Hebrews 7:16-20

7:16 who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent ¹  but by the power of an indestructible life. 7:17 For here is the testimony about him: ²  “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” ³  7:18 On the one hand a former command is set aside ⁴  because it is weak and useless, ⁵  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 ⁶  this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,

[7:16]  ¹ tn Grk “a law of a fleshly command.”

[7:17]  ² tn Grk “for he/it is witnessed that.”

[7:17]  ³ sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6 and 6:20).

[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.”

[7:20]  ⁴ 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.”