Hebrews 7
7
The Greatness of Melchizedek
1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace. 3Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, # 7:1–3 Gn 14:18–20; Mt 4:3; Mk 5:7; Heb 7:6 he remains a priest forever.
4Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch # 7:4 Gn 14:20; Ac 2:29; 7:8–9 gave a tenth of the plunder to him. 5The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people # 7:5 Nm 18:21,26; 2Ch 31:4–5 — that is, from their brothers and sisters — though they have also descended from Abraham. 6But one without this # 7:6 Lit their lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. # 7:6 Gn 14:19; Rm 4:13 7Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8In the one case, men who will die receive a tenth, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives. # 7:8 Heb 5:6; 6:20 9And in a sense Levi himself, who receives a tenth, has paid a tenth through Abraham, 10for he was still within his ancestor # 7:10 Lit still in his father’s loins when Melchizedek met him.
A Superior Priesthood
11Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law # 7:11 Gl 2:21; Heb 7:18–19; 8:7), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron? # 7:11 Heb 7:17; 10:1 12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. 13For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. 14Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, # 7:14 Is 11:1; Mc 5:2; Mt 1:3; Lk 3:33; Rv 5:5 and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.
15And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical # 7:16 Or fleshly descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. 17For it has been testified:
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek. # 7:17 Ps 110:4,# 7:17 Ps 110:4; Heb 5:6; 6:20; 7:21
18So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable # 7:18 Rm 8:3; Gl 4:9 19(for the law perfected # 7:19 Ac 13:39; Rm 3:20; Heb 9:9 nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. # 7:19 Heb 4:16; 6:18
20None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, 21but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him:
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever.” # 7:21 Ps 110:4,# 7:21 1Sm 15:29; Ps 110:4
22Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. # 7:22 Heb 8:6–10; 9:15; 12:24; 13:20
23Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. 24But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. 25Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede # 7:25 Rm 8:34; Heb 9:24 for them.
26For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. # 7:26 2Co 5:21; Heb 4:15 27He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do — first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. # 7:27 Eph 5:2; Heb 5:1,3; 9:12,28 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, # 7:28 Heb 1:2; 2:10; 5:2,9 who has been perfected # 7:28 Php 3:12; Heb 10:14; 11:40 forever.
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Hebrews 7
7
1For this MALKI-TZEDEK MELECH SHALEM KOHEN L'EL ELYON, is the one having met Avraham Avinu ACHAREI SHUVO (after returning) from the slaughter of “the kings and having blessed him,”#7:1 Gn 14:17-20 2With whom also “AVRAHAM avinu apportioned MA'ASER MIKOL (a tithe of everything).” As for his Name, it is rendered “King of Tzedek (Righteousness)” and then also “Melech of SHALOM.” 3Without Av, without Em, without Yichus, having neither a techillah (beginning) leyamim (to days) of him nor a Ketz HaChayyim, but resembling the Zun fun der Oybershter, he remains a “kohen perpetually.”#7:3 Ps 110:4
4Now consider how great among the Gedolim this one was to whom also Avraham Avinu gave from his booty a ma'aser (tithe). 5And the ones of the Bnei Levi have received the Kehunah (Priesthood) and they have a mitzvah to collect the ma'aser (tithe) from the Am Brit, and they have this mitzvah according to the Torah, that is, to collect from their achim, though these also are descended from the loins of Avraham Avinu. 6But, this man, though not tracing his descent from them, has received ma'aser (tithe) from Avraham Avinu and has given a bracha to the one having the havtachot (promises). 7Now it is beyond all argument that the greater gives a bracha to the lesser. 8Notice, in one case, ma'aser are received by mortal men; in the other case, ma'aser are received by one of whom we have solemn eidus (testimony) that hu Chai (he lives!). 9One could even go so far as to say that even Levi, who receives ma'aser, has paid ma'aser through Avraham Avinu, 10For Levi was still in the loins of his ancestor Avraham when Malki-Tzedek met Avraham Avinu.
11Now if shleimut (completeness) had been attainable through the Kehunah of Levi — for under it came the Mattan Torah (giving of the Torah) to the Am Brit — what further need would there have been to speak of another KOHEN arising “according to the order of Malki-Tzedek”#7:11 Ps 110:4 rather than “al divrati Aharon”? 12For when there is a “changing of the guard” of the Kehunah (Priesthood), this behechrach (necessarily) also affects the Torah.#7:12 Isa 42:4 13For the One about whom these things are said belonged to a different shevet (tribe), from which no one has officiated at the Mizbe'ach. 14For it is ugeret (easily seen, evident) that Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu was descended from Yehudah, and in connection with that shevet (tribe), Moshe Rabbeinu said nothing about kohanim.
15And it is even more evident if another Kohen arises resembling Malki-Tzedek, 16One who became a kohen, not by means of a mitzvat haTorah concerning yichus (lineage), but according to the gevurah of a Chayyei Ein Sof (Endless Life). 17For of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach comes the solemn eidus, ATAH KOHEN L'OLAM AL DIVRATI MALKI-TZEDEK#7:17 Ps 110:4 (You are a kohen forever according to the order of Malki-Tzedek). 18For, on the one hand, there is an abrogation of an earlier mitzvah because of its weakness and ineffectuality 19— For the Torah brought nothing to shleimut (perfection); on the other hand, there is the mavo (introduction) of a tikvah tovah yoter (a better hope) through which we draw near to Hashem —
20This was attested with a shevu'ah (oath); for others who became kohanim were installed in the office of kehunah without a shevu'ah; 21But the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach became a kohen with a shevu'ah (oath) through the One saying to Him, Hashem has made an oath and will not change his mind, You are a kohen forever.#7:21 Ps 110:4 22According to such a shevu'ah of Hashem, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua has become the orev (surety, guarantee) of a tovah yoter HaBrit.
23Not only this, but it was the fact that the former kohanim were many in number, because mavet prevented them from continuing in the office of kehunah. 24But because Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach continues l'olam (forever), he has an unchangeable Kehunah. 25From which also he is able to completely deliver to the Geulah (Redemption) and Yeshu'at Eloheinu the ones approaching Hashem through him, als (since) he has Chayyei Ein Sof (Endless Life) and always lives to intercede in techinnah (supplication) for them.
26For such was for us, indeed, a bekavod (suitable) Kohen Gadol, chasid, tamim, tahor, nivdal from chote'im (separated from sinners) and exalted above HaShomayim; 27A Kohen Gadol who does not have daily need — as do the other Kohanim Gedolim — on the one hand, to offer up zevakhim for his own averos, and then to offer up zevakhim for the averos of the Am Brit. For this Kohen Gadol offered up himself,#7:27 Isa 53:10 once and for all. 28For the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu appoints Bnei Adam as Kohanim Gedolim, Bnei Adam with frailties, but the Dvar HaShevu'ah,#7:28 Ps 110:4 which came later than the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu, appoints HaBen#7:28 Zun fun der Oybershter Moshiach who came to shleimut (completeness) l'Olam.
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