Hebrews 7:13 kjv

For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

Hebrews 7:13 nkjv

For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.

Hebrews 7:13 niv

He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.

Hebrews 7:13 esv

For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

Hebrews 7:13 nlt

For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests.

Hebrews 7 verses

Hebrews 7 13 Meaning

This verse states that the individual concerning whom these matters are spoken—referring to Jesus Christ and His priesthood—originated from a different tribal lineage, not the priestly tribe of Levi. From this non-priestly tribe, no individual had ever been permitted or appointed to serve at the altar within the context of the Mosaic covenant. This highlights the foundational difference of Jesus's priesthood.

Hebrews 7 13 Context

Hebrews chapter 7 meticulously expounds upon the superiority of Jesus Christ's priesthood over the Levitical priesthood established under the Mosaic Law. The author uses Melchizedek, a priest of God Most High (Gen 14), as a foreshadowing and a type of Christ's eternal and unchangeable priestly order, as prophesied in Ps 110:4. The preceding verses in chapter 7 highlight Melchizedek's unique status—without recorded genealogy or beginning of days—and his blessing of Abraham, implying superiority. Verse 7:11 suggests that the Levitical priesthood could not bring perfection, necessitating a "different" priest. Verse 7:12 then states that a change in the priesthood necessitates a change in the law itself. Within this immediate context, verse 7:13 serves to explicitly lay the groundwork for this profound theological shift. It emphasizes the foundational legal hurdle for Jesus to be a priest under the old covenant: His tribal origin was not Levi but Judah. This fact becomes crucial for arguing the inadequacy and superseding of the old priestly system by Christ's Melchizedekian priesthood. Historically, the audience, Jewish Christians, would have been deeply rooted in the Levitical system's sanctity, making this an essential point of understanding for their faith transition to Christ.

Hebrews 7 13 Word analysis

• He / ᾧ (hō): "He" or "the one." Refers directly to Jesus Christ, the subject of the entire discussion in Hebrews 7. It anchors the theological argument firmly on the person of Christ.
• of whom these things are said / λέγεται (legetai) γὰρ περὶ οὗ ταῦτα: Literally "For concerning whom these things are spoken." "Λέγεται" is in the present passive, implying ongoing or general truth, reflecting the ongoing discourse about Christ's unique priesthood. "Ταῦτα" ("these things") refers to the characteristics and prophetic descriptions of Christ's priesthood as described previously in Hebrews, particularly His office according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:6, 10; 6:20; Ps 110:4).
• belonged / μετέσχηκεν (metescheken): Perfect active indicative of metechō, meaning "to partake of," "to share in," or "to belong to." The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action with continuing results—His tribal identity is a permanent historical fact. It underscores the immutability of His lineage.
• to a different tribe / ἑτέρας φυλῆς (heteras phylēs): "ἑτέρας" (heteras) means "another of a different kind," not just "another" of the same kind (allos). This distinction is critical: Jesus belongs to a tribe fundamentally distinct from the priestly tribe concerning its function in the Mosaic system. "Φυλῆς" (phylēs) signifies a "tribe" or "clan," specifically referring to one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This immediately points away from Levi.
• from which / ἀφ’ ἧς (aph’ hēs): "From which." This prepositional phrase clearly links the impossibility of priestly service directly to the specific tribe just mentioned.
• no one has ever served / οὐδεὶς προσέσχηκεν (oudeis prosechēken): "Οὐδεὶς" (oudeis) means "no one." "Προσέσχηκεν" (prosechēken) is the perfect active indicative of prosechō, meaning "to apply oneself to," "to give attention to," or in this context, "to serve" or "to officiate." The perfect tense denotes an absolute historical fact: no individual from that tribe ever served at the altar in any historical period up to the author's present. This highlights the absolute nature of the Mosaic law's restriction on priestly service.
• at the altar / θυσιαστηρίῳ (thysiastēriō): "Altar." The central place of ritual sacrifice and offering in the Tabernacle and Temple, exclusive to the Levitical priests. This specific term grounds the discussion in the concrete realities of Old Covenant worship, demonstrating Jesus's exclusion from the traditional priestly roles.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe": This phrase succinctly states that Jesus's identity, as previously described (e.g., as High Priest forever), is incompatible with the established tribal requirements for priesthood. The emphasis on "different tribe" immediately signals a departure from the Levitical order.
• "from which no one has ever served at the altar": This clarifies the consequence of Jesus's lineage. It unequivocally affirms the strict separation of priestly duties under the Mosaic Law. It highlights that service at the altar was exclusively for the Levites, making Jesus's qualifications by descent invalid under the old covenant. This stark contrast sets up the logical necessity for a new and different covenant.

Hebrews 7 13 Bonus section

The concept of "different tribe" (ἑτέρας φυλῆς) goes beyond mere differentiation; it implies a distinction so fundamental that it necessitates a complete shift in the theological framework of priesthood. The Jewish understanding of tribal identity was intrinsically tied to divine ordering and inheritance. The Priesthood was hereditary and fixed by divine decree for the Levites. The claim that Jesus, of the tribe of Judah (later explicitly stated in Heb 7:14), is a High Priest, inherently challenges the very structure of the Mosaic Law. This verse, therefore, implicitly suggests that a new divine ordering for priesthood has emerged, not based on Mosaic descent but on an earlier, unmediated, and prophetic (Ps 110) appointment that precedes and transcends the limitations of the Mosaic system. It is a polemic against clinging to outdated ritual and lineage over God's new and ultimate work in Christ.

Hebrews 7 13 Commentary

Hebrews 7:13 is a pivotal verse, functioning as a legal statement within the larger theological argument for Christ's superior priesthood. The author has established that Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4), an order distinct from Aaron's. To address potential Jewish objections rooted in the Law, the author must demonstrate why Jesus's priesthood is legitimate despite not being from Levi. This verse provides the factual basis for that explanation: Jesus belongs to a different tribe—Judah, not Levi. Under the Mosaic Law (e.g., Num 3:10; 16:40), service at the altar was strictly reserved for Aaron's descendants within the tribe of Levi. No one from any other tribe was ever permitted to perform these duties. The author explicitly states this inviolable rule to underscore the impossibility of Jesus's priestly role if the Levitical system remained absolute. This absolute prohibition necessitates a change in the priesthood itself, which logically entails a change in the Law (Heb 7:12). The verse sets up the radical nature of God's new covenant in Christ, where the divine appointment transcends human lineage requirements, focusing instead on a superior, eternal priesthood established by divine oath, perfectly suited to offer the ultimate and sufficient sacrifice.