Focused Passage

Hebrews 7:11-19

The Superior Priesthood of Christ After the Order of Melchizedek

Hebrews 7 shows that Melchizedek's superiority to Abraham and Levi anticipates Christ's superior priesthood, which replaces the weak and temporary Levitical order with an oath-secured, permanent, saving priesthood.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

11 Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

15 And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

16 one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.

17 For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

18 So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless

19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 11

Original words

Now οὖν G3767 Conjunction if Εἰ G1487 Conjunction perfection τελείωσις G5050 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular could have been attained ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - μὲν G3303 Conjunction through διὰ G1223 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular Levitical Λευιτικῆς G3020 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular priesthood ἱερωσύνης G2420 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular ( for γὰρ G1063 Conjunction on ἐπ’ G1909 Preposition this basis αὐτῆς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular people λαὸς G2992 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular received [the] law νενομοθέτηται G3549 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular why τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular [was there] still ἔτι G2089 Adverb need χρεία G5532 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular [for] another ἕτερον G2087 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular priest ἱερέα G2409 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular to appear ἀνίστασθαι G450 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle [one] λέγεσθαι G3004 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive in κατὰ G2596 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular order τάξιν G5010 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of Melchizedek Μελχισέδεκ G3198 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction not οὐ G3756 Adverb in κατὰ G2596 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular order τάξιν G5010 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of Aaron Ἀαρὼν G2 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 12

Original words

For [when] γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular priesthood ἱερωσύνης G2420 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular is changed μετατιθεμένης G3346 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Feminine Singular [the] law νόμου G3551 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular vvv ἐξ G1537 Preposition must ἀνάγκης G318 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular be changed μετάθεσις G3331 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular . . . γίνεται G1096 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular as well καὶ G2532 Conjunction
Verse 13

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction [He] of Ἐφ’ G1909 Preposition whom ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular these things ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural are said λέγεται G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular belonged to μετέσχηκεν G3348 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a different ἑτέρας G2087 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular tribe φυλῆς G5443 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular from ἀφ’ G575 Preposition which ἧς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular no one οὐδεὶς G3762 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular has ever served προσέσχηκεν G4337 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular at the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular altar θυσιαστηρίῳ G2379 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Verse 14

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction [it is] clear πρόδηλον G4271 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular descended ἀνατέταλκεν G393 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἐξ G1537 Preposition Judah Ἰούδα G2448 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular a tribe φυλὴν G5443 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular as to εἰς G1519 Preposition which ἣν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular Moses Μωϋσῆς G3475 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular said ἐλάλησεν G2980 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular nothing οὐδὲν G3762 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular about περὶ G4012 Preposition priests ἱερέων G2409 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 15

Original words

And Καὶ G2532 Conjunction [ this point ] is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular even ἔτι G2089 Adverb more περισσότερον G4053 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative clear κατάδηλόν G2612 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular if εἰ G1487 Conjunction another ἕτερος G2087 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular priest ἱερεὺς G2409 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - κατὰ G2596 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular like ὁμοιότητα G3665 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Melchizedek Μελχισέδεκ G3198 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular appears ἀνίσταται G450 Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 16

Original words

one who ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular has become [a priest] γέγονεν G1096 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐ G3756 Adverb by κατὰ G2596 Preposition a law νόμον G3551 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of succession ἐντολῆς G1785 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular . . . σαρκίνης G4560 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction by κατὰ G2596 Preposition [the] power δύναμιν G1411 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of an indestructible ἀκαταλύτου G179 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular life ζωῆς G2222 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 17

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction it is testified μαρτυρεῖται G3140 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction You [are] Σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular a priest ἱερεὺς G2409 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv εἰς G1519 Preposition vvv τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular forever αἰῶνα G165 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular in κατὰ G2596 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular order τάξιν G5010 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of Melchizedek Μελχισέδεκ G3198 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Psalm 110:4
Verse 18

Original words

So μὲν G3303 Conjunction . . . γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the former προαγούσης G4254 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Feminine Singular commandment ἐντολῆς G1785 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular is γίνεται G1096 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular set aside Ἀθέτησις G115 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular because διὰ G1223 Preposition it [was] αὐτῆς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular weak ἀσθενὲς G772 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction useless ἀνωφελές G512 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 19

Original words

( for γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular law νόμος G3551 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular made nothing perfect ἐτελείωσεν G5048 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . οὐδὲν G3762 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular and δὲ G1161 Conjunction a better κρείττονος G2909 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular - Comparative hope ἐλπίδος G1680 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular [is] introduced ἐπεισαγωγὴ G1898 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular by δι’ G1223 Preposition which ἧς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular we draw near ἐγγίζομεν G1448 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.