Chapter 7
Melchizedek and Abraham
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- 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,
γὰρ Οὗτος ὁ Μελχισέδεκ βασιλεὺς Σαλήμ ἱερεὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ Ὑψίστου ὁ συναντήσας Ἀβραὰμ ὑποστρέφοντι ἀπὸ τῆς κοπῆς τῶν βασιλέων καὶ εὐλογήσας αὐτόν gar Houtos ho Melchisedek basileus Salēm hiereus tou Theou tou Hypsistou ho synantēsas Abraam hypostrephonti apo tēs kopēs tōn basileōn kai eulogēsas auton — NA/TR · 1
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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.
καὶ Ἀβραάμ ἐμέρισεν ᾧ δεκάτην ἀπὸ πάντων πρῶτον μὲν ἑρμηνευόμενος Βασιλεὺς δικαιοσύνης δὲ ἔπειτα καὶ Βασιλεὺς Σαλήμ ὅ ἐστιν Βασιλεὺς εἰρήνης kai Abraam emerisen hō dekatēn apo pantōn prōton men hermēneuomenos Basileus dikaiosynēs de epeita kai Basileus Salēm ho estin Basileus eirēnēs — NA/TR · 2
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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.
ἀπάτωρ ἀμήτωρ ἀγενεαλόγητος ἔχων μήτε ἀρχὴν ἡμερῶν μήτε τέλος ζωῆς δὲ ἀφωμοιωμένος τῷ Υἱῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ μένει ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸ διηνεκές apatōr amētōr agenealogētos echōn mēte archēn hēmerōn mēte telos zōēs de aphōmoiōmenos tō Huiō tou Theou menei hiereus eis to diēnekes — NA/TR · 3
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- Consider how great [Melchizedek was]: Even the patriarch Abraham gave [him] a tenth of the plunder.
δὲ Θεωρεῖτε πηλίκος οὗτος καὶ ὁ πατριάρχης Ἀβραὰμ ἔδωκεν ᾧ δεκάτην ἐκ τῶν ἀκροθινίων de Theōreite pēlikos houtos kai ho patriarchēs Abraam edōken hō dekatēn ek tōn akrothiniōn — NA/TR · 4
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Now… the law vvv commands the vvv vvv 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.
καὶ μὲν κατὰ τὸν νόμον ἔχουσιν ἐντολὴν οἱ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Λευὶ λαμβάνοντες τὴν ἱερατείαν ἀποδεκατοῦν τὸν λαὸν τοῦτ’ ἔστιν τοὺς αὐτῶν ἀδελφοὺς καίπερ ἐξεληλυθότας ἐκ τῆς ὀσφύος Ἀβραάμ kai men kata ton nomon echousin entolēn hoi ek tōn huiōn Leui lambanontes tēn hierateian apodekatoun ton laon tout’ estin tous autōn adelphous kaiper exelēlythotas ek tēs osphyos Abraam — NA/TR · 5
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But [Melchizedek], vvv who did not trace his descent from [Levi], collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
δὲ ὁ μὴ γενεαλογούμενος ἐξ αὐτῶν δεδεκάτωκεν Ἀβραάμ καὶ εὐλόγηκεν τὸν ἔχοντα τὰς ἐπαγγελίας de ho mē genealogoumenos ex autōn dedekatōken Abraam kai eulogēken ton echonta tas epangelias — NA/TR · 6
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And vvv vvv indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
δὲ χωρὶς πάσης ἀντιλογίας τὸ ἔλαττον εὐλογεῖται ὑπὸ τοῦ κρείττονος de chōris pasēs antilogias to elatton eulogeitai hypo tou kreittonos — NA/TR · 7
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vvv vvv In the case [of the Levites], mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case [of Melchizedek], it is affirmed that he lives on.
Καὶ μὲν ὧδε ἀποθνῄσκοντες ἄνθρωποι λαμβάνουσιν δεκάτας δὲ ἐκεῖ μαρτυρούμενος ὅτι ζῇ Kai men hōde apothnēskontes anthrōpoi lambanousin dekatas de ekei martyroumenos hoti zē — NA/TR · 8
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And so vvv to speak, Levi, who collects [the] tenth, paid [the] tenth through Abraham.
