Hebrews 7 - Contemporary English Version (CEV)

The Priestly Family of Melchizedek

7 (A) Melchizedek was both king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He was the one who went out and gave Abraham his blessing, when Abraham returned from killing the kings. 2 Then Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he had.

The meaning of the name Melchizedek is “King of Justice.” But since Salem means “peace,” he is also “King of Peace.” 3 We are not told he had a father or mother or ancestors or beginning or end. He is like the Son of God and will be a priest forever.[a]

4 Notice how great Melchizedek was! Our famous ancestor Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had taken from his enemies. 5 (B) The Law teaches that even Abraham's descendants must give a tenth of what they possess. And they are to give this to their own relatives, who are the descendants of Levi and are priests. 6 Although Melchizedek wasn't a descendant of Levi, Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had been given God's promise. 7 Everyone agrees a person who gives a blessing is greater than the one who receives the blessing.

8 Priests are given a tenth of what people earn. But all priests die, except Melchizedek, and the Scriptures teach that he is alive. 9 Levi's descendants are now the ones who receive a tenth from people. We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth, Levi also gave him a tenth. 10 This is because Levi was born later into the family of Abraham, who gave a tenth to Melchizedek.

11 Even though the Law of Moses says the priests must be descendants of Levi, those priests cannot make anyone perfect. So there needs to be a priest like Melchizedek, rather than one from the priestly family of Aaron.[b] 12 And when the rules for selecting a priest are changed, the Law must also be changed.

13 The person we are talking about is our Lord, who came from a tribe that had never had anyone to serve as a priest at the altar. 14 Everyone knows he came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never said priests would come from that tribe.

15 All of this becomes clearer, when someone who is like Melchizedek is appointed to be a priest. 16 That person wasn't appointed because of his ancestors, but because his life can never end. 17 (C) The Scriptures say about him,

“You are a priest forever,
just like Melchizedek.”

18 In this way a weak and useless command was put aside, 19 because the Law cannot make anything perfect. At the same time, we are given a much better hope, and it can bring us close to God.

20-21 (D) God himself made a promise when this priest was appointed. But he did not make a promise like this when the other priests were appointed. The promise he made is,

“I, the Lord, promise that you
will be a priest forever!
And I will never
change my mind!”

22 This means that Jesus guarantees us a better agreement with God. 23 There have been a lot of other priests, and all of them have died. 24 But Jesus will never die, and so he will be a priest forever! 25 He is forever able to save[c] the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.

26 Jesus is the high priest we need. He is holy and innocent and faultless, and not at all like us sinners. Jesus is honored above all beings in heaven, 27 (E) and he is better than any other high priest. Jesus doesn't need to offer sacrifices each day for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He offered a sacrifice once for all, when he gave himself. 28 The Law appoints priests who have weaknesses. But God's promise, which came later than the Law, appoints his Son. And he is the perfect high priest forever.

Footnotes

  1. 7.3 will be a priest forever: See the note at 5.6.
  2. 7.11 descendants of Levi … from the priestly family of Aaron: Levi was the ancestor of the tribe from which priests and their helpers (called “Levites”) were chosen. Aaron was the first high priest.
  3. 7.25 forever able to save: Or “able to save forever.”

Cross references

  1. 7.1,2 : Gn 14.17-20.
  2. 7.5 : Nu 18.21.
  3. 7.17 : Ps 110.4.
  4. 7.20,21 : Ps 110.4.
  5. 7.27 : Lv 9.7.

You Might Also Like:

Hebrews 7 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

7 For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who did meet Abraham turning back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless him, 2 to whom also a tenth of all did Abraham divide, (first, indeed, being interpreted, `King of righteousness,' and then also, King of Salem, which is, Ki...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

7 And this Melchisedec, king of Salem, and priest of the highest God [the priest of the highest God], which met Abraham, as he turned again from the slaying of the kings, and blessed him; 2 to whom also Abraham parted tithes of all things; first he is said king of rightwiseness [first soothly the w...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

7 Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem. He was a priest of God who is the greatest of all. Melchizedek met Abraham when Abraham came back from killing some bad kings. And Melchizedek blessed him. 2 Abraham divided all that he took away from the kings into ten parts. He gave Melchizedek one part...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - World English Bible (WEB)

7 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, “king of righteousness”, and then also “king of Salem”, which means “king of...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - The Voice (VOICE)

7 In the Book of Genesis, we read about when Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from defeating King Chedorlaomer and his allies. Melchizedek blessed our ancestor, and 2 Abraham gave him a tenth of everything captured in the battle.[a]Let’s loo...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Melchizedek, a Kohen Forever7 For this Melchizedek was king of Salem, kohen of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, [a] 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything. First, by the translation of his name, he is “King of Righteousness”[b]; an...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek7 For this Melchiz′edek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, a...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek7 For this Melchiz′edek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, a...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

7 For this Melchizedek - King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to whom Abraham also gave a tithe of all things - is by first interpretation “King of Righteousness”, and after that “King of Salem” (that is, “K...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Melchizedek, the Great Priest-King7 For this Melchizedek, ‘king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was coming back after defeating the kings, and blessed him; 2 and Abraham portioned out to him a tenth of everything.’To begin with, if you translate Melchizedek’s name, it means...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek7 This “King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him”; 2 and to him Abraham apportioned “one-tenth of everything.” His name, in the first place, means “king of righteousness”; next h...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek7 This ‘King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him’; 2 and to him Abraham apportioned ‘one-tenth of everything’. His name, in the first place, means ‘king of righteousness’; next h...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek7 This “Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him,”(A)2 and to him Abraham apportioned “one-tenth of everything.” His name, in the first place, means “king of righteousness”; next...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

He compares the priesthood of Christ to Melchizedek, but declares it to be far more excellent. 7 This Melchizedek, king of Salem (who, being priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave tithes of all the spoils)...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Melchizedek Is Greater Than Abraham7 This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. 2 Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle an...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - New Life Version (NLV)

Melchizedek—Like Christ7 Melchizedek was king of Salem. He was a religious leader for God. When Abraham was coming back from the war where many kings were killed, Melchizedek met Abraham and showed respect to him. 2 Abraham gave Melchizedek one-tenth part of all he had. Melchizedek’s name means kin...
Read More

Hebrews 7 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The King of Righteousness(A)7 For this (B)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem,...
Read More