Melchizedek and Abraham (Genesis 14:17–24)
1 AKJV For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; BSB BSB: This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 AKJV To 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; BSB BSB: and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
3 AKJV Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like to the Son of God; stays a priest continually. BSB BSB: 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.
4 AKJV Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. BSB BSB: Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.
5 AKJV And truly 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 brothers, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: BSB BSB: Now 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.
6 AKJV But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. BSB BSB: But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 AKJV And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. BSB BSB: And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8 AKJV And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. BSB BSB: In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.
9 AKJV And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. BSB BSB: And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
10 AKJV For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. BSB BSB: For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
A Superior Priesthood 11 AKJV If 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? BSB BSB: 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 Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
12 AKJV For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. BSB BSB: For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
13 AKJV For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. BSB BSB: He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
15 AKJV And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there rises another priest, BSB BSB: And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
16 AKJV Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. BSB BSB: one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.
17 AKJV For he testifies, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. BSB BSB: For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
18 AKJV For there is truly a cancellation of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. BSB BSB: So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
19 AKJV For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw near to God. BSB BSB: (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 AKJV And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: BSB BSB: And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
21 AKJV (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said to him, The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) BSB BSB: 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.’”
22 AKJV By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. BSB BSB: Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 AKJV And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: BSB BSB: Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
24 AKJV But this man, because he continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood. BSB BSB: But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.
25 AKJV Why he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. BSB BSB: Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
26 AKJV For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; BSB BSB: Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 AKJV Who needs 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. BSB BSB: Unlike 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.
28 AKJV For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated for ever more. BSB BSB: For 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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