Hebrews 7:20

Amplified Bible

And indeed it was not without the taking of an oath [that Christ was made priest]

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

King James Version (1611)
And in as much as not without an othe he was made Priest,

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

English Standard Version
And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,

New American Standard Bible
And to the extent that it was not without an oath

New Century Version
It is important that God did this with an oath. Others became priests without an oath,

Legacy Standard Bible
And inasmuch as it was not without an oath

Berean Standard Bible
And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

Contemporary English Version
God himself made a promise when this priest was appointed. But he did not make a promise like this when the other priests were appointed. The promise he made is, "I, the Lord, promise that you will be a priest forever! And I will never change my mind!"

Complete Jewish Bible
What is more, God swore an oath. For no oath was sworn in connection with those who become cohanim now;

Darby Translation
And by how much [it was] not without the swearing of an oath;

Easy-to-Read Version
Also, it is important that God made a promise with an oath when he made Jesus high priest. When those other men became priests, there was no oath.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And for as much as it is not without an othe (for these are made Priestes without an othe:

George Lamsa Translation
And he confirmed it for us by oath.

Good News Translation
In addition, there is also God's vow. There was no such vow when the others were made priests.

Lexham English Bible
And by as much as this was not without an oath (for these on the one hand have become priests without an oath,

Literal Translation
And by how much it was not without oath-taking;

American Standard Version
And inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath

Bible in Basic English
And as this is not without the taking of an oath

Hebrew Names Version
Inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath,

International Standard Version
Now none of this happened without an oath. Others became priests without any oath,

Etheridge Translation
And he hath confirmed it unto us in an oath.

Murdock Translation
And he confirmed it to us by an oath.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And in as much as that was not without an oth (For those priestes were made without an oth:

English Revised Version
And inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath

World English Bible
Inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And in as much as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath,

Weymouth's New Testament
And since it was not without an oath being taken--

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And hou greet it is, not with out sweryng; but the othere ben maad preestis with outen an ooth;

Update Bible Version
And inasmuch as [it is] not without the taking of an oath

Webster's Bible Translation
And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:

New English Translation
And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation—for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,

New King James Version
And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath

New Living Translation
This new system was established with a solemn oath. Aaron's descendants became priests without such an oath,

New Life Bible
God made a promise when Christ became the Religious Leader Who made the way for man to go to God.

New Revised Standard
This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, inasmuch as not apart from oath-taking -

Douay-Rheims Bible
And inasmuch as it is not without an oath (for the others indeed were made priests without an oath:

Revised Standard Version
And it was not without an oath.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And for this cause it is a better hope that it was not promysed with out an othe.

Young's Literal Translation
And inasmuch as [it is] not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And for this cause is it a better hope, yt it was not promysed without an ooth.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Besides those priests were establish'd without any oath: but this with an oath,

THE MESSAGE
The old priesthood of Aaron perpetuated itself automatically, father to son, without explicit confirmation by God. But then God intervened and called this new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise: God gave his word; he won't take it back: "You're the permanent priest." This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God—one that really works! A new covenant.

Simplified Cowboy Version
This new trail was blazed through the world with a solemn oath. Aaron's people never made an oath to become priests.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And inasmuch as it was not without an oath

Contextual Overview

¹¹Now if perfection [a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper] had been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people were given the Law) what further need was there for another and different kind of priest to arise, one in the manner of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed to the order of Aaron? ¹²For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity a change of the law [concerning the priesthood] as well. ¹³For the One of whom these things are said belonged [not to the priestly line of Levi but] to another tribe, from which no one has officiated or served at the altar. ¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord descended from [the tribe of] Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. ¹⁵And this becomes even more evident if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶who has become a priest, not on the basis of a physical and legal requirement in the Law [concerning his ancestry as a descendant of Levi], but on the basis of the power of an indestructible and endless life. ¹⁷For it is attested [by God] of Him, "YOU (Christ) ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." ¹⁸For, on the one hand, a former commandment is cancelled because of its weakness and uselessness [because of its inability to justify the sinner before God] ¹⁹(for the Law never made anything perfect); while on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we now continually draw near to God. ²⁰And indeed it was not without the taking of an oath [that Christ was made priest]

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Cross-References

Psalms 104:6
You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing above the mountains.

Jeremiah 3:23
"Truly, [the hope of salvation from] the hill [where idols are worshiped] is a deception, A tumult and noisy multitude on the mountains; Truly in the LORD our God Is the salvation of Israel.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And inasmuch as not without an oath,.... Our version supplies as follows,

he was made priest; which well agrees with what is said in the next verse; the Syriac version renders it, "and which he confirmed to us by an oath"; that is, the better hope, Christ and his priesthood, said to be brought in, and by which men draw nigh to God; this is established by the oath of God himself referring to Psalms 110:4 afterwards cited in proof of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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, Genesis 22:16-18, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed; and to the rebellious Israelites, Deuteronomy 1:34; Deuteronomy 1:35, that they should not enter into his rest; and to Moses, Deuteronomy 4:21, that he should not go into Canaan; and to David, Psalms 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.