Hebrews 7:21 kjv

(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:)

Hebrews 7:21 nkjv

(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The LORD has sworn And will not relent, 'You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek' "),

Hebrews 7:21 niv

but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.'?"

Hebrews 7:21 esv

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.'"

Hebrews 7:21 nlt

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.'"

Hebrews 7 verses

Hebrews 7 21 Meaning

Hebrews 7:21 declares the foundational distinction between the fleeting Aaronic priesthood and the everlasting priesthood of Jesus Christ. It states that the former priests were appointed without a divine oath, but Christ became High Priest by a solemn and unbreakable oath from God Himself, quoting Psalm 110:4. This establishes Christ's priesthood as uniquely ordained, immutable, and eternal, guaranteeing a permanent mediator for God's people.

Hebrews 7 21 Context

Hebrews chapter 7 serves as the apex of the author's argument for the superiority of Christ's priesthood, drawing a profound theological comparison between the Melchizedekian order, which prefigures Christ, and the Levitical (Aaronic) priesthood. The chapter establishes that a change in the priesthood necessitates a change in the Law (Heb 7:12), signifying a shift from the Old Covenant to the New. Verse 21 specifically highlights the critical difference: the Aaronic priests were appointed based on a temporal law of lineage and fleshly command (Heb 7:16), without any direct divine pledge regarding their service or its duration. In stark contrast, Christ's priesthood is not by human decree or ancestry but by the explicit, irrevocable oath of God, as foretold in Psalm 110:4. This distinction is vital for the Jewish Christian audience, as it dismantles the notion of perpetual validity for the Mosaic sacrificial system and redirects their faith entirely to Christ, whose priestly work is grounded in God's eternal commitment.

Hebrews 7 21 Word analysis

• for they (οἱ μὲν γὰρ, hoi men gar): "For they" or "indeed, for they." The "gar" signals that this clause provides a reason or explanation for what was just said (the inadequacy of the old covenant and priesthood). "Hoi men" sets up a direct contrast with "He" (Jesus).
• became (γεγόνασιν, gegonasin): "They have become," "they were made." This perfect tense verb (from ginomai) indicates a state or condition that came into existence at a certain point and continues, yet its source (without an oath) inherently limits its nature.
• priests (ἱερεῖς, hiereis): Refers to the Levitical, Aaronic priests. Their designation as "priests" acknowledges their historical function within the old covenant system.
• without an oath (χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας, choris horkōmosias): "Without an oath." Choris emphasizes absence or separation. Horkōmosias denotes a sworn oath or pledge. The absence of a divine oath underscores the provisional, temporary, and therefore inferior nature of the Aaronic priesthood; their authority rested on hereditary law, not divine solemnity.
• but He (ὁ δὲ, ho de): "But He." The "de" indicates a strong adversative, introducing a powerful contrast between the two priesthoods. "He" refers to Jesus Christ.
• with an oath (μετὰ ὁρκωμοσίας, meta horkōmosias): "With an oath." Meta here signifies accompaniment or inclusion. The presence of a divine oath highlights the absolute and eternal validation of Christ's priesthood by God Himself.
• through the One who said to Him (διὰ τοῦ λέγοντος πρὸς αὐτόν, dia tou legontos pros auton): "Through the one who said to him." Dia indicates agency, specifying that Christ's appointment is not self-appointed or human-initiated, but divinely decreed. "The One who said" refers unmistakably to God the Father, who directly spoke the oath to the Son. The present participle legontos implies the continuing validity or ongoing power of that utterance.
• THE LORD HAS SWORN (Ὠμοσεν Κύριος, Ōmosen Kyrios): "The Lord has sworn." Kyrios is "Lord," referring to Yahweh. Ōmosen (aorist tense of omnȳmi) means "has sworn" or "did swear," denoting a definite, completed, and binding action with continuing effect. This specific phrase is a direct quotation from Psalm 110:4, signifying its prophetic fulfillment in Christ.
• AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND (καὶ οὐ μεταμεληθήσεται, kai ou metamelesēsetai): "And will not regret," "and will not change His mind." Metamelesēsetai signifies repentance or change of heart/mind. The negative "ou" emphatically asserts God's immutability regarding this oath. This divine unchangeableness provides absolute assurance for the permanence of Christ's priesthood, contrasting with human weakness and changeability.
• "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER." (Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, Sy hiereus eis ton aiōna): "You are a priest into the age/forever." Sy is the emphatic "you," directly addressing Christ. Hiereus means "priest." Eis ton aiōna means "unto the age" or "forever," denoting eternal, unending duration. This term not only speaks of length but also of qualitative permanence and efficacy.

Word Groups Analysis:

• "for they became priests without an oath": This phrase succinctly states the key deficiency of the Aaronic priesthood. Their authority, though God-ordained for a specific covenantal period, lacked the solemn, irrevocable divine oath that would establish permanence. It points to a lesser foundation for a lesser covenant.
• "but He with an oath through the One who said to Him": This contrasting clause highlights the absolute and direct divine authorization for Christ's priesthood. It shifts the focus from human succession and earthly lineage to a direct, spoken decree from God, mediated to the Son. The Father's word is the ultimate credential.
• "'THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND'": This quoted divine statement is the bedrock of the entire argument. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and irrevocability of God's purpose concerning Christ. "Sworn" signifies the highest level of commitment and binding promise. "Will not change His mind" eradicates any possibility of God revoking or altering His divine decree, assuring stability and perpetuity. This divine steadfastness transcends any earthly or temporary arrangement.
• "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER.": This climactic declaration is the substance of the oath. "Forever" is critical; it underlines that Christ's priesthood is not subject to human mortality, the limitations of the Mosaic Law, or the temporal nature of the Old Covenant. It establishes His eternal priestly office as the unshakeable foundation of the New Covenant.

Hebrews 7 21 Bonus section

The oath in Hebrews 7:21 is foundational, moving beyond a simple declaration to a binding, unchangeable covenant made by God Himself. The immutability of God's oath signifies that Christ's high priesthood is not merely a historical event but a continuing, effective reality. This directly impacts the believer's confidence in Christ's ability to save completely (Heb 7:25) and highlights the surety of the better covenant He mediates (Heb 7:22). The "not change His mind" (οὐ μεταμεληθήσεται) signifies a divine certainty that transcends human regret or reconsideration. While God may "repent" in the sense of altering His planned actions in response to human repentance (as seen in Old Testament narratives), here it affirms His unwavering faithfulness to His promises concerning His Son. This also means that Christ's priestly function does not depend on any human merit or continuity, but solely on the eternal character and unyielding will of God.

Hebrews 7 21 Commentary

Hebrews 7:21 is the heart of the author's compelling argument for Christ's supreme and lasting priesthood. It precisely identifies the fundamental difference between the transient Levitical priests, whose appointments were rooted in a mutable law, and Jesus, whose priestly office is inaugurated and secured by an irrevocable divine oath. The phrase "without an oath" highlights the provisional nature of the Aaronic system, dependent on lineage and temporal statutes, subject to change and replacement by death. In stark contrast, "with an oath" underscores the divine, unchallengeable, and perpetual foundation of Christ's priesthood, making His mediatorial work forever efficacious. God's declaration, "The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, 'YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER'," is not merely a prophetic utterance but a solemn divine covenant, guaranteeing the permanency and ultimate superiority of Christ's role. This oath removes all doubt regarding the eternal efficacy of Christ's atonement and His perpetual intercession for believers. His unending priesthood provides a fixed point of access to God, unlike the ever-changing leadership and sacrifices of the former system. This gives immense assurance to believers that their salvation and access to God are eternally secure in Christ.