Hebrews 7

For this Malki-Siddiq, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Ibrahim returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2to whom also Ibrahim divided a tenth part of all (being first, in meaning, “king of righteousness,” and then also “king of Salem,” which means “king of peace;”1 3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the SON OF GOD2), remains a priest continually. 

4Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Ibrahim, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the spoils. 5They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the Taurat3, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the loins of Ibrahim, 6but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has taken tithes of Ibrahim, and has blessed him who received the promises. 7But without dispute, the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8In the case of the priests from Levi, men subject to death receive tithes. But in the case of Malki-Siddiq, one receives tithes of whom it is said that he lives. 9So to say, through Ibrahim even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes, 10for he was yet in the loins of his father Ibrahim when Malki-Siddiq met him. 

11Now if perfection could be attained through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the Taurat), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Malki-Siddiq, and not be called after the order of Harun4? 12But since the priesthood is to be changed, there is a change of law also needed. 13For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord5 has sprung from the tribe of Judah, about which Musa said nothing about priesthood. 15This is even more clear, if after the likeness of Malki-Siddiq there arises another priest, 16who has been made, not through a rule in the Taurat about physical descent, but through the power of an endless life: 17for it is declared,

“You are a priest forever in the order of Malki-Siddiq.“ 6

18One one hand, a previous rule is annulled because of its weakness and uselessness 19(for the Taurat made nothing perfect), and on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath 21(for they indeed were made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by God who said to him,

“The LORD7 has sworn, and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever in the order of Malki-Siddiq.‘” 8

22By so much has ‘ISA9 become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered by death from continuing. 24But he, because he lives forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25Therefore he is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, seeing he lives forever to make intercession for them.

26For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27who does not need, like those high priests, to daily offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For this he did once for all, when he offered up himself. 28For the Taurat appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the Taurat appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.

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  1. 7:1-2 See the Taurat, Genesis 14:17-20. ↩︎
  2. 7:3 SON OF GOD, a title of the Messiah, ‘ISA AL-MASIH, revealed through Prophet Dawud in the Zabur 2:7-9, which says: I will tell of the decree. YAHWEH said to me, “You are my SON. Today I have become your FATHER. Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, The ends of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” ↩︎
  3. 7:5 Taurat, this Arabic word derived from Torah (Hebrew) literally means “instruction” or “teaching.” In the Injil, the Greek text says nomos (meaning, “law”). Depending on context, Taurat can refer to, 
    1. The whole Hebrew Bible contained here under the title Taurat, equivalent to what Jews today call Tanakh, and what Christians call the Old Testament.
    2. The revelation given to Prophet Musa, that is, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, sometimes called the Pentateuch. Pentateuch is a Greek word meaning “five books” and includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These five books are attributed to Prophet Musa himself. This is the traditional and most common meaning given to Taurat or Torah.
    3. The Law of Musa found within the Pentateuch, with its hundreds of rules and regulations covering many aspects of daily life for the people of Israel. The most famous of these laws are the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20.
    4. Taurat can also refer to divine instruction and teaching in general without reference to a particular book of the Hebrew Bible. ↩︎
  4. 7:11 Harun, or Aaron, first high priest of Bani-Israel and brother of Prophet Musa. ↩︎
  5. 7:14 Lord, translated from the Greek kurios. Depending on context, it can refer to: 1. God, 2. ’ISA AL-MASIH, 3. men in authority, such as kings, landlords, etc., 4. a respectful salutation meaning, “sir.” In this verse, our Lord clearly refers to ‘ISA AL-MASIH. ↩︎
  6. 7:17 Quoting the Zabur 110:4 which says: YAHWEH has sworn, and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Malki-Siddiq.” ↩︎
  7. 7:21 LORD, the use of all capital letters means that the original Hebrew text quoted here uses God’s Name, YAHWEH, which God-fearing Jews to this day do not say out of respect. YAHWEH is the Name God revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.” ↩︎
  8. 7:21 Quoting the Zabur 110:4 which says: YAHWEH has sworn, and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Malki-Siddiq.” ↩︎
  9. 7:22 ‘ISA – The names ‘ISA (Arabic), ISHO (Syriac) and JESUS (Greek, IESOUS) are all derived from the Hebrew name YEHOSHUA, which means “YAHWEH saves.” (YAHWEH is God’s personal name revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.”) ↩︎