abecause of its weakness and uselessness

¹⁹(for ^athe Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better ^bhope, through which we ^cdraw near to God.

²⁰And inasmuch as it was not without an oath

²¹(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

“^aThe Lord has sworn

And ^bwill not change His mind,

‘You are a priest ^cforever’ ”);

²²so much the more also Jesus has become the ^aguarantee of ^ba better covenant.

²³¹The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

²⁴but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues ^aforever, holds His priesthood permanently.

²⁵Therefore He is able also to ^asave ¹forever those who ^bdraw near to God through Him, since He always lives to ^cmake intercession for them.