Hebrews 7

All 28 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and a priest of God Most High. He met Abraham as Abraham was returning from defeating the kings, and he blessed him.
2. 2Abraham gave him a tenth part of all. First, by interpretation, he is King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which means King of peace.
3. 3Without father, without mother, without ancestry, having neither beginning of days nor end of life; but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4. 4Think about how great this man was — even Abraham, the patriarch himself, gave him a tenth of the best plunder.
5. 5And indeed, those who are descendants of Levi and hold the office of the priesthood have a commandment according to the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their fellow Israelites, even though they are descended from Abraham.
6. 6But he, whose descent is not counted from them, received tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
7. 7And without any dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8. 8Here, mortal men receive tithes, but there, he receives them, of whom it is testified that he lives.
9. 9And in a manner of speaking, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham.
10. 10For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
11. 11If the Levitical priesthood could bring perfection, (since the people received the law under it,) why would there be a need for another priest to arise in the order of Melchizedek, and not in the order of Aaron?
12. 12For when the priesthood changes, it is necessary for the law to change as well.
13. 13For the person of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has attended at the altar.
14. 14It is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe.
15. 15This becomes even more obvious when another priest appears who is like Melchizedek —
16. 16who became a priest not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but through the power of an endless life.
17. 17For he testifies, 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'
18. 18For indeed, there is a setting aside of the previous commandment because it is weak and unprofitable.
19. 19The law never made anything perfect. But now a better hope has been introduced, and through it we can draw near to God.
20. 20And since he was not made a priest without an oath:
21. 21For those priests were made without an oath, but this one with an oath by him who said to him, 'The LORD has sworn and will not repent: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'
22. 22Because of this oath, Jesus himself is the guarantee of a better testament.
23. 23And there were indeed many priests, because death prevented them from continuing permanently.
24. 24But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood never passes to anyone else.
25. 25That's why he is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, because he always lives to make intercession for them.
26. 26For such a high priest is fitting for us—one who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.
27. 27Unlike the other high priests, he doesn't need to offer sacrifices every day, first for his own sins and then for the people's. He did this once when he offered himself.
28. 28The law appoints men with weaknesses as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son, who is consecrated forever.