Discovery BoxHebrews 6:13--7:25
Context6:13 Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, 6:14 saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.” 1 6:15 And so by persevering, Abraham 2 inherited the promise. 6:16 For people 3 swear by something greater than themselves, 4 and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute. 5 6:17 In the same way 6 God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, 7 and so he intervened with an oath, 6:18 so that we who have found refuge in him 8 may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie. 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain, 9 6:20 where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. 10
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. 11 7:2 To him 12 also Abraham apportioned a tithe 13 of everything. 14 His name first means 15 king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time. 7:4 But see how great he must be, if 16 Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe 17 of his plunder. 7:5 And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office 18 have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, 19 although they too are descendants of Abraham. 20 7:6 But Melchizedek 21 who does not share their ancestry 22 collected a tithe 23 from Abraham and blessed 24 the one who possessed the promise. 7:7 Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior, 7:8 and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive. 7:9 And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham. 7:10 For he was still in his ancestor Abraham’s loins 25 when Melchizedek met him.
7:11 So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis 26 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 27 as well. 7:13 Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to 28 a different tribe, and no one from that tribe 29 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 30 but by the power of an indestructible life. 7:17 For here is the testimony about him: 31 “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” 32 7:18 On the one hand a former command is set aside 33 because it is weak and useless, 34 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 35 this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 7:21 but Jesus 36 did so 37 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’” 38 – 7:22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee 39 of a better covenant. 7:23 And the others 40 who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them 41 from continuing in office, 42 7:24 but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. 7:25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
[6:14] 1 tn Grk “in blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply you,” the Greek form of a Hebrew idiom showing intensity.
[6:15] 1 tn Grk “he”; in the translation the referent (Abraham) has been specified for clarity.
[6:16] 1 tn The plural Greek term ἄνθρωποι (anqrwpoi) is used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women, and is thus translated “people.”
[6:16] 2 tn Grk “by something greater”; the rest of the comparison (“than themselves”) is implied.
[6:16] 3 tn Grk “the oath for confirmation is an end of all dispute.”
[6:17] 2 tn Or “immutable” (here and in v. 18); Grk “the unchangeableness of his purpose.”
[6:18] 1 tn Grk “have taken refuge”; the basis of that refuge is implied in the preceding verse.
[6:19] 1 sn The curtain refers to the veil or drape in the temple that separated the holy place from the holy of holies.
[6:20] 1 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4, picked up again from Heb 5:6, 10.
[7:1] 1 sn A series of quotations from Gen 14:17-19.
[7:2] 1 tn Grk “to whom,” continuing the description of Melchizedek. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
[7:2] 3 sn A quotation from Gen 14:20.
[7:2] 4 tn Grk “first being interpreted,” describing Melchizedek.
[7:5] 1 tn Or “the priesthood.”
[7:5] 2 tn Grk “from their brothers.” See BDAG 18-19 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.b.
[7:5] 3 tn Grk “have come from the loins of Abraham.”
[7:6] 1 tn Grk “the one”; in the translation the referent (Melchizedek) has been specified for clarity.
[7:6] 2 tn Grk “is not descended from them.”
[7:6] 4 sn The verbs “collected…and blessed” emphasize the continuing effect of the past actions, i.e., Melchizedek’s importance.
[7:10] 1 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).
[7:11] 1 tn Grk “based on it.”
[7:12] 1 tn Grk “of necessity a change in the law comes to pass.”
[7:13] 2 tn Grk “from which no one.”
[7:16] 1 tn Grk “a law of a fleshly command.”
[7:17] 1 tn Grk “for he/it is witnessed that.”
[7:17] 2 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6 and 6:20).
[7:18] 1 tn Grk “the setting aside of a former command comes to pass.”
[7:18] 2 tn Grk “because of its weakness and uselessness.”
[7:20] 1 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.”
[7:21] 1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[7:21] 2 tn The words “did so” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
[7:21] 3 sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6, 6:20, and 7:17).
[7:23] 1 tn Grk “they on the one hand” in contrast with “he on the other hand” in v. 24.
[7:23] 2 tn Grk “they were prevented by death.”
[7:23] 3 tn Grk “from continuing” (the words “in office” are supplied for clarity).
