English Standard Version

Darby Bible Translation

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

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Melchizedek and Abraham

For this Melchisedec, King of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from smiting the kings, and blessed him;

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and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.

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to whom Abraham gave also the tenth portion of all; first being interpreted King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;

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He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

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without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but assimilated to the Son of God, abides a priest continually.

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See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!

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Now consider how great this [personage] was, to whom [even] the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the spoils.

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And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers,a though these also are descended from Abraham.

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And they indeed from among the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is from their brethren, though these are come out of the loins of Abraham:

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But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

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but he who has no genealogy from them has tithed Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises.

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It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

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But beyond all gainsaying, the inferior is blessed by the better.

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In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

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And here dying men receive tithes; but there [one] of whom the witness is that he lives;

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One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,

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and, so to speak, through Abraham, Levi also, who received tithes, has been made to pay tithes.

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for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

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For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedec met him.

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Jesus Compared to Melchizedek

Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?

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Jesus a Priest Like Melchizedek

If indeed then perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, for the people had their law given to them in connexion with *it*, what need [was there] still that a different priest should arise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not be named after the order of Aaron?

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For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.

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For, the priesthood being changed, there takes place of necessity a change of law also.

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For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

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For he, of whom these things are said, belongs to a different tribe, of which no one has [ever] been attached to the service of the altar.

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For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

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For it is clear that our Lord has sprung out of Juda, as to which tribe Moses spake nothing as to priests.

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This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,

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And it is yet more abundantly evident, since a different priest arises according to the similitude of Melchisedec,

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who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.

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who has been constituted not according to law of fleshly commandment, but according to power of indissoluble life.

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For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

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For it is borne witness, *Thou* art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec.

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For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness

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For there is a setting aside of the commandment going before for its weakness and unprofitableness,

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(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

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(for the law perfected nothing,) and the introduction of a better hope by which we draw nigh to God.

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And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,

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And by how much [it was] not without the swearing of an oath;

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but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”

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(for they are become priests without the swearing of an oath, but he with the swearing of an oath, by him who said, as to him, The Lord has sworn, and will not repent [of it], *Thou* [art] priest for ever [according to the order of Melchisedec];)

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This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

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by so much Jesus became surety of a better covenant.

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The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,

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And they have been many priests, on account of being hindered from continuing by death;

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but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

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but he, because of his continuing for ever, has the priesthood unchangeable.

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Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermostb those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

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Whence also he is able to save completely those who approach by him to God, always living to intercede for them.

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For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

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For such a high priest became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and become higher than the heavens:

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He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

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who has not day by day need, as the high priests, first to offer up sacrifices for his own sins, then [for] those of the people; for this he did once for all [in] having offered up himself.

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For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

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For the law constitutes men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the swearing of the oath which [is] after the law, a Son perfected for ever.

Parallel

English Standard Version

Darby Bible Translation

Hebrews 7

Hebrews 7