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

2to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all (first, his name means ‘king of righteousness’, and then again ‘king of Salem’, which means ‘king of peace’),

3without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but having been made like the Son of God ⁸⁸—remains a priest continually.

Melchizedek greater than Abraham

4Now consider how great this personage was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils: ⁸⁹

5You see, those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have a command, according to the Law, to collect a tithe from the people—that is, from their brothers—even though they too came out of Abraham's body;

6but he whose descent is not counted among them collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

7Now without dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

8Also, here men who die receive tithes, but there he of whom it is testified that he lives

9—in a word, even Levi, who receives tithes, paid the tithe through Abraham,

10because he was still in the reproductive system of his forefather when Melchizedek met him. ⁹⁰

Melchizedek greater than Aaron

11Now then, if there could be perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people had received the Law), what further need would there be for a different kind of priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than being called according to the order of Aaron?

12(Because when the priesthood is changed there is also a change of law, of necessity.)

13For He of whom these things are said belongs to a different tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

14For it is evident that our Lord arose out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

15And it all becomes clearer still if a different kind of priest, in the likeness of Melchizedek, appears,

16who has come, not on the basis of a law about a physical rule but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. ⁹¹

17Because He testifies: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

18You see, there is an annulling of the former rule because of its weakness and uselessness

19(for the Law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Our eternal High Priest represents us eternally

20Further, inasmuch as it was not without the taking of an oath

21—they indeed had become priests without an oath-taking, but He[S] with an oath by Him[F] who said to Him[S]: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His[F] mind; you are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek” ⁹²

22—by so much Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23Also, there have been many priests because death prevented them from continuing in office;

24while He[S], because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

25Therefore He is able to save absolutely ⁹³those who come to God through Him, since He always lives and can intercede on their behalf.

26Now such a High Priest was fitting for us—holy, innocent, undefiled, having been set apart from sinners, and having become higher than the heavens—

27who, unlike those high priests, does not need to offer up daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; because He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.

28The Law appoints as high priest men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, that came after the Law, appointed Son, forever perfect. ⁹⁴