Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings,

1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace.

2and 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.

3Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

3He 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.

4Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him.

4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!

5The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people--that is, from their brothers and sisters--though they have also descended from Abraham.

5And 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, though these also are descended from Abraham.

6But one without this lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

6But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

7Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior.

7It is beyond dispute that 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.

8In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

9And in a sense Levi himself, who receives a tenth, has paid a tenth through Abraham,

9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,

10for he was still within his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

11Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), 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?

11Now 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?

12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.

12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the 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.

13For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

14Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.

14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

15And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,

16who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life.

16who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.

17For it has been testified: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

17For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

18So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable

18For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness

19(for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

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

20None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

20And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such 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."

21but 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.’”

22Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

23Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office.

23The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,

24But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently.

24but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

25Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.

25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

26For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

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.

27He 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.

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, who has been perfected forever.

28For 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.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.