Melchizedek

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,

Οὗτοςthis γὰρfor ὁthe Μελχισέδεκ,Melchizedek βασιλεὺςa king, ruler, emperor Σαλήμ,Salem ἱερεὺςa priest τοῦthe θεοῦGod τοῦthe ὑψίστου,highest, most high, the heights ὁthe συναντήσαςI meet, encounter ἈβραὰμAbraham ὑποστρέφοντιI turn back, return ἀπὸfrom, away from τῆςthe κοπῆςslaughter τῶνthe βασιλέωνa king, ruler, emperor καὶand, also εὐλογήσαςI bless αὐτόν,he, his, it

and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means 'king of righteousness'; then also 'king of Salem,' which means 'king of peace.'

ᾧwho, which καὶand, also δεκάτηνa tenth part, a tithe ἀπὸfrom, away from πάντωνall, the whole, every kind of ἐμέρισενI divide, part, share Ἀβραάμ,Abraham πρῶτονfirst, before μὲνtruly, indeed ἑρμηνευόμενοςI translate, interpret βασιλεὺςa king, ruler, emperor δικαιοσύνηςjustice, justness, righteousness ἔπειταthen, thereafter, afterwards δὲnow, but καὶand, also βασιλεὺςa king, ruler, emperor Σαλήμ,Salem ὅwho, which ἐστινto be βασιλεὺςa king, ruler, emperor εἰρήνης,peace, peace of mind

Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

ἀπάτωρ,without father, of unknown father ἀμήτωρ,whose mother's name is not recorded or known ἀγενεαλόγητος,of unrecorded genealogy μήτεnor, neither, not even ἀρχὴνruler, beginning ἡμερῶνa day μήτεnor, neither, not even ζωῆςlife τέλοςan end, purpose, tax ἔχων,I have, hold, possess ἀφωμοιωμένοςI assimilate, make like to δὲnow, but τῷthe υἱῷa son, descendent τοῦthe θεοῦ,God μένειI remain, abide ἱερεὺςa priest εἰςinto, so that τὸthe διηνεκές.continuous, continually

Just think how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the best of the spoils.

ΘεωρεῖτεI behold, look at, experience δὲnow, but πηλίκοςhow large, how great οὗτοςthis ᾧwho, which δεκάτηνa tenth part, a tithe ἈβραὰμAbraham ἔδωκενI offer, give ἐκout of, from τῶνthe ἀκροθινίωνspoil, treasure ὁthe πατριάρχης.a patriarch

Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their own brothers, even though they too are descended from Abraham.

καὶand, also οἱthe μὲνtruly, indeed ἐκout of, from τῶνthe υἱῶνa son, descendent ΛευὶLevi τὴνthe ἱερατείανthe duty of a priest λαμβάνοντεςI receive, take ἐντολὴνan ordinance, injunction, command ἔχουσινI have, hold, possess ἀποδεκατοῦνI take off a tenth part, pay tithe τὸνthe λαὸνa people, the crowd κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τὸνthe νόμον,a law, the Mosaic Law τοῦτ’this ἔστινto be τοὺςthe ἀδελφοὺςa brother αὐτῶν,he, his, it καίπερalthough ἐξεληλυθόταςI go out, come out ἐκout of, from τῆςthe ὀσφύοςthe loins Ἀβραάμ·Abraham

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

ὁthe δὲnow, but μὴnot γενεαλογούμενος  ἐξout of, from αὐτῶνhe, his, it δεδεκάτωκενI tithe, collect tithe from Ἀβραάμ,Abraham καὶand, also τὸνthe ἔχονταI have, hold, possess τὰςthe ἐπαγγελίαςa promise εὐλόγηκεν.I bless

And beyond all dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater.

χωρὶςwithout, apart from δὲnow, but πάσηςall, the whole, every kind of ἀντιλογίαςcontradiction, contention, rebellion τὸthe ἔλαττονless, smaller, inferior ὑπὸby, under, about τοῦthe κρείττονοςstronger, more excellent εὐλογεῖται.I bless

In the one case, tenths are received by men who die; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

καὶand, also ὧδεhere μὲνtruly, indeed δεκάταςa tenth part, a tithe ἀποθνῄσκοντεςto die ἄνθρωποιa man, one of the human race λαμβάνουσιν,I receive, take ἐκεῖthere, yonder, thither δὲnow, but μαρτυρούμενοςto bear witness, attest ὅτιthat ζῇ.I live

One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tenths, paid a tenth through Abraham,

καὶand, also ὡςas, like as, how, while, so that ἔποςa word, so to speak εἰπεῖν,I say, speak δι’through ἈβραὰμAbraham καὶand, also ΛευὶLevi ὁthe δεκάταςa tenth part, a tithe λαμβάνωνI receive, take δεδεκάτωται,I tithe, collect tithe from

because he was still in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

ἔτιstill, yet γὰρfor ἐνin, by τῇthe ὀσφύϊthe loins τοῦthe πατρὸςfather, Father, ancestor ἦνto be ὅτεwhen συνήντησενI meet, encounter αὐτῷhe, his, it Μελχισέδεκ.Melchizedek

Now if perfection could have come through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise in the order of Melchizedek, rather than one in the order of Aaron?

