Hebrews 7:21

Weymouth New Testament

for these men hold office without any oath having been taken, but He holds it attested by an oath from Him who said to Him, "The Lord has sworn and will not recall His words, Thou art a Priest for ever" --

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him:

King James Version (1611)
(For those Priests were made without an oath: but this with an oath, by him that said vnto him, The Lord sware and wil not repent, thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec)

King James Version
(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:)

English Standard Version
but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.'"

New American Standard Bible
(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, 'YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER'");

New Century Version
but Christ became a priest with God's oath. God said: "The Lord has made a promise and will not change his mind. ‘You are a priest forever.'" Psalm 110:4

New American Standard Bible (1995)
(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, 'YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER'");

Legacy Standard Bible
(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,"The Lord has swornAnd will not change His mind,‘You are a priest forever'");

Berean Standard Bible
but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: 'You are a priest forever.'"

Complete Jewish Bible
but Yeshua became a cohen by the oath which God swore when he said to him, " Adonai has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a cohen forever.'"

Darby Translation
(for they are become priests without the swearing of an oath, but he with the swearing of an oath, by him who said, as to him, The Lord has sworn, and will not repent [of it], *Thou* [art] priest for ever [according to the order of Melchisedec];)

Easy-to-Read Version
But Christ became a priest with God's oath. God said to him, "The Lord has made a promise with an oath and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.'"

Geneva Bible (1587)
But this is made with an othe by him that said vnto him, The Lord hath sworne, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for euer, after the order of Melchi-sedec)

George Lamsa Translation
For they were made priests without oaths; but this one was made a priest with an oath, as it was said concerning him by David, The LORD has sworn, and will not lie, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Mel-chis''edec.

Good News Translation
But Jesus became a priest by means of a vow when God said to him, "The Lord has made a solemn promise and will not take it back: ‘You will be a priest forever.'"

Lexham English Bible
but he with an oath by the one who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever'"),

Literal Translation
for they truly becoming priests are without oath-taking, but He with oath-taking, through the One saying to Him, The Lord swore, and will not care to change, "You are a priest to the age according to the order of Melchizedek;" Psalm 110:4

Amplified Bible
(for those Levites who formerly became priests [received their office] without [its being confirmed by the taking of] an oath, but this One [was designated] with an oath through the One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND or REGRET IT, 'YOU (Christ) ARE A PRIEST FOREVER'").

American Standard Version
(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);

Bible in Basic English
(For those were made priests without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by him who says of him, The Lord gave his oath, which he will not take back, that you are a priest for ever);

Hebrew Names Version
for they indeed have been made Kohanim without an oath; but he with an oath by him that says of him, "The Lord swore and will not change his mind, 'You are a Kohen forever, According to the order of Malki-Tzedek'".

International Standard Version
but Jesushe">[fn] became a priestbecame a priest">[fn] with an oath when Godhe">[fn] said to him,Psalm 110:4;">[xr] "The Lord has taken an oathand will not change his mind.You are a priest forever."Psalm 110:4">[fn]

Etheridge Translation
For they were made priests without an oath; but this [fn] with an oath: as he said unto him by the hand of David, The Lord hath sworn and will not lie, that thou art the Priest for ever in the likeness of Malki-Zedek.

Murdock Translation
For they became priests without an oath; but this man by an oath. As he said to him by David: The Lord hath sworn, and will not lie, Thou art a priest for ever, after the likeness of Melchisedec.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But this priest with an oth, by hym that saide vnto him: The Lord sware and wyll not repent, thou art a priest for euer, after the order of Melchisedech.)

English Revised Version
(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);

World English Bible
for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that says of him, "The Lord swore and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever, According to the order of Melchizedek'".

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
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 Melchisedek:)

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but this preest with an ooth, bi hym that seide `to hym, The Lord swoor, and it schal not rewe hym, Thou art a preest with outen ende, bi the ordre of Melchisedech;

Update Bible Version
(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that says of him, The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a priest forever);

Webster's Bible Translation
(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath, by him that said to him, The Lord swore, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

New English Translation
but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, " The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind , ‘ You are a priest forever '"—

New King James Version
(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The Lord has swornAnd will not relent,'You are a priest forever [fn] According to the order of Melchizedek' "), Psalms 110:4 ">[fn]

New Living Translation
but there was an oath regarding Jesus. For God said to him, "The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: ‘You are a priest forever.'"

