Hebrews 7:11--8:6

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. 7:13 Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to ³  a different tribe, and no one from that tribe ⁴  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 ⁵  but by the power of an indestructible life. 7:17 For here is the testimony about him: ⁶  “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” ⁷  7:18 On the one hand a former command is set aside ⁸  because it is weak and useless, ⁹  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 ¹⁰  this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 7:21 but Jesus ¹¹  did so ¹²  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’” ¹³  – 7:22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee ¹⁴  of a better covenant. 7:23 And the others ¹⁵  who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them ¹⁶  from continuing in office, ¹⁷  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. 7:26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 7:27 He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all. 7:28 For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, ¹⁸  but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.

The High Priest of a Better Covenant

8:1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: ¹⁹  We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ²⁰  8:2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up. 8:3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer. 8:4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer ²¹  the gifts prescribed by the law. 8:5 The place where they serve is ²²  a sketch ²³  and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, “See that you make everything according to the design ²⁴  shown to you on the mountain.” ²⁵  8:6 But ²⁶  now Jesus ²⁷  has obtained a superior ministry, since ²⁸  the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted ²⁹  on better promises. ³⁰ 

[7:11]  ¹ tn Grk “based on it.”

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

[7:13]  ³ tn Grk “shares in.”

[7:13]  ⁴ tn Grk “from which no one.”

[7:16]  ⁴ tn Grk “a law of a fleshly command.”

[7:17]  ⁵ tn Grk “for he/it is witnessed that.”

[7:17]  ⁶ sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6 and 6:20).

[7:18]  ⁶ tn Grk “the setting aside of a former command comes to pass.”

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

[7:20]  ⁷ 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]  ⁸ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[7:21]  ⁹ tn The words “did so” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[7:21]  ¹⁰ sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6, 6:20, and 7:17).

[7:22]  ⁹ tn Or “surety.”

[7:23]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “they on the one hand” in contrast with “he on the other hand” in v. 24.

[7:23]  ¹¹ tn Grk “they were prevented by death.”

[7:23]  ¹² tn Grk “from continuing” (the words “in office” are supplied for clarity).

[7:28]  ¹¹ sn See Heb 5:2 where this concept was introduced.

[8:1]  ¹² tn Grk “the main point of the things being said.”

[8:1]  ¹³ sn An allusion to Ps 110:1; see Heb 1:3, 13.

[8:4]  ¹³ tn Grk “there are those who offer.”

[8:5]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “who serve in,” referring to the Levitical priests, but focusing on the provisional and typological nature of the tabernacle in which they served.

[8:5]  ¹⁵ tn Or “prototype,” “outline.” The Greek word ὑπόδειγμα (Jupodeigma) does not mean “copy,” as it is often translated; it means “something to be copied,” a basis for imitation. BDAG 1037 s.v. 2 lists both Heb 8:5 and 9:23 under the second category of usage, “an indication of someth. that appears at a subsequent time,” emphasizing the temporal progression between the earthly and heavenly sanctuaries.

[8:5]  ¹⁶ tn The word τύπος (tupos) here has the meaning “an archetype serving as a model, type, pattern, model” (BDAG 1020 s.v. 6.a). This is in keeping with the horizontal imagery accepted for this verse (see sn on “sketch” earlier in the verse). Here Moses was shown the future heavenly sanctuary which, though it did not yet exist, became the outline for the earthly sanctuary.

[8:5]  ¹⁷ sn A quotation from Exod 25:40.

[8:6]  ¹⁵ sn The Greek text indicates a contrast between vv. 4-5 and v. 6 that is difficult to render in English: Jesus’ status in the old order of priests (vv. 4-5) versus his superior ministry (v. 6).

[8:6]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “he”; in the translation the referent (Jesus) has been specified for clarity.

[8:6]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “to the degree that.”

[8:6]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “which is enacted.”

[8:6]  ¹⁹ sn This linkage of the change in priesthood with a change in the law or the covenant goes back to Heb 7:12, 22 and is picked up again in Heb 9:6-15 and 10:1-18.