Hebrews 7:23

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;

Hebrews 7:23 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
English Standard Version (ESV)
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,
New Living Translation (NLT)
23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office.
The Message Bible (MSG)
23 Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced.
American Standard Version (ASV)
23 And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
23 There was a long succession of priests because when a priest died he could no longer serve.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
23 Now many have become [Levitical] priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
23 There were many priests in Levi's family line. Death kept them from continuing in office.

Hebrews 7:23 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 7:23

And they truly were many priests
There were many common priests at a time; and though there was but one high priest at a time, yet there were many of them in a line of succession from Aaron down to the apostle's time. The Jews say F21, that under the first temple eighteen high priests ministered, and under the second temple more than three hundred: this shows the imperfection of this priesthood, since it was in many hands; no one continuing and being sufficient to execute it; but Christ is the one and only high priest; there is no other, nor is there any need of any other: the reason why there were so many under the law was,

because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death;
death has a power to forbid a long continuance in this world, and no man does continue long here: death puts a stop to men's works, and to the exercise of their several callings; no office, even the most sacred, exempts from it; no, not the office of high priests: these were but men, sinful men, and so died; and their discontinuance by reason of death shows the imperfection of their priesthood: there was another reason besides this which the apostle gives, why the high priests were so many, and especially about this time; and that is, the office was bought for money, and men that would give most were put into it: hence there were frequent changes; the Jews themselves say, they changed every twelve months F23.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 9. 1. Piske Tosephot Zebachim, Art. 72.
F23 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 8. 2.

Hebrews 7:23 In-Context

21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ”
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;
24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
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