Hebrews 7

1 This Melchizedek [king-priest] was king [sovereign ruler] of Salem [the city of peace, Jerusalem] and priest [spiritual leader, mediator] of God [the Most High, Almighty] Most High [the Supreme, Eternal One]. He met [encountered, came face to face with] Abraham [the father of faith] returning [turning back, coming home] from the slaughter [violent defeat, conquest] of the kings [rulers, monarchs] and blessed [praised, spoke well of] him [Abraham, the patriarch], word study 2 and Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation] apportioned to him a tenth [a tithe, one-tenth] of everything. First [before all else], his name means [by interpretation, signifies] “king of righteousness [living according to God’s will].” Then also, “king of Salem [a place of peace, Jerusalem]” means [signifies, represents] “king of peace [a state of harmony, prosperity].” word study 3 Without [having no recorded] father or mother [no known ancestors] or genealogy [family history], without [lacking a recorded] beginning of days [origin] or end of life [mortal conclusion], like [resembling, made similar to] the Son [divine offspring] of God [the supreme Deity], he remains [continues to stay, abides] a priest [spiritual mediator] for all time [perpetually, forever]. word study 4 Consider how great [exceptionally large, of immense significance] Melchizedek [this man, a priest-king] was: Even the patriarch [family founder, ancestor] Abraham gave him a tenth [tithe, one-tenth of the spoils] of the plunder [spoils of war, finest spoils]. word study 5 Now the law [given by Moses, a set of divine instructions] commands the sons [descendants, offspring] of Levi [a tribe of Israel, a family of priests] who become priests [receive the office of the priesthood, spiritual leaders] to collect [take, receive, gather] a tenth [a tithe, one-tenth] from the people [the congregation, God’s people]—that is, from their brothers [fellow Israelites, relatives]—though they too are descended [come, originate] from Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation, a man of faith]. word study 6 But Melchizedek [not of Levi’s lineage], who did not [as a matter of record] trace his descent [genealogy, family history] from Levi, collected [received, took] a tenth [a tithe, one-tenth] from Abraham [the father of the faithful] and blessed [praised, spoke well of] him who had [possessed, was given] the promises [divine assurances, covenant vows]. word study 7 And indisputably [without any dispute, apart from all controversy], the lesser [the less, inferior] is blessed [to praise, speak well of] by [under the authority of, from] the greater [the better, stronger, more excellent]. word study 8 In the case of the Levites [descendants of Levi], mortal men [who die, human beings] collect the tenth [tithe, one-tenth]; but in the case of Melchizedek [a priest forever], it is affirmed [testified, witnessed] that he lives on [remains living, has eternal life]. word study 9 And so to speak [as it may be said], Levi [the ancestor of the priestly tribe], who collects [receives, gathers] the tenth [tithe, one-tenth], paid [gave, offered] the tenth [tithe, a tenth of something] through [because of, by means of] Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation]. word study 10 For [as a reason, explaining why] when Melchizedek [a patriarch and king] met [encountered, came face to face with] Abraham, Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] was still [yet, in the process of being] in the loin of his ancestor [father, paternal lineage]. word study 11 Now if [true and complete] perfection [spiritual maturity, fulfillment of God’s plan] could have been attained [reached, achieved] through the Levitical [pertaining to the tribe of Levi] priesthood [the office of a priest, spiritual leadership] (for on this basis [foundation, principle] the people [a nation, community] received [were given, entrusted with] the law [God’s instruction, guidance]), why was there still [continuing, ongoing] need [requirement, necessity] for another [different, distinct] priest [spiritual leader, mediator] to appear—one [who is] in the order [rank, sequence] of Melchizedek [king of righteousness] and not [in contrast] in the order [lineage, succession] of Aaron [the first high priest, leader of the Levites]? word study 12 For [because of this reason] when the priesthood [sacred office of a priest] is changed [transferred, altered], the law [set of rules, regulations] must be changed [altered, modified] as well [necessarily, of necessity]. word study 13 He of whom these things [are spoken, are said about] are said belonged to a different [another, other] tribe [family group, clan], from which [out of which, belonging to which] no one [nobody, none] has ever [at any time] served [given attendance, officiated] at the altar [place of sacrifice, table of offering]. word study 14 For [since, because] it