καὶ ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν Λευὶ καὶ ὁ λαμβάνων δεκάτας δεδεκάτωται δι’ Ἀβραὰμ kai hōs epos eipein Leui kai ho lambanōn dekatas dedekatōtai di’ Abraam — NA/TR · 9
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For when Melchizedek met Abraham, [Levi] was still in the loin of [his] ancestor.
γὰρ ὅτε Μελχισέδεκ συνήντησεν αὐτῷ ἦν ἔτι ἐν τῇ ὀσφύϊ τοῦ πατρὸς gar hote Melchisedek synēntēsen autō ēn eti en tē osphui tou patros — NA/TR · 10
A Superior Priesthood
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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?
οὖν Εἰ τελείωσις ἦν μὲν διὰ τῆς Λευιτικῆς ἱερωσύνης γὰρ ἐπ’ αὐτῆς ὁ λαὸς νενομοθέτηται τίς ἔτι χρεία ἕτερον ἱερέα ἀνίστασθαι λέγεσθαι κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ καὶ οὐ κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Ἀαρὼν oun Ei teleiōsis ēn men dia tēs Leuitikēs hierōsynēs gar ep’ autēs ho laos nenomothetētai tis eti chreia heteron hierea anistasthai legesthai kata tēn taxin Melchisedek kai ou kata tēn taxin Aarōn — NA/TR · 11
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For [when] the priesthood is changed, [the] law vvv must be changed… as well.
γὰρ τῆς ἱερωσύνης μετατιθεμένης νόμου ἐξ ἀνάγκης μετάθεσις γίνεται καὶ gar tēs hierōsynēs metatithemenēs nomou ex anankēs metathesis ginetai kai — NA/TR · 12
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- [He] of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
γὰρ Ἐφ’ ὃν ταῦτα λέγεται μετέσχηκεν ἑτέρας φυλῆς ἀφ’ ἧς οὐδεὶς προσέσχηκεν τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ gar Eph’ hon tauta legetai meteschēken heteras phylēs aph’ hēs oudeis proseschēken tō thysiastēriō — NA/TR · 13
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For [it is] clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
γὰρ πρόδηλον ὅτι ἡμῶν ὁ Κύριος ἀνατέταλκεν ἐξ Ἰούδα φυλὴν εἰς ἣν Μωϋσῆς ἐλάλησεν οὐδὲν περὶ ἱερέων gar prodēlon hoti hēmōn ho Kyrios anatetalken ex Iouda phylēn eis hēn Mōusēs elalēsen ouden peri hiereōn — NA/TR · 14
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And [ this point ] is even more clear if another priest - like Melchizedek appears,
Καὶ ἐστιν ἔτι περισσότερον κατάδηλόν εἰ ἕτερος ἱερεὺς κατὰ τὴν ὁμοιότητα Μελχισέδεκ ἀνίσταται Kai estin eti perissoteron katadēlon ei heteros hiereus kata tēn homoiotēta Melchisedek anistatai — NA/TR · 15
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one who has become [a priest] not by a law of succession…, but by [the] power of an indestructible life.
ὃς γέγονεν οὐ κατὰ νόμον ἐντολῆς σαρκίνης ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν ἀκαταλύτου ζωῆς hos gegonen ou kata nomon entolēs sarkinēs alla kata dynamin akatalytou zōēs — NA/TR · 16
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For it is testified -: “You [are] a priest vvv vvv forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
γὰρ μαρτυρεῖται ὅτι Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ gar martyreitai hoti Sy hiereus eis ton aiōna kata tēn taxin Melchisedek — NA/TR · 17
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So… the former commandment is set aside because it [was] weak and useless
μὲν γὰρ προαγούσης ἐντολῆς γίνεται Ἀθέτησις διὰ αὐτῆς τὸ ἀσθενὲς καὶ ἀνωφελές men gar proagousēs entolēs ginetai Athetēsis dia autēs to asthenes kai anōpheles — NA/TR · 18
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(for the law made nothing perfect…), and a better hope [is] introduced, by which we draw near to God.
