Hebrews 7

1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

3 Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

4 Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.

5 Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

6 But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

7 And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.

8 In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.

9 And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.

10 For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

11 Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priesthood.

15 And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

16 one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.

17 For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

18 So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless

19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20 And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

21 but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.’”

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23 Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.

24 But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.

25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

26 Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

27 Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

1 ¶ For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

4 Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

11 ¶ If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14 For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20 And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:

21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24 But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

26 For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

1 Now this Melchizedek was a king of Salem, a priest of God most high, which went out to meet Abraham, when he was returned from the battle of the kings, and blessed him,

2 To whom also Abraham gave tithes of all goods. In the first place he is interpreted a king of righteousness; but afterward he is also a king of Salem, that is, a king of peace;

3 Without father, without mother, without generation; having neither beginning of days, nor end of life. But he is likened unto the Son of God, and remaineth a priest for ever.

4 And, behold, how great is he, to whom also Abraham the patriarch giveth tithes of the spoil that he hath taken!

5 Though the children of Levi, when they receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brethren, according to the law, though they also came out of the loins of Abraham.

6 But he whose family is not named among them took tithes from Abraham, and blessed him that had the promise.

7 Now therefore, without any gainsaying, the inferior is blessed by the superior.

8 And here the tithes are taken by men that die: but there he testifieth that he liveth.

9 And that I may say, It is also Levi, which taketh tithes, tithed by Abraham.

10 For he was ever yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

11 If therefore perfection was by the Levitical priesthood, (for under the same the people received the law,) what need is there to say that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not after the order of Aaron?

12 For where the priesthood is changed, there must the law be changed also.

13 For of whom these things are spoken, he is of another generation, of whom none hath ever ministered unto the altar.

14 For it is evident that out of Judah our Lord is risen: to which generation Moses spake not of the priesthood.

15 And it is yet more clear, if after the manner of Melchizedek another priest arise,

16 Which is not made according to the law of carnal commandment, but according to the power of infinite life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 For the former law is abolished, because it was weak, and of no profit.

19 (For the law could not make anything perfect), and is introduced a better hope, by which we draw near to God;

20 And in addition, which is much, not without an oath. For those have been priests without oath;

21 And this with an oath by him that saith unto him, The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent of him, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

22 So then of so much better testament became JEsus.

23 And there are many that have become priests, because death hath not left them;

24 But this, because he abideth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood;

25 Therefore he also is able to save forever them that come unto God by him, and live forever, and pray for them.

26 For we ought to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, without blemish, separate from sinners, and higher than the heavens,

27 Who had not need daily, as did those chief priests, to offer sacrifice first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once, when he offered himself.

28 For the law maketh men high priests in weakness: but this word of the oath, which is spoken under the law, maketh the Son eternal and perfect.