Hebrews 7:20

King James Version

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

Parallel Translations

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

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

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

Darby Translation
And by how much [it was] not without the swearing 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--

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

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

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.

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

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

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]:

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

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

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

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;

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

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

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.

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

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:

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,

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

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.

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

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

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

Contextual Overview

¹¹ 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? ¹² For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. ¹³ For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. ¹⁵ And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, ¹⁶ Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. ¹⁷ For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. ¹⁸ For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. ¹⁹ For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. ²⁰ And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Cross-References

Psalms 104:6
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

Jeremiah 3:23
Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of 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.