Hebrews 7:1–22

Melchizedek the Priest

7This Melchizedek was king of Salem^f and priest of God Most High.^g He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,^{h 2}and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” ³Without father or mother, without genealogy,ⁱ without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,^j he remains a priest forever.

⁴Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch^k Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!^{l 5}Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people^m—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. ⁶This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessedⁿ him who had the promises.^{o 7}And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.^{p 9}One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, ¹⁰because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

Jesus Like Melchizedek

¹¹If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people^q established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,^r one in the order of Melchizedek,^s not in the order of Aaron? ¹²For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. ¹³He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,^t and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.^{u 14}For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,^v and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. ¹⁵And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever,

in the order of Melchizedek.”^aw

¹⁸The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless^{x 19}(for the law made nothing perfect),^y and a better hope^z is introduced, by which we draw near to God.^a

²⁰And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, ²¹but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn

and will not change his mind:^b

‘You are a priest forever.’ ”^bc

²²Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.^d