Hebrews 7:17
in Hebrews 7For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for it is witnessed of him, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.
KJV
For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
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This verse in Hebrews 7
Commentary
15 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For--proving His life to be "endless" or indissoluble (Heb 7:16). The emphasis is on "for ever." The oldest manuscripts read, "He is testified of, that Thou art," &c.
This site's exposition
another priest like Melchizedek appears
on Hebrews 7:15-17
The case grows even more clear when another priest like Melchizedek appears. Aaron's priests served by descent, and this one serves by the power of an indestructible life, which His resurrection shows. Psalm 110:4 seals it: You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
This site's exposition
For it is testified
The testimony is Psalm 110:4, You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, and its weight falls on the word forever. It is quoted as proof of the indestructible life of verse 16.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"For it is testified." And that, he says, Christ has not become a priest according to the law of a fleshly commandment. The testimony indicates the Father; for the Father testifies to him, saying, a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. For if he …
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 1.1, 1.10-11 · Written before 253.
proposed
Just as the people of old, who were called the people of God, were divided into twelve tribes plus the levitical order, and this order itself, which engaged in service of the Divine, was divided into additional priestly and levitical orders, so, I think, all the people of Christ according to "the hidden person of the heart," who bear the name "Jew inwardly" and who have been circumcised "in spirit," possess the characteristics of the tribes in a more mystical manner.…Most of us who approach the teachings of Christ, since we have much time for the activities of life and offer a few acts to God, would perhaps be those from the tribes who have a little fellowship with the priests and support the service of God in a few things.
For it is testified of him, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Behold how in the clearest terms he speaks of Christ as a perpetual priest in virtue of His power and indissoluble life. How then is it possible for …
"But according to the power of an endless life. For He testifieth, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec"; that is, not for a time, nor having any limit, "but according to the power of an endless life," that is, by means of power, by means of "endless life." And yet this does not follow after, "who was made not according to the law of a carnal commandment": for what would follow would be to say, "but according to that of a spiritual one." However by "carnal," he implied temporary. As he says also in another place, "carnal ordinances imposed until the time of reformation." "According to the power of life," that is, because He lives by His own power.
Yea and I am showing another difference also (he would say): not only from the tribe, nor yet only from the Person, nor from the character of the Priesthood, nor from the covenant, but also from the type itself. "Who was made not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. He became" (he says) "a priest not according to the law of a carnal commandment": for that law was in many respects unlawful. What is, "of a carnal commandment"? Circumcise the flesh, it says; anoint the flesh; wash the flesh; purify the flesh; shave the flesh; bind upon the flesh; cherish the flesh; rest as to the flesh. And again its blessings, what are they? Long life for the flesh; milk and honey for the flesh; peace for the flesh; luxury for the flesh. From this law Aaron received the priesthood; Melchisedec however not so.
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
360. – Then when he says, For he testifies: 'You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek', he manifests what he had said; and he emphasizes the phrase forever, because if the priesthood is eternal, it is clear that it involves perpetuity.
He confirms why he said "of an endless life," and says that Scripture testifies that He is "a priest forever." Some, however, think that he is confirming not this, but that He is a priest not after the law of a carnal commandment. For if, …
It is better to be in doubt about hidden matters than to quarrel about what is uncertain. Let us turn to what is true and firm, to what most assuredly keeps any Christian and good Catholic from doubting or quibbling. That is, through the sacrament, …
And in the Apocalypse, John the apostle … says, "Who loved us and washed from us our sins in his blood." Not only did he wash away our sins in his blood when he gave his blood for us on the cross, or when each …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For he testifieth,.... That is, either David, the penman of the psalm, or rather the Holy Ghost, the enditer of it, or God in the Scripture, in Psa 110:4 of this form of citing Scripture; see Gill on Heb 2:6. thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec; see Heb 5:6.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
For he testifieth - That is, either the Scripture, in the place so often quoted, or God by that Scripture. Thou art a priest for ever - This is the proof that he was not appointed according to the carnal commandment, but according to the power of an endless life, because he is a priest for ever; i.e. one that never dies, and is never disabled from performing the important functions of his office; for if he be a priest for ever, he ever lives.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For he testifieth - “That this is the true account of it is proved by the testimony of God himself, that he was to be a priest for ever;” see the note on Heb 5:6.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μαρτυρεῖται | martureitai | It is testified | G3140 → | 76 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| σὺ | su | You [are] | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἱερεὺς | hi'ereus | a priest | G2409 → | 30 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| αἰῶνα | aiona | age | G165 → | 121 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τάξιν | taxin | order | G5010 → | 9 times |
| Μελχισέδεκ.¶ | melchisedek | of Melchizedek. | G3198 → | 8 times |
μαρτυρεῖταιIt is testified
martureitaiG3140 →76 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
σὺYou [are]
suG4771 →2973 times
ἱερεὺςa priest
hi'ereusG2409 →30 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
αἰῶναage
aionaG165 →121 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
τάξινorder
taxinG5010 →9 times
Μελχισέδεκ.¶of Melchizedek.
melchisedekG3198 →8 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 5:6And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
it leads to
- Psalms 110:4
The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 7:3
Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 110:4
Through
Psalms 110:4The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
it leads to
- Hebrews 7:21
but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 7:11
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 6:20
where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 5:6
And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
- Genesis 14:18
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—
- Hebrews 7:21
Through
Hebrews 5:10and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
it leads to
- Hebrews 5:5–6
So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become…
- Hebrews 5:5–6
Where this verse is studied
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About Hebrews
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 1.15; Braulio of Zaragoza, LETTER 42; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 7; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Calvin, Commentary on Hebrews; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 13; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 1.1, 1.10-11; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.