Hebrews 7:2-12

2 to whom Abraham gave also the tenth portion of all; first being interpreted King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;
3 without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but assimilated to the Son of God, abides a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this [personage] was, to whom [even] the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the spoils.
5 And they indeed from among the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is from their brethren, though these are come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 but he who has no genealogy from them has tithed Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises.
7 But beyond all gainsaying, the inferior is blessed by the better.
8 And here dying men receive tithes; but there [one] of whom the witness is that he lives;
9 and, so to speak, through Abraham, Levi also, who received tithes, has been made to pay tithes.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedec met him.
11 If indeed then perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, for the people had their law given to them in connexion with *it*, what need [was there] still that a different priest should arise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not be named after the order of Aaron?
12 For, the priesthood being changed, there takes place of necessity a change of law also.

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Melchisedec was in his characteristics assimilated to the Son of God. 'Abides' is in direct connection with 'this Melchisedec,' ver. 1.
  • [b]. 'In perpetuity,' not as ch. 6.20: see ch. 5.6.
  • [c]. Only here and Luke 1.9. It is the personal office that a man receives. 'Priesthood' in vers. 11,12,24, is the system itself.
  • [d]. Not the mere denial of the fact, but that he way not in a position to have one.
  • [e]. Or 'based upon it.'
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.