is clear [obvious, evident] that our Lord [the Master, God] descended [sprang out, arose] from Judah [the tribe of Judah], a tribe [a clan, a family group] as to which Moses [the lawgiver, prophet] said nothing [spoke not a word, was silent] about priests [those who serve God, the priesthood]. word study 15 And this point [is yet far more evident, still more clear] is even more clear [abundantly evident, quite manifest] if another [different, other than] priest [one who serves God, leads worship] like [according to the likeness of, in the similitude of] Melchizedek [a patriarch and king] appears [arises, stands up], word study 16 one who has become a priest [not by human lineage, but by divine appointment] not by a law [based on fleshly descent] of succession, but by the power [miraculous ability, divine strength] of an indestructible [endless, unbreakable] life [eternal existence, spiritual vitality]. word study 17 For [since, because] it is testified [witnessed, confirmed]: “You [as an individual, personally] are a priest [one who serves God, a spiritual leader] forever [for all eternity, throughout the ages] in the order [arrangement, rank] of Melchizedek [a king-priest].” word study 18 So the former [previous, preceding] commandment [divine instruction, law] is set aside [nullified, canceled] because it was [due to being] weak [feeble, powerless] and useless [unprofitable, without benefit] word study 19 (for the law [given by Moses, a set of rules] made nothing perfect [complete, whole]), and a better [stronger, more excellent] hope [expectation, trust in God’s goodness] is introduced [brought in, established], by which [through this means] we draw near [approach, come close] to God [the one true deity, our Heavenly Father]. word study 20 And none of this happened [without a solemn promise, apart from an oath] without an oath [a vow with God as witness]. For others [on the other hand, in contrast] became priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] without an oath [a promise or vow], word study 21 but Jesus became a priest [with a solemn vow, by an oath] with an oath by the One [God, the Father] who said to Him: “The Lord [God, the supreme ruler] has sworn [taken a solemn oath, promised] and will not change His mind [repent, turn back]: ‘You are a priest [one who serves God, a mediator] forever [for all eternity, to the age].’” word study 22 Because of this oath [a solemn promise, a vow], Jesus [God is salvation] has become the guarantee [a surety, a pledge] of a better [stronger, more excellent] covenant [a formal agreement, a divine promise] [a testament, an agreed relationship with God]. word study 23 Now there have been many [a large number, numerous] other priests [spiritual leaders, mediators], since death [physical or spiritual separation] prevented [hindered, stopped] them from continuing [remaining, persevering] in office [position, ministry]. word study 24 But because Jesus [lives eternally, remains forever] lives forever, He [as a result, has the privilege] has a permanent [unchangeable, lasting] priesthood [the sacred office of a priest, a spiritual leadership role]. word study 25 Therefore He is able [fully capable, has the power] to save [rescue, deliver] completely [to the uttermost, perfectly] those who draw near [come to, approach] to God [the supreme deity, Creator] through Him, since He always [at all times, continually] lives [is alive, has life] to intercede [make prayer, plead] for them [on their behalf, in their favor]. word study 26 Such a high priest [exactly what we need, fitting for us] truly befits us—One who is holy [sacred, set apart, having God’s nature], innocent [harmless, guileless, free from evil], undefiled [pure, without contamination], set apart [separated, distinct] from sinners [those who do wrong, the unrighteous], and exalted [made higher, lifted up] above the heavens [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling place]. word study 27 Unlike the other high priests [those who served under the law], He does not need to offer daily [every day, continually] sacrifices, first for His own sins [personal transgressions, shortcomings] and then for the sins [wrongdoings, rebellions] of the people [a group of individuals, the congregation]; He sacrificed for sin [the state of being separated from God] once for all [completely, forever] when He offered up [gave, presented] Himself [His own life, His very being]. word study 28 For the law [a set of rules or regulations, such as Moses’ law] appoints as high priests [spiritual leaders, chief priests] men who are weak [having infirmity, frailty]; but the oath [a promise made with God as a witness], which came after the law [following the law, subsequent to the law], appointed the Son [the divine Son, having God’s nature], who has been made perfect [completely whole, fully matured] forever [for all eternity, throughout the ages]. word study