Hebrews 7:23

Hebrews 7:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
• New International Version (NIV)Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;
• English Standard Version (ESV)The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.

Context of Hebrews 7:23

21(for those Levites who formerly became priests [received their office] without [its being confirmed by the taking of] an oath, but this One [was designated] with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind or regret it, ‘You (Christ) are a Priest forever’ ”). 22And so [because of the oath’s greater strength and force] Jesus has become the certain guarantee of a better covenant [a more excellent and more advantageous agreement; one that will never be replaced or annulled]. The [former successive line of] priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were each prevented by death from continuing [perpetually in office]; 24but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and without change, because He lives on forever. 25Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].

Hebrews 7:23 word by word

Καὶ οἱ μὲν πλείονές εἰσιν γεγονότες ἱερεῖς διὰ τὸ θανάτῳ κωλύεσθαι παραμένειν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• theyεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• trulyμένmen · on the other handG3303
• ·γίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• manyπλείων, πλεῖονpleiōn pleion pleon · greaterG4119
• priestsἱερεύςhiereus · priestG2409
• becauseδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• they were not sufferedκωλύωkōluō · to preventG2967
• to continueπαραμένωparamenō · to continueG3887
• by reason of deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Hebrews 7:23

• Hebrews 7:8Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; but in that case [concerning Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives on [perpetually].
• 1 Chronicles 6:3The sons of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
• Nehemiah 12:10Now Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, Joiakim of Eliashib, Eliashib of Joiada,

Commentaries on Hebrews 7:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23And they truly were many priests - Under the Mosaic law it was necessary there should be a succession of priests, because, being mortal, they were not suffered to continue always by reason of death.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23And they truly - Under the Jewish dispensation. The object of this verse and the following is, to state one more reason of the excellence of the priesthood of Christ. It is, that owing to the frailty of human nature, and the shortness of life, the office of priest there was continually changing. But here there was no such change. Christ, being exalted to the heavens to live forever there, has now an unchangeable priesthood, and everything in regard to his…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-25Verses 11-25 The priesthood and law by which perfection could not come, are done away; a Priest is risen, and a dispensation now set up, by which true believers may be made perfect. That there is such a change is plain. The law which made the Levitical priesthood, showed that the priests were frail, dying creatures, not able to save their own lives, much less could they save the souls of those who came to them. But the High Priest of our profession holds…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-24The old covenant needed many priests because each one eventually died. In contrast, the priesthood of Jesus is permanent. This term refers to something unchangeable, like the sun's daily path across the sky or the regular change of seasons.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Another proof of superiority; the Levitical priests were many, as death caused the need of continually new ones being appointed in succession. Christ dies not, and so hath a priesthood which passes not from one to another. were--Greek, "are made." many--one after another; opposed to His "unchangeable (that does not pass from one to another) priesthood" (He 7:24). not suffered to continue--Greek, "hindered from permanently continuing," namely, in the…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 7:23

• Jesus Continued
• Succession

In the dictionaries

• Attendance
• Harmless
• Melchizedek
• Separate
• Adam in the New Testament
• Christ, Offices of
• Congregation
• Faithful; Faithfulness
• Hebrews, Epistle to the
• Jashobeam

Commentaries on Hebrews 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings