God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 7:26
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 7:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
- New International Version (NIV)Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
Context of Hebrews 7:26
24But Jesus lives forever, so he serves as a priest forever. 25That is why he is always able to save those who come to God through him. He can do this because he always lives and intercedes for them. We 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. 27We need a priest who doesn’t have to bring daily sacrifices as those chief priests did. First they brought sacrifices for their own sins, and then they brought sacrifices for the sins of the people. Jesus brought the sacrifice for the sins of the people once and for all when he sacrificed himself. 28Moses’ Teachings designated mortals as chief priests even though they had weaknesses. But God’s promise, which came after Moses’ Teachings, designated the Son who forever accomplished everything that God required.
Read all of Hebrews 7Hebrews 7:26 word by word
Τοιοῦτος γὰρ ἡμῖν καὶ ἔπρεπεν ἀρχιερεύς, ὅσιος, ἄκακος, ἀμίαντος, κεχωρισμένος ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν, καὶ ὑψηλότερος τῶν οὐρανῶν γενόμενος·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- suchτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
- an high priestἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
- becameπρέπωprepō · be properG4241
- usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- holyὅσιοςhosios · sacredG3741
- harmlessἄκακοςakakos · innocentG172
- undefiledἀμίαντοςamiantos · pureG283
- separateχωρίζωchōrizō · to separate/leaveG5563
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- sinnersἁμαρτωλόςhamartōlos · sinfulG268
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- higherὑψηλόςhupsēlos · highG5308
- than the heavensὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- than the heavensοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
Cross-references for Hebrews 7:26
- Hebrews 7:11The 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.
- Hebrews 8:1The main point we want to make is this: We do have this kind of chief priest. This chief priest holds the honored position—the one next to the majestic God [the Father] on the heavenly throne.
- Hebrews 9:23The copies of the things in heaven had to be cleansed by these sacrifices. But the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed by better sacrifices.
- Hebrews 10:11Every day each priest performed his religious duty. He offered the same type of sacrifice again and again. Yet, these sacrifices could never take away sins.
- Hebrews 2:10God is the one for whom and through whom everything exists. Therefore, while God was bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was the right time to bring Jesus, the source of their salvation, to the end of his work through suffering.
- Luke 24:26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
- Hebrews 4:15We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin.
- Hebrews 9:14The blood of Christ, who had no defect, does even more. Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God and cleansed our consciences from the useless things we had done. Now we can serve the living God.
- Exodus 28:36“Make a flower-shaped medallion out of pure gold, and engrave on it (as on a signet ring): Holy to the Lord.
- Isaiah 53:9He was placed in a tomb with the wicked. He was put there with the rich when he died, although he had done nothing violent and had never spoken a lie.
- Luke 1:35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.
- Luke 23:22A third time Pilate spoke to them. He asked, “Why? What has he done wrong? I haven’t found this man deserving of the death penalty. So I’m going to have him whipped and set free.”
- John 8:29Besides, the one who sent me is with me. He hasn’t left me by myself. I always do what pleases him.”
- John 14:30The ruler of this world has no power over me. But he’s coming, so I won’t talk with you much longer.
- Acts 3:14You rejected the man who was holy and innocent. You asked to have a murderer given to you,
- Acts 4:27“In this city Herod and Pontius Pilate made plans together with non-Jewish people and the people of Israel. They made their plans against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
Commentaries on Hebrews 7:26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Such a high priest became us - Such a high priest was in every respect suitable to us, every way qualified to accomplish the end for which he came into the world. There is probably here an allusion to the qualifications of the Jewish high priest: - He was required to be holy, ̔, answering to the Hebrew חסיד chasid, merciful. Holiness was his calling; and, as he was the representative of his brethren, he was required to be merciful and compassionate. He…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26For such an High Priest became us - Was suited to our condition. That is, there was that in our character and circumstances which demanded that a high priest for us should be personally holy. It was not requisite merely that he should have great power; or that he should be of a rank superior to that of the Jewish priesthood; but there was a special propriety that he should surpass all others in “moral” purity. Other priests were mere mortal men, and it…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-28Verses 26-28 Observe the description of the personal holiness of Christ. He is free from all habits or principles of sin, not having the least disposition to it in his nature. No sin dwells in him, not the least sinful inclination, though such dwells in the best of Christians. He is harmless, free from all actual transgression; he did no violence, nor was there any deceit in his mouth. He is undefiled. It is hard to keep ourselves pure, so as not to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-27Jesus is free from sin and different from sinners (see Hebrews 4:15). This makes him better than the old covenant priests, who had to handle their own sins and those of the people (see also 5:1–3). He holds the highest place of honor in heaven, affirming his unique role as high priest (see 2:9; 5:9; Philippians 2:5–11). once for all: This means once, never to be repeated, not once for all people.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. such--as is above described. The oldest manuscripts read, "also." "For to US (as sinners; emphatical) there was also becoming (besides the other excellencies of our High Priest) such an High Priest." holy--"pious" (a distinct Greek word from that for holy, which latter implies consecration) towards God; perfectly answering God's will in reverent piety (Psa 16:10). harmless--literally, "free from evil" and guile, in relation to Himself. undefiled--not…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 7:26
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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