And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
Parallel translations
- WEB Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath
- KJV And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
- NKJV And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath
- NASB And to the extent that it was not without an oath
- NLT This new system was established with a solemn oath. Aaron’s descendants became priests without such an oath,
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
Christ's priesthood, unlike the Levitical, was established with a divine oath. God's oath marks the superiority and permanence of Jesus' office.
Overview
The writer notes that Jesus became priest with an oath, whereas the Levites received their office without one. This oath, from Psalm 110:4, adds solemn confirmation and permanence to his priesthood. It signals that Christ's office rests on God's unchangeable purpose.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Num 18:7But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”
- Heb 5:6And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
- Ps 110:4The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
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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 7:20 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
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