International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Now this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, met Abraham and blessed him when he was returning from defeating the kings.

1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. In the first place, his name means "king of righteousness," and then he is also king of Salem, that is, "king of peace."

2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.

3He has no father, mother, or genealogy, no birth date recorded for him, nor a date of death. Like the Son of God, he continues to be a priest forever.

3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

4Just look at how great this man was! Even Abraham—the patriarch himself—gave him a tenth of what he had captured!

4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!

5The descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their own brothers, even though they are also descendants of Abraham.

5And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.

6But this man, whose descent is not traced from them, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the man who had received the promises.

6But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

7It is beyond dispute that the less important person is blessed by the more important person.

7It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

8Mortal men collect tithes, but we are informed by Scripture that Melchizedek keeps on living.

8In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,

9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,

10because Levi was still inside his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—for on this basis the people received the Law—what further need would there be to speak of appointing another kind of priest according to the order of Melchizedek, not one according to the order of Aaron?

11Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?

12When a change in the priesthood takes place, there must also be a change in the Law.

12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.

13For the person we are talking about belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.

13For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

14Furthermore, it is obvious that our Lord was a descendant of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests coming from that tribe.

14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

15This point is even more obvious in that another priest who is like Melchizedek has appeared

15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,

16who was appointed to be a priest, not on the basis of a genealogical registry, but rather on the power of an indestructible life.

16who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.

17For it is declared about him, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

17For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

18Indeed, because it was weak and ineffective, the former commandment has been annulled,

18For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness

19since the Law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is presented, by which we approach God.

19(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

20Now none of this happened without an oath. Others became priests without any oath,

20And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,

21but Jesus became a priest with an oath when God told him, "The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever."

21but this one was made 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.’”

22In this way, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

23There have been many priests, since each one of them had to stop serving in office when he died.

23The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,

24But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.

24but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

25Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.

25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

26We need such a high priest—one who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

27He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he sacrificed himself.

27He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

28For the Law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promised oath, which came after the Law, results in a Son who is eternally perfect.

28For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.