γὰρ ὁ νόμος ἐτελείωσεν οὐδὲν δὲ κρείττονος ἐλπίδος ἐπεισαγωγὴ δι’ ἧς ἐγγίζομεν τῷ Θεῷ gar ho nomos eteleiōsen ouden de kreittonos elpidos epeisagōgē di’ hēs engizomen tō Theō — NA/TR · 19
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And… none of this [happened] without an oath. For [others] became priests without an oath,
Καὶ καθ’ οὐ ὅσον χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας γὰρ εἰσὶν οἱ μὲν γεγονότες ἱερεῖς χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας Kai kath’ ou hoson chōris horkōmosias gar eisin hoi men gegonotes hiereis chōris horkōmosias — NA/TR · 20
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but [Jesus became a priest] with an oath by the [One who] said to Him: “[The] Lord has sworn and vvv will not change His mind: ‘You [are] a priest vvv vvv forever.’”
δὲ ὁ μετὰ ὁρκωμοσίας διὰ τοῦ λέγοντος πρὸς αὐτόν Κύριος Ὤμοσεν καὶ οὐ μεταμεληθήσεται Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα de ho meta horkōmosias dia tou legontos pros auton Kyrios Ōmosen kai ou metamelēthēsetai Sy hiereus eis ton aiōna — NA/TR · 21
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Because of this [oath], Jesus has become [the] guarantee of a better covenant.
Κατὰ τοσοῦτο καὶ Ἰησοῦς γέγονεν ἔγγυος κρείττονος διαθήκης Kata tosouto kai Iēsous gegonen engyos kreittonos diathēkēs — NA/TR · 22
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Now… there have been many [other] priests, since death prevented them from continuing [in office].
Καὶ μὲν εἰσιν γεγονότες πλείονές οἱ ἱερεῖς διὰ τὸ θανάτῳ κωλύεσθαι παραμένειν Kai men eisin gegonotes pleiones hoi hiereis dia to thanatō kōlyesthai paramenein — NA/TR · 23
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But because [Jesus] lives vvv vvv forever, He has a permanent priesthood.
δὲ ὁ διὰ αὐτὸν τὸ μένειν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔχει τὴν ἀπαράβατον ἱερωσύνην de ho dia auton to menein eis ton aiōna echei tēn aparabaton hierōsynēn — NA/TR · 24
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Therefore He is able to save vvv vvv completely those who draw near to God through Him, [since He] always lives - to intercede for them.
ὅθεν καὶ δύναται σῴζειν εἰς τὸ παντελὲς τοὺς προσερχομένους τῷ Θεῷ δι’ αὐτοῦ πάντοτε ζῶν εἰς τὸ ἐντυγχάνειν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν hothen kai dynatai sōzein eis to panteles tous proserchomenous tō Theō di’ autou pantote zōn eis to entynchanein hyper autōn — NA/TR · 25
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Such a high priest truly befits us— [One who is] holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
Τοιοῦτος ἀρχιερεύς γὰρ καὶ ἔπρεπεν ἡμῖν ὅσιος ἄκακος ἀμίαντος κεχωρισμένος ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ γενόμενος ὑψηλότερος τῶν οὐρανῶν Toioutos archiereus gar kai eprepen hēmin hosios akakos amiantos kechōrismenos apo tōn hamartōlōn kai genomenos hypsēloteros tōn ouranōn — NA/TR · 26
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[Unlike] the [other] high priests, [He] does not need to offer vvv 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.
ὥσπερ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ὃς ἔχει οὐκ ἀνάγκην ἀναφέρειν καθ’ ἡμέραν θυσίας πρότερον ὑπὲρ τῶν ἰδίων ἁμαρτιῶν ἔπειτα τῶν τοῦ λαοῦ γὰρ ἐποίησεν τοῦτο ἐφάπαξ ἀνενέγκας ἑαυτὸν hōsper hoi archiereis hos echei ouk anankēn anapherein kath’ hēmeran thysias proteron hyper tōn idiōn hamartiōn epeita tōn tou laou gar epoiēsen touto ephapax anenenkas heauton — NA/TR · 27
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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 vvv vvv forever.
γὰρ ὁ νόμος καθίστησιν ἀρχιερεῖς ἀνθρώπους ἔχοντας ἀσθένειαν δὲ τῆς ὁρκωμοσίας τῆς μετὰ τὸν νόμον ὁ λόγος Υἱόν τετελειωμένον εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα gar ho nomos kathistēsin archiereis anthrōpous echontas astheneian de tēs horkōmosias tēs meta ton nomon ho logos Huion teteleiōmenon eis ton aiōna — NA/TR · 28