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For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 7:17 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB for it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
  • KJV For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
  • BSB For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
  • NKJV For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
  • NLT And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, “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

Scripture testifies, 'You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.' Psalm 110:4 confirms the eternal, Melchizedek-pattern priesthood of Christ.

Overview

The writer again cites Psalm 110:4 to ground his argument in God's own word. The key term is 'forever,' which establishes the permanence of Christ's priesthood. This eternal office is the foundation of the better hope and better covenant he is unfolding.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 6

  • Ps 110:4Yahweh has sworn, and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
  • Heb 5:6As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
  • Heb 7:21(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’”
  • Heb 7:15This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,
  • Heb 5:10named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
  • Heb 6:20where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

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 7:17YouTube · 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 7:17 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.