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?
• English Standard Version (ESV)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?
• 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?

Context of Hebrews 7:11

9We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, Levi was giving a tenth of everything. Levi gave, although later his descendants would receive a tenth of everything. 10Even though Levi had not yet been born, he was in the body of Abraham when Melchizedek met him. The people established the Levitical priesthood based on instructions they received. If the work of the Levitical priests had been perfect, we wouldn’t need to speak about another kind of priest. However, we speak about another kind of priest, a priest like Melchizedek, not a Levitical priest like Aaron. 12When a different kind of priesthood is established, the regulations for those priests are different. 13The priest whom we are talking about was a member of a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest 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 7:18The former requirements are rejected because they are weak and useless.
• Hebrews 8:7If nothing had been wrong with the first promise, no one would look for another one.
• Hebrews 10:1Moses’ Teachings with their yearly cycle of sacrifices are only a shadow of the good things in the future. They aren’t an exact likeness of those things. They can never make those who worship perfect.
• Galatians 2:21I don’t reject God’s kindness. If we receive God’s approval by obeying the laws in the Scriptures, then Christ’s death was pointless.
• Galatians 4:3It was the same way with us. When we were children, we were slaves to the principles of this world.
• Colossians 2:10and God has made you complete in Christ. Christ is in charge of every ruler and authority.
• Hebrews 7:26We need a chief priest who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and who holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.
• Hebrews 7:15The regulations were different. This became clear when a different priest who is like Melchizedek appeared.
• Hebrews 5:6In another place in Scripture, God said, “You are a priest forever, in the way Melchizedek was a priest.”
• Hebrews 6:20where Jesus went before us on our behalf. He has become the chief priest forever in the way Melchizedek was a priest.

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