New Life Bible
God did not make such a promise when Levi's family group became religious leaders. But when Christ became a Religious Leader, this is the promise God made, "The Lord has made a promise. He will never change His mind. You will be a Religious Leader forever."

New Revised Standard
but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever'"—

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, they, indeed, apart from oath-taking, have been made priests, but, he, with an oath-taking, through him that was saying unto him - The Lord sware, and will not regret, - Thou, art a priest, age-abidingly

Douay-Rheims Bible
But this with an oath, by him that said unto him: The Lord hath sworn and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever).

Revised Standard Version
Those who formerly became priests took their office without an oath, but this one was addressed with an oath, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'Thou art a priest for ever.'"

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Those prestes were made wt out an oth: but this prest with an oth by him that saide vnto him The lorde sware and will not repent: Thou arte a prest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.

Young's Literal Translation
and he with an oath through Him who is saying unto him, `The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;')

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Those prestes were made without an ooth, but this prest with an ooth, by him that sayde vnto him: The LORDE sware, and wyl not repente: Thou art a prest for euer after the order of Melchisedech.

Mace New Testament (1729)
by him that said to him, "the Lord has swore, and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

Simplified Cowboy Version
But God made an oath about Jesus when God said, "The Lord has made a promise and it won't ever be broken—you are the trail boss forever."

Contextual Overview

¹¹ Now if the crowning blessing was attainable by means of the Levitical priesthood--for as resting on this foundation the people received the Law, to which they are still subject-- what further need was there for a Priest of a different kind to be raised up belonging to the order of Melchizedek instead of being said to belong to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood changes, a change of Law also of necessity takes place. ¹³ He, however, to whom that prophecy refers is associated with a different tribe, not one member of which has anything to do with the altar. ¹⁴ For it is undeniable that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe of which Moses said nothing in connection with priests. ¹⁵ And this is still more abundantly clear when we read that it is as belonging to the order of Melchizedek that a priest of a different kind is to arise, ¹⁶ and hold His office not in obedience to any temporary Law, but by virtue of an indestructible Life. ¹⁷ For the words are in evidence, "Thou art a priest for ever, belonging to the order of Melchizedek." ¹⁸ On the one hand we have here the abrogation of an earlier code because it was weak and ineffective-- ¹⁹ for the Law brought no perfect blessing--but on the other hand we have the bringing in of a new and better hope by means of which we draw near to God. ²⁰ And since it was not without an oath being taken--

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

an oath: or, swearing of an oath

The Lord: Hebrews 7:17, Psalms 110:4

sware: Hebrews 6:16-18

Reciprocal: Psalms 61:7 - abide Psalms 89:3 - sworn Psalms 89:49 - thou Jeremiah 4:28 - because Jeremiah 30:21 - and I Ezekiel 37:25 - and my Acts 2:30 - knowing 2 Corinthians 3:11 - if Hebrews 5:6 - Thou Hebrews 6:18 - two Hebrews 7:11 - another Hebrews 7:16 - the power Hebrews 7:28 - the word

Cross-References

Matthew 24:39
nor did they realise any danger till the Deluge came and swept them all away; so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man.

Luke 17:27
Men were eating and drinking, taking wives and giving wives, up to the very day on which Noah entered the Ark, and the Deluge came and destroyed them all.

Romans 8:20
For the Creation fell into subjection to failure and unreality (not of its own choice, but by the will of Him who so subjected it).

Romans 8:22
For we know that the whole of Creation is groaning together in the pains of childbirth until this hour.

