Hebrews 7 · Verse 17

Hebrews 7:17

For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:17, King James Version

Hebrews 7:17 in other translations

BSBFor it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
WEBfor it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
ASVfor it is witnessed of him, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.
YLTfor He doth testify--‘Thou art a priest--to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'
DARBYFor it is borne witness, Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec.
BBEFor it has been witnessed of him, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
WebsterFor he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

What does Hebrews 7:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. For--proving His life to be "endless" or indissoluble (He 7:16). The emphasis is on "for ever." The oldest manuscripts read, "He is testified of, that Thou art," &c.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. For he testifieth. "That this is the true account of it is proved by the testimony of God himself, that he was to be a Priest for ever. Heb 5:6.

(a) "Thou art a Priest" Ps 110:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 For he testifieth - That is, either the Scripture, in the place so often quoted, or God by that Scripture. Thou art a priest for ever - This is the proof that he was not appointed according to the carnal commandment, but according to the power of an endless life, because he is a priest for ever; i.e. one that never dies, and is never disabled from performing the important functions of his office; for if he be a priest for ever, he ever lives.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 7:11-25

The priesthood and law by which perfection could not come, are done away; a Priest is risen, and a dispensation now set up, by which true believers may be made perfect. That there is such a change is plain. The law which made the Levitical priesthood, showed that the priests were frail, dying creatures, not able to save their own lives, much less could they save the souls of those who came to them. But the High…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 7:11-25 →

Hebrews 7:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

μαρτυρεῖταιmartureitaiIt is testifiedG3140
γὰρgarforG1063
ὅτιhotithatG3754
σὺsuYou [are]G4771
ἱερεὺςhi'ereusa priestG2409
εἰςeistoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
αἰῶναaiōnaageG165
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
τὴνtēntheG3588
τάξινtaxinorderG5010
Μελχισέδεκ.¶Melchisedekof Melchizedek.G3198

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hebrews 7:17

  • Psalms 110:4

    The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

  • Hebrews 5:6

    As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

  • Hebrews 7:15

    And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

  • Hebrews 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:)

  • Hebrews 5:10

    Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

  • Hebrews 6:20

    Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
15,21; 5:6,10; 6:20; Ps 110:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hebrews 7:16

    Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

  • Hebrews 7:17

    For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

  • Hebrews 7:18

    For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

Read all of Hebrews 7

Hebrews 7:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pues se da testimonio de él: Tú eres sacerdote para siempre, según el orden de Melchîsedec.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car ce témoignage lui est rendu: « Tu es sacrificateur pour l’éternité, selon l’ordre de Melchisédec ».
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn ihm wird bezeugt: "Du bist Priester in Ewigkeit nach der Ordnung Melchisedeks".
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Contestatur enim: Quoniam tu es sacerdos in æternum, secundum ordinem Melchisedech.