Hebrews 7:11

Hebrews 7:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
• New International Version (NIV)If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
• New Living Translation (NLT)So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron?

Context of Hebrews 7:11

9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

Hebrews 7:11 word by word

Εἰ μὲν οὖν τελείωσις διὰ τῆς Λευιτικῆς ἱερωσύνης ἦν, ὁ λαὸς γὰρ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς νενομοθέτηται, τίς ἔτι χρεία κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ ἕτερον ἀνίστασθαι ἱερέα καὶ οὐ κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Ἀαρὼν λέγεσθαι;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• thereforeμένmen · on the other handG3303
• ·οὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• perfectionτελείωσιςteleiōsis · perfectionG5050
• wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the LeviticalΛευϊτικόςLeuitikos · LeviticalG3020
• priesthoodἱερωσύνηhierōsunē · priesthoodG2420
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• underἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• the peopleὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
• received the lawνομοθετέωnomotheteō · to give lawsG3549
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• furtherἔτιeti · stillG2089
• needχρείαchreia · needG5532
• thatἀνίστημιanistēmi · to ariseG450
• anotherἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
• priestἱερεύςhiereus · priestG2409
• afterκατάkata · according toG2596
• the orderτάξιςtaxis · orderG5010
• of MelchisedecΜελχισεδέκMelchisedek · MelchizedekG3198
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• notοὐou · noG3756
• be calledλέγωlegō · to say: callG3004
• of AaronἈαρώνAarōn · AaronG2

Cross-references for Hebrews 7:11

• Hebrews 7:18For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
• Hebrews 8:7For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
• Hebrews 10:1For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
• Galatians 2:21I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
• Galatians 4:3In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.
• Colossians 2:10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
• Hebrews 7:26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
• Hebrews 7:15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
• Hebrews 5:6as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek."
• Hebrews 6:20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Commentaries on Hebrews 7:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood - The word , as we have before seen, signifies the completing or finishing of any thing, so as to leave nothing imperfect, and nothing wanting. Applied here to the Levitical priesthood, it signifies the accomplishment of that for which a priesthood is established, viz.: giving the Deity an acceptable service, enlightening and instructing the people, pardoning all offenses, purging the conscience…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood - As the Jews supposed. They were accustomed to regard the system as perfect. It was an appointment of God, and they were tenacious of the opinion that it was to be permanent, and that it needed no change. But Paul says that this could not be. Even from their own Scriptures it was apparent that a priest was to arise of another order, and of a more permanent character, and this he says was full…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. 11In the Letter to the Hebrews, perfection means achieving a desired goal rather than being flawless (see study note on 5:9). The priesthood under the old covenant could not fulfill all of God's intentions for a covenant relationship with his people. This is why God needed to create a different priesthood.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. perfection--absolute: "the bringing of man to his highest state, namely, that of salvation and sanctification." under it--The reading in the oldest manuscripts is, "Upon it (that is, on the ground of it as the basis, the priest having to administer the law, Mal 2:7: it being presupposed) the people (He 9:19, 'all the people') have received the law (the Greek is perfect, not aorist tense; implying the people were still observing the law)." what further…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 7:11

• Jesus Continued
• Melchizedek
• Priest
• Succession
• Types

In the dictionaries

• Aaron
• Attendance
• Harmless
• Law
• Melchizedek
• Separate
• Adam in the New Testament
• Christ, Offices of
• Congregation
• Faithful; Faithfulness

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