| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, | 1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, |
| 2to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and 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, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. | 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, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. | 4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! |
| 5And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of 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 he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him 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. |
| 7Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. | 7It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. |
| 8Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed 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. |
| 9Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, | 9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, |
| 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. | 10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. |
| 11Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called 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 the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. | 12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. |
| 13For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated 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. |
| 14For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. | 14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. |
| 15And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest | 15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, |
| 16who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless 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 He testifies: “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.” |
| 18For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, | 18For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness |
| 19for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, 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. |
| 20And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath | 20And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, |
| 21(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The LORD has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’ ” ), | 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.’” |
| 22by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. | 22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. |
| 23Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. | 23The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, |
| 24But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. | 24but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. |
| 25Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession 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 such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than 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. |
| 27who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up 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 have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the 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 Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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. |
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