| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, | 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, |
| 2to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” | 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.” |
| 3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. | 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. |
| 4Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. | 4Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder. |
| 5And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; | 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. |
| 6but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. | 6But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. |
| 7Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. | 7And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater. |
| 8Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. | 8In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on. |
| 9Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, | 9And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham. |
| 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. | 10For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor. |
| 11Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? | 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? |
| 12For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. | 12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well. |
| 13For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. | 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. |
| 14For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. | 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests. |
| 15And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest | 15And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, |
| 16who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. | 16one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life. |
| 17For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” | 17For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” |
| 18For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, | 18So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless |
| 19for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. | 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. |
| 20And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath | 20And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, |
| 21(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The LORD has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’ ” ), | 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.’ ” |
| 22by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. | 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. |
| 23Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. | 23Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. |
| 24But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. | 24But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. |
| 25Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. | 25Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. |
| 26For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; | 26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. |
| 27who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. | 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. |
| 28For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. | 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. |
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