Hebrews 7 · Verse 18

Hebrews 7:18

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
Hebrews 7:18, King James Version

Hebrews 7:18 in other translations

BSBSo the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
WEBFor there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
ASVFor there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness
YLTfor a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,
DARBYFor there is a setting aside of the commandment going before for its weakness and unprofitableness,
BBESo the law which went before is put on one side, because it was feeble and without profit.
WebsterFor there is verily a disannulling of the preceding commandment on account of its weakness and unprofitableness.

What does Hebrews 7:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. there is--Greek, "there takes place," according to Psa 110:4. disannuling--a repealing. of the commandment--ordaining the Levitical priesthood. And, as the Levitical priesthood and the law are inseparably joined, since the former is repealed, the latter is so also (see on He 7:11). going before--the legal ordinance introducing and giving place to the Christian, the antitypical and permanent end of the former. weakness and unprofitableness--The opposite of "power" (He 7:16).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. For there is verily a disannulling. A setting aside. The law which existed before in regard to the priesthood becomes now abrogated, in consequence of the change which has been made in the priesthood. Heb 7:12.

Of the commandment. Relating to the office of priest, or to the ceremonial rites in general. This does not refer to the moral law, as if that was abrogated, for

(1) the reasoning of the apostle does not pertain to that, and

(2) that law cannot be abrogated. It grows out of the nature of things, and must be perpetual and universal.

Going before. Going before the Christian dispensation, and introducing it.

For the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. That is, it was not adapted to save man; it had not power to accomplish what was necessary to be done in human salvation. It answered the end for which it was designed--that of introducing a more perfect plan, and then vanished as a matter of course. It did not expiate guilt; it did not give peace to the conscience; it did not produce perfection, (Heb 7:11,) and therefore it gave place to a better system.

(b) "weakness" Acts 13:39

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 For there is verily a disannulling - There is a total abrogation, προαγουσης εντολης, of the former law, relative to the Levitical priesthood. See Heb 7:19. For the weakness - It had no energy; it communicated none; it had no Spirit to minister; it required perfect obedience, but furnished no assistance to those who were under it. And unprofitableness - No man was benefited by the mere observance of its precepts: it pardoned no sin, changed no heart, reformed no life; it found men dead in trespasses and sins, and it consigned them to eternal death. It was therefore weak in itself, and unprofitable to men. The Jews, who still cleave to it, are a proof that it is both weak and unprofitable; for there is not a more miserable, distressed, and profligate class of men on the face of the earth.

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 7:18 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.

ἈθέτησιςAthetēsisA putting awayG115
μὲνmenindeedG3303
γὰρgarforG1063
γίνεταιginetaithere isG1096
προαγούσηςproagousēswhile is precedingG4254
ἐντολῆςentolēs[the] commandmentG1785
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τὸto<the>G3588
αὐτῆςautēsitsG846
ἀσθενὲςasthenesweaknessG772
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀνωφελές,anōphelesuselessness —G512

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

Cross references for Hebrews 7:18

  • Romans 8:3

    For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

  • Acts 13:39

    And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

  • Hebrews 7:11-12

    If 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? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

  • Galatians 4:9

    But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

  • Hebrews 8:7-13

    For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: …

  • Hebrews 7:19

    For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

  • 1 Timothy 4:8

    For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

  • Galatians 3:17

    And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

  • Hebrews 13:9

    Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

  • Hebrews 10:1-9

    For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. …

  • Galatians 3:15

    Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

  • Galatians 4:21

    Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a disannulling.
11,12; 8:7-13; 10:1-9; Ro 3:31; Ga 3:15,17
the weakness.
19; 8:7,8; 9:9,10; 10:1-4; 13:9; Ac 13:39; Ro 8:3; Ga 4:9,21; 1Ti 4:8

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Hebrews 7:19

    For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Read all of Hebrews 7

Hebrews 7:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El mandamiento precedente, cierto se abroga por su flaqueza é inutilidad;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car il y a abrogation du commandement qui a précédé, à cause de sa faiblesse et de son inutilité
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn da ist eine Abschaffung des vorhergehenden Gebots seiner Schwachheit und Nutzlosigkeit wegen
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Reprobatio quidem fit præcedentis mandati, propter infirmitatem ejus, et inutilitatem: