| Berean Study Bible | King James Bible |
| 1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, | 1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; |
| 2and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” | 2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; |
| 3Without 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. | 3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. |
| 4Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder. | 4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. |
| 5Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham. | 5And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: |
| 6But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. | 6But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. |
| 7And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater. | 7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. |
| 8In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on. | 8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. |
| 9And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham. | 9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. |
| 10For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor. | 10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. |
| 11Now 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 Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? | 11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? |
| 12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well. | 12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. |
| 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. | 13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. |
| 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests. | 14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. |
| 15And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, | 15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, |
| 16one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life. | 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. |
| 17For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” | 17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. |
| 18So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless | 18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. |
| 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. | 19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. |
| 20And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, | 20And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: |
| 21but 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.’ ” | 21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) |
| 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. | 22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. |
| 23Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. | 23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: |
| 24But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. | 24But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. |
| 25Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. | 25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. |
| 26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. | 26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; |
| 27Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself. | 27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. |
| 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. | 28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. |
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