Hebrews 7:12 kjv

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

Hebrews 7:12 nkjv

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

Hebrews 7:12 niv

For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.

Hebrews 7:12 esv

For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.

Hebrews 7:12 nlt

And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it.

Hebrews 7 verses

Hebrews 7 12 Meaning

Hebrews 7:12 declares a fundamental theological necessity: that a shift in the institution of the priesthood inherently requires a corresponding change in the law associated with it. This statement underpins the entire argument for the superiority and efficacy of Christ's Melchizedekian priesthood over the Levitical (Aaronic) priesthood of the Old Covenant. The law here specifically refers to the Mosaic Law's regulations governing the priesthood, temple service, sacrifices, and pathways to God. When Christ, as a High Priest not from Levi but from Judah, superseded the old order, the laws that governed that old order necessarily became obsolete for those in Christ.

Hebrews 7 12 Context

Hebrews 7:12 is a pivotal verse within the extended theological argument of the book of Hebrews, specifically within chapters 7 and 8. Chapter 7 elaborates on Psalm 110:4, demonstrating how Christ's priesthood, modeled after Melchizedek, surpasses and supersedes the Levitical priesthood established under the Mosaic Law. Verse 11, immediately preceding our focus, asserts that "if perfection had been attained through the Levitical priesthood... what further need would there have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron?" Verse 12 then logically explains why this "other priest" necessitates a profound change: because the Levitical priesthood was intrinsically bound to the Law that governed its operations, rituals, and access to God.

The broader context of the letter to the Hebrews addresses Jewish Christians who were being tempted to revert to the familiar structures of Judaism, which included the Temple sacrificial system and the Levitical priesthood. The author passionately argues for the supremacy and finality of Christ's work, presenting Him as superior to angels, Moses, and the Old Covenant institutions. This verse directly challenges the idea of the Mosaic Law as eternally immutable in its entirety, especially concerning its ceremonial and priestly aspects. Historically, the audience would have been steeped in the regulations of the Torah, understanding intimately how every aspect of the Levitical priesthood (qualifications, duties, sacrifices, sanctuary design) was meticulously prescribed by the Law. For a new, non-Levitical priesthood to arise, a radical reorientation of those legal requirements was unavoidable.

Hebrews 7 12 Word analysis

• For (γάρ, gar): A conjunction introducing an explanation or reason. It links this verse as a direct logical consequence or substantiation of the point made in the preceding verse (Heb 7:11) – namely, the inadequacy of the Levitical priesthood and the consequent necessity for a new priesthood.
• when there is a change (μετατιθεμένης, metatithemenēs): This is a present participle from the verb metatithēmi. It means "to transfer," "to change the position of," "to alter." Here, it signifies a deliberate and fundamental reordering or shifting of the existing structure of the priesthood. It's not a minor adjustment but a substantial relocation or alteration. This process of change is presented as ongoing or present in effect, indicating that the transformation is occurring or has occurred with the advent of Christ.
• of the priesthood (ἱερωσύνης, hierosunēs): Refers to the office, institution, or function of the priesthood. In this context, it specifically refers to the divinely established Levitical priesthood under the Mosaic Law. It encapsulates the entire system of mediation and service by the descendants of Levi and Aaron.
• there must also be (ἀνάγκη καὶ, anankē kai):
  • ἀνάγκη (anankē): Means "necessity," "compulsion," "that which cannot be avoided." It indicates a theological and logical inevitability. The change in priesthood is not an optional or arbitrary development, but a divinely ordained consequence based on spiritual principles. God's design demands this corresponding change.
  • καὶ (kai): Meaning "and," "also," or "even." It highlights that the consequence (change of law) is as unavoidable and essential as the initial change (of priesthood).
• a change (μετάθεσις, metathesis): A noun form, related to the verb metatithēmi. It denotes a "transfer," "removal," "change," or "setting aside." Unlike metanoia (change of mind, repentance), metathesis implies an institutional or structural displacement—one thing is moved away, and another takes its place, or it's simply set aside because it's no longer functional or necessary.
• of the law (νόμου, nomou): Refers to the Mosaic Law (Torah). In this immediate context, it is particularly focused on those parts of the Law that pertain to the sacrificial system, temple service, purification rites, and, crucially, the specific requirements and operations of the Levitical priesthood (e.g., rules regarding descent, service, offerings). The change in the law is therefore primarily directed at the ceremonial and cultic aspects that are intertwined with the superseded priesthood.

