Hebrews 7:17-22

7:17 For here is the testimony about him: ¹  “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” ²  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. 7:20 And since ⁵  this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 7:21 but Jesus ⁶  did so ⁷  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’” ⁸  – 7:22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee ⁹  of a better covenant.

[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]  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]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

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

[7:21]  ⁸ sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6, 6:20, and 7:17).

[7:22]  ⁹ tn Or “surety.”