Young's Literal Translation YLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 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,
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Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Highest God. He met Abraham, who was returning from "the royal massacre," and gave him his blessing.
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, King of Peace,)
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Abraham in turn gave him a tenth of the spoils. "Melchizedek" means "King of Righteousness." "Salem" means "Peace." So, he is also "King of Peace."
3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain a priest continually.
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Melchizedek towers out of the past - without record of family ties, no account of beginning or end. In this way he is like the Son of God, one huge priestly presence dominating the landscape always.
4 And see how great this one [is], to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the spoils,
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You realize just how great Melchizedek is when you see that Father Abraham gave him a tenth of the captured treasure.
5 and those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth out of the loins of Abraham;
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Priests descended from Levi are commanded by law to collect tithes from the people, even though they are all more or less equals, priests and people, having a common father in Abraham.
6 and he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,
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But this man, a complete outsider, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him, the one to whom the promises had been given.
7 and apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed --
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In acts of blessing, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8 and here, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there [he], who is testified to that he was living,
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Or look at it this way: We pay our tithes to priests who die, but Abraham paid tithes to a priest who, the Scripture says, "lives."
9 and so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,
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Ultimately you could even say that since Levi descended from Abraham, who paid tithes to Melchizedek,
10 for he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchisedek met him.
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when we pay tithes to the priestly tribe of Levi they end up with Melchizedek.
11 If indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood -- for the people under it had received law -- what further need, according to the order of Melchisedek, for another priest to arise, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?
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If the priesthood of Levi and Aaron, which provided the framework for the giving of the law, could really make people perfect, there wouldn't have been need for a new priesthood like that of Melchizedek.
12 for the priesthood being changed, of necessity also, of the law a change doth come,
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But since it didn't get the job done, there was a change of priesthood, which brought with it a radical new kind of law.
13 for he of whom these things are said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave attendance at the altar,
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There is no way of understanding this in terms of the old Levitical priesthood,
14 for [it is] evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
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which is why there is nothing in Jesus' family tree connecting him with that priestly line.
15 And it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest,
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But the Melchizedek story provides a perfect analogy: Jesus, a priest like Melchizedek,
16 who came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,
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not by genealogical descent but by the sheer force of resurrection life - he lives! -
17 for He doth testify -- `Thou [art] a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'
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"priest forever in the royal order of Melchizedek."
18 for a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,
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The former way of doing things, a system of commandments that never worked out the way it was supposed to, was set aside;
19 (for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.
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the law brought nothing to maturity. Another way - Jesus! - a way that does work, that brings us right into the presence of God, is put in its place.
20 And inasmuch as [it is] not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,
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The old priesthood of Aaron perpetuated itself automatically, father to son, without explicit confirmation by God.
21 and he with an oath through Him who is saying unto him, `The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;')
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But then God intervened and called this new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise: God gave his word; he won't take it back: "You're the permanent priest."
22 by so much of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,
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This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God - one that really works! A new covenant.
23 and those indeed are many who have become priests, because by death they are hindered from remaining;
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Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced.
24 and he, because of his remaining -- to the age, hath the priesthood not transient,
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But Jesus' priesthood is permanent. He's there from now to eternity
25 whence also he is able to save to the very end, those coming through him unto God -- ever living to make intercession for them.
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to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them.
26 For such a chief priest did become us -- kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and become higher than the heavens,
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So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God's presence in heaven itself.
27 who hath no necessity daily, as the chief priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifice, then for those of the people; for this he did once, having offered up himself;
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Unlike the other high priests, he doesn't have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He's done it, once and for all: offered up himself as the sacrifice.
28 for the law doth appoint men chief priests, having infirmity, but the word of the oath that [is] after the law [appointeth] the Son -- to the age having been perfected.
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The law appoints as high priests men who are never able to get the job done right. But this intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is absolutely, eternally perfect.