Hebrews 7 · Verse 20

Hebrews 7:20

And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

Hebrews 7:20, King James Version

Hebrews 7:20 in other translations

BSB	And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
WEB	Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath
ASV	And inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath
YLT	And inasmuch as it is not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,
DARBY	And by how much it was not without the swearing of an oath;
BBE	And as this is not without the taking of an oath
Webster	And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

What does Hebrews 7:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

20. Another proof of the superiority of Christ's Melchisedec-like priesthood; the oath of God gave a solemn weight to it which was not in the law-priesthood, which was not so confirmed. he was made priest--rather supply from He 7:22, which completes the sentence begun in this verse, He 7:21 being a parenthesis, "inasmuch as not without an oath He was made surety of the testament (for, &c.), of so much better a testament hath Jesus been made the surety." 21. Translate in the Greek order, "For they indeed (the existing legal priests) without the (solemn) promise on oath (so the Greek [Tittmann]) are made priests." by him--God. unto him--the Lord, the Son of God (Psa 110:1). not repent--never change His purpose. after the order of Melchisedec--omitted in some oldest manuscripts, contained in others.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 20. And inasmuch as not without an oath. In addition to every other consideration showing the superiority of Christ as a priest, there was the solemnity of the oath by which he was set apart to the office. The appointment of one to the office of priest by an oath, such as occurred in the case of Jesus, was much more solemn and important than where the office was received merely by descent.

Acts 13:39

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 20 Not without an oath - "The apostle's reasoning here is founded on this, that God never interposed his oath, except to show the certainty and immutability of the thing sworn. Thus he sware to Abraham, Gen 22:16-18, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed; and to the rebellious Israelites, Deu 1:34, Deu 1:35, that they should not enter into his rest; and to Moses, Deu 4:21, that he should not go into Canaan; and to David, Psa 89:4, that his seed should endure for ever, and his throne unto all generations. Wherefore, since Christ was made a priest, not without an oath that he should be a priest for ever, after the similitude of Melchisedec, that circumstance showed God's immutable resolution never to change or abolish his priesthood, nor to change or abolish the covenant which was established on his priesthood; whereas the Levitical priesthood and the law of Moses, being established without an oath, were thereby declared to be changeable at God's pleasure." This judicious note is from Dr. Macknight.

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 7:20 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532

καθ᾽kath᾽toG2596

ὅσονhosonas much asG3745

οὐounotG3756

χωρὶςchōrisapart fromG5565

ὁρκωμοσίας.horkōmosiasan oath.G3728

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

Cross references for Hebrews 7:20

Numbers 18:7
Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Hebrews 5:6
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Psalms 110:4
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

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

Context

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.
Hebrews 7:20
And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made 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:)

Read all of Hebrews 7

Hebrews 7:20 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y por cuanto no fué sin juramento,
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et en tant que cela n’a pas eu lieu sans serment
German Elberfelder 1871	Und inwiefern dies nicht ohne Eidschwur war,
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et quantum est non sine jurejurando (alii quidem sine jurejurando sacerdotes facti sunt,