For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
Parallel translations
- WEB For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
- BSB He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
- NKJV For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
- NASB For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
- NLT For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests.
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
The one of whom these things are spoken, Christ, belongs to a different tribe, none of whom ever served at the altar. His tribal origin proves his priesthood is of a different kind.
Overview
Jesus came from a tribe that had no part in the Levitical priesthood, showing his office cannot be Aaronic. This very fact confirms that his priesthood follows Melchizedek's order, not the law's prescriptions. It demonstrates that a genuine change of priesthood, and thus of covenant, has taken place.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Heb 7:11If 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?
- Heb 7:14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
- Num 17:5And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
- 2 Chr 26:16–21But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
- Num 16:40To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.
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 7:13 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.