Hebrews 7:23 kjv

And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

Hebrews 7:23 nkjv

Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.

Hebrews 7:23 niv

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;

Hebrews 7:23 esv

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,

Hebrews 7:23 nlt

There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office.

Hebrews 7 verses

Hebrews 7 23 Meaning

Hebrews 7:23 emphasizes a fundamental limitation of the Old Covenant's Levitical priesthood: their service was constantly interrupted and ultimately terminated by death. This necessity of succession meant that no individual priest could provide a complete or lasting mediation between God and humanity. The verse sets the stage for the contrast with Christ's permanent and unchangeable priesthood, which is not subject to the same mortal constraints.

Hebrews 7 23 Context

Hebrews chapter 7 meticulously elaborates on the superiority of Christ's priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek over the traditional Levitical priesthood established through Aaron. The broader context of the book of Hebrews is an exhortation to Jewish Christians to persevere in their faith in Christ and not regress to the Old Covenant practices. The author systematically demonstrates Christ's supremacy as a priest, covenant mediator, and sacrifice, building upon the inadequacy and temporary nature of the Mosaic system.

Verse 23 specifically serves as a pivotal contrast. It acknowledges the historical reality of the numerous priests within the Aaronic lineage, whose tenure in office was inherently limited by their mortality. This constant succession underscored the temporal and imperfect nature of their service, laying the groundwork for the author to introduce the distinct, permanent, and therefore superior priesthood of Jesus Christ, who transcends the limitation of death (as explained in the subsequent verse, Heb 7:24). The verse implicitly challenges any lingering sentiment that the ever-changing Levitical priesthood could provide ultimate and unchanging access to God.

Hebrews 7 23 Word analysis

• And they truly were (καὶ οἱ μὲν ἐγένοντο, kai hoi men egenonto):

  • kai (and): A simple conjunction connecting to the previous point about a change in priesthood.
  • hoi men (οἱ μὲν): A particle construction often indicating a partial statement or contrast ("indeed," "for their part"). It highlights this group (the Levitical priests) in anticipation of a contrasting statement (about Christ's priesthood).
  • egenonto (ἐγένοντο, from ginomai): "they came to be," "they were born," "they arose." It signifies their entrance into existence and office, implying a beginning and, by extension, an end, as mortal beings.

• many priests (πλείονες ἱερεῖς, pleiones hiereis):

  • pleiones (πλείονες): "more," "many," "numerous." This word emphasizes the sheer quantity of priests needed over time. It's a stark contrast to the one enduring priest, Jesus. This multiplicity indicates a deficiency, as no single priest could serve indefinitely.
  • hiereis (ἱερεῖς): "priests." Refers to those divinely appointed under the Aaronic lineage to mediate between God and Israel, offering sacrifices and interceding.

• because they were not suffered to continue (διὰ τὸ κωλύεσθαι παραμένειν, dia to kōlyesthai paramenein):

  • dia to (διὰ τὸ): "because of," "on account of." This introduces the reason for the multiplicity and lack of permanence.
  • kōlyesthai (κωλύεσθαι, from kōlyō): "to be hindered," "to be prevented," "to be restrained." Passive voice indicates an external force preventing their continuous service.
  • paramenein (παραμένειν, from paramenō): "to remain alongside," "to abide," "to continue," "to persist in an office." It refers to continuous, unbroken service. The verb is crucial, emphasizing the inability to remain in office.

• by reason of death (θανάτῳ, thanatō):

  • thanatō (θανάτῳ, from thanatos): "by death," "through death." This dative of means or cause explicitly names the ultimate impediment. Death is the absolute barrier to an unending priesthood in the Old Covenant system. It is a natural and inescapable limitation of humanity.

• "many priests... by reason of death": This phrase directly links the quantity of priests to the inevitability of mortality. The sheer number of priests highlights the fragmented and interrupted nature of the old priesthood, demonstrating its inability to provide permanent access to God or perfect salvation, as each individual priest's ministry concluded with his death.

• "not suffered to continue by reason of death": This specific phrasing underscores that it wasn't a choice or a flaw in their commitment, but an unyielding, divinely ordained limitation rooted in human finitude. Death was the insuperable barrier that necessitated a succession of priests, thus revealing the system's inherent impermanence. The focus is on the absence of an unending priestly function for any individual within that system.

Hebrews 7 23 Bonus section

The Levitical priesthood's succession was not merely an accident; it was a built-in feature reflecting the very nature of humanity under the first covenant. This constant replacement meant that the accumulated experience or unique efficacy of one priest could not simply be passed down or compounded; each new priest started anew within the same mortal constraints. This necessitated a continuous reliance on God's covenant promises despite the human limitations of His appointed mediators. The emphasis on "many" priests implicitly argues for the instability and imperfection of a system constantly needing renewal due to the frailty of its human components. Christ's single, eternal priesthood overcomes this inherent instability, offering perfect continuity and, consequently, perfect access and intercession for all time.

Hebrews 7 23 Commentary

Hebrews 7:23 pinpoints the inherent weakness and temporary nature of the Aaronic priesthood: its foundation upon mortal men. The ceaseless procession of "many priests" was a necessity dictated by the ultimate human limit – death. Each priest's service, though divinely appointed, was a brief, temporal flicker that eventually extinguished, requiring a successor to maintain the continuity of the sacrificial system. This cycle of life and death, accession and replacement, underscored the system's inability to provide a permanent solution to sin or an unbroken access to God. Unlike a truly perfect mediation, which would require an unceasing advocate, the Old Covenant priesthood was always in flux. This fundamental impermanence highlighted its status as a "shadow" awaiting the "substance." It perfectly sets up the triumphant declaration in the very next verse (Heb 7:24) regarding Christ, whose eternal life ensures an unchangeable priesthood, enabling His "complete" (Greek panteles, meaning utterly, entirely, perfectly) salvation. This demonstrates that only a living, eternal High Priest, like Jesus, could offer the definitive, enduring mediation and bring true perfection.