For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Parallel translations
- WEB For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.
- BSB For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
- NKJV For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.
- NASB For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
- NLT And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it.
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
When the priesthood changes, the law must also change. A new priesthood entails a fundamental shift in the entire legal order.
Overview
Because the priesthood was woven into the whole Mosaic law, a change of priesthood necessarily brings a change in the law itself. The arrival of Christ's Melchizedek priesthood therefore signals the passing of the old covenant order. This prepares for the writer's argument that a better covenant has come.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Jer 31:31–34Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
- Isa 66:21And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
- Ezek 16:61Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.
- Acts 6:13–14And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 7:12 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.