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 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

9Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 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? 12For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated 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 there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,
• Hebrews 8:7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
• Hebrews 10:1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
• Galatians 2:21I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
• Galatians 4:3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
• Colossians 2:10and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
• Hebrews 7:26For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
• Hebrews 7:15And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest
• Hebrews 5:6As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;
• Hebrews 6:20where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to 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