Words-group analysis:

• "For when there is a change of the priesthood": This phrase sets up the foundational premise. The divine institution of the priesthood has undergone a fundamental shift from the lineage of Levi (Aaronic) to the order of Melchizedek, embodied by Jesus Christ. This shift is not a mere procedural alteration but a paradigm change reflecting a better way of approaching God. The change is qualitative and transformative, implying the previous system was imperfect or temporary.
• "there must also be a change of the law": This is the inescapable consequence. The Old Covenant Law provided the detailed framework for the Levitical priesthood. If the priest changes (specifically, from one who derives authority from a birthright under the law to one whose authority is by an oath and an indestructible life, as explained in Hebrews 7), then the specific legal code defining the priesthood and its related acts of worship must logically and divinely be altered or set aside. The relationship between priest and law is presented as inherently interdependent. The former system of law and priesthood was inextricably linked, such that changing one necessitated changing the other to maintain coherence in God's plan.

Hebrews 7 12 Bonus section

The "change" described in Hebrews 7:12 is not arbitrary but flows from God's character and perfect wisdom. It highlights that the Old Covenant and its laws, including the priesthood, were never meant to be the final and complete means of salvation but rather a preparatory stage. The Law, in its ceremonial aspects tied to the priesthood, functioned as a "guardian" or "pedagogue" until Christ came (Gal 3:24-25). This transition is part of a grand unfolding of God's redemptive history, moving from the shadow to the substance, from imperfection to perfection. The inherent weakness and uselessness of the former system to make anything truly perfect (Heb 7:18-19) logically compelled this divine shift. This necessitates believers to place their trust solely in Christ's completed work, rather than in rituals or genealogies of the past.

Hebrews 7 12 Commentary

Hebrews 7:12 is a concise theological declaration that serves as a cornerstone of the New Covenant's superiority over the Old. The verse establishes an inviolable principle: if the priesthood, which is central to a covenant's operation, changes its nature, then the legal framework that governed the previous priesthood must also change. This is not about the abolition of God's moral standards or His eternal character, but the termination of a particular dispensation for how humanity approaches God.

Under the Old Covenant, the Levitical priesthood, confined to the tribe of Levi, was meticulously defined by the Mosaic Law. Their lineage, duties, and the sacrificial system they administered were all codified. When Christ appeared as a High Priest, not from Levi but from Judah (which was excluded from the Mosaic priesthood laws), and according to the order of Melchizedek (a prior, universal order that foreshadowed Christ's eternal priesthood), the author argues for a divinely mandated logical shift. This change in priesthood inherently renders the specific legal stipulations tied to the Aaronic lineage and the repetitive animal sacrifices null and void in terms of achieving true reconciliation or perfection. The Law was "perfect" in its ability to reveal sin and to point towards a future reality, but it was "imperfect" in its inability to actually remove sin or grant perfect access to God.

Therefore, the "change of the law" implied in this verse is primarily the setting aside of the ceremonial, cultic, and sacrificial laws that prescribed how sinful humanity could approach a holy God. These laws were provisional, serving as a shadow pointing to Christ's ultimate reality. With Christ's eternal, perfect sacrifice and unending priesthood, the necessity for a Levitical system of earthly priests and temporary sacrifices ceased. The new priesthood ushers in a new way of living under grace, founded on a new and better covenant that perfectly atones for sins and grants direct, eternal access to God through Christ. The emphasis shifts from external rites to an internal, spiritual reality, embodying a more mature phase of God's redemptive plan.