Christian Standard Bible
Hebrews 7:16
16who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life.
Hebrews 7:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
- New International Version (NIV)one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.
- English Standard Version (ESV)who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.
- New King James Version (NKJV)who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.
Context of Hebrews 7:16
14Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests. 15And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. 17For it has been testified: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 18So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable
Read all of Hebrews 7Hebrews 7:16 word by word
ὃς οὐ κατὰ νόμον ἐντολῆς σαρκίνης γέγονεν ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν ζωῆς ἀκαταλύτου·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- is madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- notοὐou · noG3756
- afterκατάkata · according toG2596
- the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- of aἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
- carnalσαρκικόςsarkikos · fleshlyG4559
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- the powerδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
- of anζωήzōē · lifeG2222
- endlessἀκατάλυτοςakatalutos · indestructibleG179
Cross-references for Hebrews 7:16
- Hebrews 9:9This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience.
- Hebrews 10:1Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year.
- Galatians 4:3In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world.
- Colossians 2:14He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
- Hebrews 7:3Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
- Revelation 1:18and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Commentaries on Hebrews 7:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Who is made - Appointed to this high office by God himself, not succeeding one that was disabled or dead, according to that law or ordinance directed to weak and perishing men, who could not continue by reason of death. This is probably all that the apostle intends by the words carnal commandment, · for carnal does not always mean sinful or corrupt, but feeble, frail, or what may be said of or concerning man in his present dying condition. But after the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Who is made - That is, the other priest is made, to wit, the Messiah. He was made a priest by a special law. Not after the law of a carnal commandment - Not according to the Law of a commandment pertaining to the flesh. The word “carnal” means “fleshly;” and the idea is, that the Law under which the priests of the old dispensation were made was external, rather than spiritual; it related more to outward observances than to the keeping of the heart. That…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. 15-17This change in how God appoints priests (Hebrews 7:11–14) is clear through Jesus being appointed as a different kind of priest. Like Melchizedek, Jesus is a priest forever. His resurrection from the dead shows he has the power of an indestructible life. Since his priesthood, in the order of Melchizedek, is superior to the Levites' (7:1–10), he replaces them as priest.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. carnal ... endless--mutually contrasted. As "form" and "power" are opposed, 2Ti 3:5; so here "the law" and "power," compare Ro 8:3, "The law was weak through the flesh"; and He 7:18, "weakness." "The law" is here not the law in general, but the statute as to the priesthood. "Carnal," as being only outward and temporary, is contrasted with "endless," or, as Greek, "indissoluble." Commandments is contrasted with "life." The law can give a commandment…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 7:16
In the dictionaries
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
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