Εἰif μὲνtruly, indeed οὖνtherefore, then τελείωσιςcompletion, fulfillment, perfection διὰthrough τῆςthe ΛευιτικῆςLevitical ἱερωσύνηςthe priestly office ἦν,to be ὁthe λαὸςa people, the crowd γὰρfor ἐπ’upon, concerning αὐτῆςhe, his, it νενομοθέτηται,  τίςany one, some one ἔτιstill, yet χρείαneed, necessity, business κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τὴνthe τάξινorder, position, rank ΜελχισέδεκMelchizedek ἕτερονanother, different ἀνίστασθαιI raise up, set up, rise from ἱερέαa priest καὶand, also οὐnot κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τὴνthe τάξινorder, position, rank ἈαρὼνAaron λέγεσθαι;I say, speak

For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

μετατιθεμένηςto remove, take away, transfer γὰρfor τῆςthe ἱερωσύνηςthe priestly office ἐξout of, from ἀνάγκηςnecessity, constraint, compulsion καὶand, also νόμουa law, the Mosaic Law μετάθεσιςremoval, taking away γίνεται.to come to be, be made

The one these things are said about belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.

ἐφ’upon, concerning ὃνwho, which γὰρfor λέγεταιI say, speak ταῦταthis φυλῆςa tribe, race ἑτέραςanother, different μετέσχηκεν,I participate in, share ἀφ’from, away from ἧςwho, which οὐδεὶςno one, none, nothing προσέσχηκενI pay attention to, devote myself to τῷthe θυσιαστηρίῳ·an altar

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

πρόδηλονevident γὰρfor ὅτιthat ἐξout of, from ἸούδαJudah, Judas, Jude ἀνατέταλκενI make to rise, I rise, shine ὁthe κύριοςlord, Lord, master, sir ἡμῶν,I εἰςinto, so that ἣνwho, which φυλὴνa tribe, race περὶabout, concerning, around ἱερέωνa priest οὐδὲνno one, none, nothing Μωϋσῆς  ἐλάλησεν.to speak

And what we have said is even clearer if another priest like Melchizedek arises,

Καὶand, also περισσότερονgreater, more ἔτιstill, yet κατάδηλόνquite clear ἐστιν,to be εἰif κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τὴνthe ὁμοιότηταlikeness, resemblance ΜελχισέδεκMelchizedek ἀνίσταταιI raise up, set up, rise from ἱερεὺςa priest ἕτερος,another, different

one who has become a priest not on the basis of a law about physical descent but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.

ὃςwho, which οὐnot κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during νόμονa law, the Mosaic Law ἐντολῆςan ordinance, injunction, command σαρκίνηςconsisting of flesh γέγονενto come to be, be made ἀλλὰbut, except κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during δύναμινmight, power, marvelous works ζωῆςlife ἀκαταλύτου,indissoluble, that cannot be broken up

For it is testified: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'

μαρτυρεῖταιto bear witness, attest γὰρfor ὅτιthat Σὺyou ἱερεὺςa priest εἰςinto, so that τὸνthe αἰῶναage; the ages, the universe κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τὴνthe τάξινorder, position, rank Μελχισέδεκ.Melchizedek

So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless

ἀθέτησιςnullification, abrogation μὲνtruly, indeed γὰρfor γίνεταιto come to be, be made προαγούσηςI lead forth, go before ἐντολῆςan ordinance, injunction, command διὰthrough τὸthe αὐτῆςhe, his, it ἀσθενὲςweak, infirm, sick καὶand, also ἀνωφελές,useless, unprofitable

(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

οὐδὲνno one, none, nothing γὰρfor ἐτελείωσενI complete, accomplish, make perfect ὁthe νόμος,a law, the Mosaic Law ἐπεισαγωγὴbringing in, introduction, importation δὲnow, but κρείττονοςstronger, more excellent ἐλπίδος,hope, expectation δι’through ἧςwho, which ἐγγίζομενI come near, approach τῷthe θεῷ.God

And this was not done without an oath. Others became priests without any oath,

Καὶand, also καθ’down from, against, according to, throughout, during ὅσονhow much, how great, how many οὐnot χωρὶςwithout, apart from ὁρκωμοσίαςthe taking of an oath, an oath (οἱthe μὲνtruly, indeed γὰρfor χωρὶςwithout, apart from ὁρκωμοσίαςthe taking of an oath, an oath εἰσὶνto be ἱερεῖςa priest γεγονότες,to come to be, be made

but he became a priest with an oath, through the one who said to him: 'The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever.'

ὁthe δὲnow, but μετὰwith, after ὁρκωμοσίαςthe taking of an oath, an oath διὰthrough τοῦthe λέγοντοςI say, speak πρὸςto, towards, with αὐτόν·he, his, it ὬμοσενI swear, take an oath κύριος,lord, Lord, master, sir καὶand, also οὐnot μεταμεληθήσεται,I change my mind Σὺyou ἱερεὺςa priest εἰςinto, so that τὸνthe αἰῶνα),age; the ages, the universe

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τοσοῦτοso great κρείττονοςstronger, more excellent διαθήκηςa covenant, will, testament γέγονενto come to be, be made ἔγγυοςa surety, security Ἰησοῦς.Jesus

There have been many of those priests, because death prevented them from continuing in office.

Καὶand, also οἱthe μὲνtruly, indeed πλείονέςmuch, great; here 'better, greater' εἰσινto be γεγονότεςto come to be, be made ἱερεῖςa priest διὰthrough τὸthe θανάτῳdeath κωλύεσθαιI prevent, hinder παραμένειν·I remain by, abide with

But because he continues forever, he holds his priesthood permanently.

ὁthe δὲnow, but διὰthrough τὸthe μένεινI remain, abide αὐτὸνhe, his, it εἰςinto, so that τὸνthe αἰῶναage; the ages, the universe ἀπαράβατονinviolable, unchangeable ἔχειI have, hold, possess τὴνthe ἱερωσύνην·the priestly office

That is why he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.

ὅθενwhence, wherefore καὶand, also σῴζεινI save, heal εἰςinto, so that τὸthe παντελὲςcomplete, forever, entirely δύναταιI am powerful, am able τοὺςthe προσερχομένουςto come to, approach δι’through αὐτοῦhe, his, it τῷthe θεῷ,God πάντοτεalways, at all times ζῶνI live εἰςinto, so that τὸthe ἐντυγχάνεινI meet, encounter, call upon, make a petition ὑπὲρin behalf of, above αὐτῶν.he, his, it

Such a high priest truly meets our need: holy, blameless, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Τοιοῦτοςof such a kind, such γὰρfor ἡμῖνI καὶand, also ἔπρεπενit becomes, is fitting to ἀρχιερεύς,high priest, chief priest ὅσιος,holy, pious ἄκακος,innocent, guileless, simple ἀμίαντος,undefiled, untainted κεχωρισμένοςI separate, depart ἀπὸfrom, away from τῶνthe ἁμαρτωλῶν,sinning, sinful, a sinner καὶand, also ὑψηλότεροςhigh, lofty τῶνthe οὐρανῶνthe sky, the heaven γενόμενος·to come to be, be made

Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He did this once for all when he offered himself.

ὃςwho, which οὐκnot ἔχειI have, hold, possess καθ’down from, against, according to, throughout, during ἡμέρανa day ἀνάγκην,necessity, constraint, compulsion ὥσπερjust as, as οἱthe ἀρχιερεῖς,high priest, chief priest πρότερονformer, before ὑπὲρin behalf of, above τῶνthe ἰδίωνone's own, private, personal ἁμαρτιῶνa sin θυσίαςsacrifice ἀναφέρειν,I carry up, lead up, offer up ἔπειταthen, thereafter, afterwards τῶνthe τοῦthe λαοῦa people, the crowd (τοῦτοthis γὰρfor ἐποίησενI do, make ἐφάπαξonce, once for all ἑαυτὸνhimself, herself, itself ἀνενέγκας)·I carry up, lead up, offer up

For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

ὁthe νόμοςa law, the Mosaic Law γὰρfor ἀνθρώπουςa man, one of the human race καθίστησινI set, establish, appoint, conduct ἀρχιερεῖςhigh priest, chief priest ἔχονταςI have, hold, possess ἀσθένειαν,want of strength, weakness, illness ὁthe λόγοςa word, speech, divine utterance, analogy δὲnow, but τῆςthe ὁρκωμοσίαςthe taking of an oath, an oath τῆςthe μετὰwith, after τὸνthe νόμονa law, the Mosaic Law υἱόν,a son, descendent εἰςinto, so that τὸνthe αἰῶναage; the ages, the universe τετελειωμένον.I complete, accomplish, make perfect