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As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 5:6 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
  • BSB And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
  • NKJV As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;
  • NASB just as He also says in another passage, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
  • NLT And in another passage God said to him, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Citing Psalm 110:4, the writer announces that Christ is 'a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek,' a priesthood distinct from and greater than Aaron's.

Overview

Psalm 110:4 is the foundational text for the entire argument of Hebrews 7. Unlike the Levitical priests, Melchizedek's order is permanent ('forever'), pointing to a priesthood that does not pass away with death. By applying this to Christ, the writer signals that Jesus' priestly ministry is eternal and surpasses the temporary Aaronic system.

Cross-references & the web

Quotation

  • Ps 110:4The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Cross-references · 8

  • Ps 110:4The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
  • Heb 7:17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
  • Heb 7:21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
  • Heb 7:3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
  • Heb 5:10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
  • Gen 14:18–19And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
  • Heb 6:20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
  • Heb 7:15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Hebrews videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Hebrews 5:6YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on HebrewsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.

How Hebrews 5:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.