2 Peter 2:5
And He did not spare the ancient world, although He preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a deluge on the world of the ungodly.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For these priests were made without an oath,.... The priests of the tribe of Levi, and of the order of Aaron, were installed into their office, and invested with it, without an oath; no mention is made of any when Aaron and his sons were put into it in Moses's time; nor was any used afterwards, neither by God, nor by the priests, nor by the people; it is true indeed that after the sect of the Sadducees arose, the high priest on the day of atonement, was obliged to take an oath that he would not change any of the customs of the day t; but then this regarded not his investiture, but the execution of his office; and was an oath of his and not of the Lord's, which is here designed:

but this with an oath; that is, Christ was made an high priest with an oath, even with an oath of God; which gives his priesthood the preference to the Levitical priesthood, which was without one: and this oath was made,

by him that said unto him: the Syriac version reads, "as he said to him by David"; that is, in Psalms 110:4. David being the penman of that psalm, in which stand the following words of the Father to Christ:

the Lord sware and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec; which proves that Jehovah swore that Christ should be a priest, and continue so: swearing, when ascribed to God, is after the manner of men, and is always by himself, and never upon any trivial account; but either to confirm his love to his people, or his covenant with them, or the mission of his Son to be the Redeemer, or, as here, his priestly office: and this oath was made not so much on Christ's account, as on account of the heirs of promise, for their consolation; and shows the dignity, validity, importance, and singularity of Christ's priesthood, as well as the durableness of it; and of this oath God will never repent: repentance cannot properly fall upon God, on any account; for it is contrary to his holiness and righteousness, and to his happiness, to his unchangeableness, omniscience, and omnipotence; it is indeed sometimes ascribed to him improperly, and after the manner of men; and only regards a change of his outward conduct according to his immutable will; and the change that is made is in the creature, and not in God himself: but God will not repent in any sense of the priesthood of Christ, nor of his oath, that it should continue for ever according to the order of Melchizedek; for he was every way qualified for it, and has faithfully performed it, not his investiture, but the execution of his office; and was an oath of his and not of the Lord's, which is here designed:

but this with an oath; that is, Christ was made an high priest with an oath, even with an oath of God; which gives his priesthood the preference to the Levitical priesthood, which was without one: and this oath was made,

by him that said unto him: the Syriac version reads, "as he said to him by David"; that is, in Psalms 110:4. David being the penman of that psalm, in which stand the following words of the Father to Christ:

the Lord sware and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec; which proves that Jehovah swore that Christ should be a priest, and continue so: swearing, when ascribed to God, is after the manner of men, and is always by himself, and never upon any trivial account; but either to confirm his love to his people, or his covenant with them, or the mission of his Son to be the Redeemer, or, as here, his priestly office: and this oath was made not so much on Christ's account, as on account of the heirs of promise, for their consolation; and shows the dignity, validity, importance, and singularity of Christ's priesthood, as well as the durableness of it; and of this oath God will never repent: repentance cannot properly fall upon God, on any account; for it is contrary to his holiness and righteousness, and to his happiness, to his unchangeableness, omniscience, and omnipotence; it is indeed sometimes ascribed to him improperly, and after the manner of men; and only regards a change of his outward conduct according to his immutable will; and the change that is made is in the creature, and not in God himself: but God will not repent in any sense of the priesthood of Christ, nor of his oath, that it should continue for ever according to the order of Melchizedek; for he was every way qualified for it, and has faithfully performed it.

t Misn. Yoma, c. 1. sect. 5.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For those priests were made without an oath - The Levitical priests were set apart and consecrated without their office being confirmed to them by an oath on the part of God. They received it by regular descent, and when they arrived at a suitable age they entered on it of course. Jesus received his office by special appointment, and it was secured to him by an oath. The word rendered “oath” is in the margin “swearing of an oath.” This is the proper meaning of the Greek word, but the sense is not materially varied.

But this with an oath - This priest, the Lord Jesus, became a priest in virtue of an oath.

The Lord sware - see the note at Hebrews 6:13. The reference here is to Psalms 110:4. “The Lord hath sworn.”

And will not repent - That is, “will not regret, or will not alter his mind through regret” - for this is the meaning of the Greek word.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. Those priests — The Levitical, were made without an oath, to show that the whole system was changeable, and might be abolished.

But this — The everlasting priesthood of Christ, with an oath, to show that the Gospel dispensation should never change, and never be abolished.

By him — God the Father, that said unto him-the promised Messiah, Psalms 110:4, The Lord sware, to show the immutability of his counsel, and will not repent - can never change his mind nor purpose, Thou art a priest for ever-as long as time shall run, and the generations of men be continued on earth. Till the necessity of the mediatorial kingdom be superseded by the fixed state of eternity, till this kingdom be delivered up unto the Father, and God shall be all in all, shall this priesthood of Christ endure.