God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 7:20
20None of this happened without an oath. The men from the tribe of Levi may have become priests without an oath,
Hebrews 7:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
- New International Version (NIV)And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath,
- English Standard Version (ESV)And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,
- New King James Version (NKJV)And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath
Context of Hebrews 7:20
18The former requirements are rejected because they are weak and useless. 19Moses’ Teachings couldn’t accomplish everything that God required. But we have something else that gives us greater confidence and allows us to approach God. None of this happened without an oath. The men from the tribe of Levi may have become priests without an oath, 21but Jesus became a priest when God took an oath. God said about him, “The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever.” 22In this way Jesus has become the guarantee of a better promise.
Read all of Hebrews 7Hebrews 7:20 word by word
καὶ καθ᾽ ὅσον οὐ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας. οἱ μὲν γὰρ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας εἰσὶν ἱερεῖς γεγονότες,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Commentaries on Hebrews 7:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Not without an oath - "The apostle's reasoning here is founded on this, that God never interposed his oath, except to show the certainty and immutability of the thing sworn. Thus he sware to Abraham, Genesis 22:16-18, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed; and to the rebellious Israelites, Deuteronomy 1:34, Deuteronomy 1:35, that they should not enter into his rest; and to Moses, Deuteronomy 4:21, that he should not go into…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20And inasmuch as not without an oath - In addition to every other consideration showing the superiority of Christ as a priest, there was the solemnity of the oath by which he was set apart to the office. The appointment of one to the office of priest by an oath, such as occurred in the case of Jesus, was much more solemn and important than where the office was received merely by descent.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. 20-21This new system is about how God chooses a priest. God’s serious promise is shown in the quote from Psalm 110:4.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Another proof of the superiority of Christ's Melchisedec-like priesthood; the oath of God gave a solemn weight to it which was not in the law-priesthood, which was not so confirmed. he was made priest--rather supply from He 7:22, which completes the sentence begun in this verse, He 7:21 being a parenthesis, "inasmuch as not without an oath He was made surety of the testament (for, &c.), of so much better a testament hath Jesus been made the surety."…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 7:20
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries