Hebrews 7:13

13 The priest whom we are talking about was a member of a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar.

Hebrews 7:13 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 7:13

For he of whom these things are spoken
In ( Psalms 110:4 ) and in the type of him Melchizedek, in the preceding verses; for not Melchizedek is here meant, but the Lord Jesus Christ, as appears by what follows; the antitype of Melchizedek, the Lord our righteousness, the Prince of peace, the priest of God, that lives for ever, without father, without mother

pertaineth to another tribe;
the tribe of Judah, and not the tribe of Levi:

of which no man gave attendance at the altar;
either of burnt offering or of incense; that is, no man waited there, or took upon him and exercised the priest's office that was of the tribe of Judah: no man might lawfully do it; Uzziah, indeed, thrust himself into the priest's office, who was of that tribe, and went into the temple and burnt incense upon the altar of incense; but then he had no right to do it, and was punished for it.

Hebrews 7:13 In-Context

11 The people established the Levitical priesthood based on instructions they received. If the work of the Levitical priests had been perfect, we wouldn't need to speak about another kind of priest. However, we speak about another kind of priest, a priest like Melchizedek, not a Levitical priest like Aaron.

12 When a different kind of priesthood is established, the regulations for those priests are different.

13 The priest whom we are talking about was a member of a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar.

14 Everyone knows that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe.

15 The regulations were different. This became clear when a different priest who is like Melchizedek appeared.