Hebrews 7:11-12

Jesus and the Priesthood of Melchizedek

7:11 So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis ¹  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 ²  as well.

Hebrews 7:18-19

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.

Hebrews 9:9-10

9:9 This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. 9:10 They served only for matters of food and drink ⁵  and various washings; they are external regulations ⁶  imposed until the new order came. ⁷ 

[7:11]  ¹ tn Grk “based on it.”

[7:12]  ² tn Grk “of necessity a change in the law comes to pass.”

[7:18]  ³ tn Grk “the setting aside of a former command comes to pass.”

[7:18]  ⁴ tn Grk “because of its weakness and uselessness.”

[9:10]  ⁵ tn Grk “only for foods and drinks.”

[9:10]  ⁶ tc Most witnesses (D¹ Ï) have “various washings, and external regulations” (βαπτισμοῖς καὶ δικαιώμασιν, baptismoi" kai dikaiwmasin), with both nouns in the dative. The translation “washings; they are… regulations” renders βαπτισμοῖς, δικαιώματα (baptismoi", dikaiwmata; found in such important mss as Ì⁴⁶ א* A I P 0278 33 1739 1881 al sa) in which case δικαιώματα is taken as the nominative subject of the participle ἐπικείμενα (epikeimena). It seems far more likely that scribes would conform δικαιώματα to the immediately preceding datives and join it to them by καί than they would to the following nominative participle. Both on external and internal evidence the text is thus secure as reading βαπτισμοῖς, δικαιώματα.

[9:10]  ⁷ tn Grk “until the time of setting things right.”