7:1 Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him. 1
7:11 So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis 3 the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order? 7:12 For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come 4 as well. 7:13 Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to 5 a different tribe, and no one from that tribe 6 has ever officiated at the altar. 7:14 For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. 7:15 And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 7:16 who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent 7 but by the power of an indestructible life. 7:17 For here is the testimony about him: 8 “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” 9 7:18 On the one hand a former command is set aside 10 because it is weak and useless, 11 7:19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 7:20 And since 12 this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 7:21 but Jesus 13 did so 14 with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” 15 – 7:22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee 16 of a better covenant.
1 sn A series of quotations from Gen 14:17-19.
2 tn Grk “in the loins of his father” (a reference to Abraham). The name “Abraham” has been repeated in the translation at this point (cf. v. 9) in order to clarify the referent (i.e., what ancestor was in view).
sn The point of the phrase still in his ancestor’s loins is that Levi was as yet unborn, still in his ancestor Abraham’s body. Thus Levi participated in Abraham’s action when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.
3 tn Grk “based on it.”
4 tn Grk “of necessity a change in the law comes to pass.”
5 tn Grk “shares in.”
6 tn Grk “from which no one.”
7 tn Grk “a law of a fleshly command.”
8 tn Grk “for he/it is witnessed that.”
9 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6 and 6:20).
10 tn Grk “the setting aside of a former command comes to pass.”
11 tn Grk “because of its weakness and uselessness.”
12 sn The Greek text contains an elaborate comparison between v. 20a and v. 22, with a parenthesis (vv. 20b-21) in between; the comparison is literally, “by as much as…by so much” or “to the degree that…to that same degree.”
13 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
14 tn The words “did so” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
15 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6, 6:20, and 7:17).
16 tn Or “surety.”