Discovery BoxHebrews 7:17-22 
Context7:17 For here is the testimony about him: 1 “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” 2 7:18 On the one hand a former command is set aside 3 because it is weak and useless, 4 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 5 this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 7:21 but Jesus 6 did so 7 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’” 8 – 7:22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee 9 of a better covenant.
1 tn Grk “for he/it is witnessed that.”
2 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6 and 6:20).
3 tn Grk “the setting aside of a former command comes to pass.”
4 tn Grk “because of its weakness and uselessness.”
5 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.”
6 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn The words “did so” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
8 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6, 6:20, and 7:17).
9 tn Or “surety.”
