Hebrews 7:3 kjv

Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Hebrews 7:3 nkjv

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

Hebrews 7:3 niv

Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

Hebrews 7:3 esv

He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

Hebrews 7:3 nlt

There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors ? no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.

Hebrews 7 verses

Hebrews 7 3 Meaning

Hebrews 7:3 describes Melchizedek as a unique priestly figure: one who is presented in scripture without a recorded lineage, birth, or death, emphasizing that his priestly office is not bound by earthly succession or temporal limits. This makes him a fitting type, or prefigurement, of Jesus Christ, whose priesthood is truly eternal, divine, and transcends the limitations of the Levitical system. The verse highlights his singular standing, portraying him as one whose priestly service remains perpetual according to the biblical record, thereby foreshadowing the eternal priesthood of the Son of God.

Hebrews 7 3 Context

Hebrews chapter 7 serves as the apex of the author's argument regarding the superiority of Christ's priesthood over the Old Covenant's Levitical priesthood. Having introduced Melchizedek in Hebrews 5:6 and 6:20 as the prophetic pattern for the Messiah's priesthood (based on Psalm 110:4), chapter 7 delves into a detailed exposition. The chapter contrasts Melchizedek's unique, non-genealogical priesthood with the strictly hereditary, temporal, and death-limited priesthood of Aaron and his descendants.

Verse 3 is foundational to this comparison. The author draws out theological significance from the silence of the Genesis account concerning Melchizedek's lineage, birth, and death. For a Jewish audience accustomed to meticulous genealogical records, especially for priests (who had to prove descent from Aaron), this omission about Melchizedek was striking. By emphasizing these "without" qualities, the author establishes Melchizedek as an unapproachable and singular figure in human history, set apart from the Mosaic order. This literary presentation transforms Melchizedek into a perfect "type" of Jesus, whose priesthood is truly without beginning or end, not tied to human lineage, and perpetually effective. The aim is to convince the Jewish Christians, who might be tempted to revert to the familiar and "secure" Old Covenant system, that Christ's priesthood is infinitely superior, immutable, and the ultimate provision from God.

Hebrews 7 3 Word analysis

• Without father (apator, ἀπάτωρ): Not suggesting Melchizedek had no biological father, but that his father is unrecorded in scripture for the purpose of priestly lineage. For Levitical priests, meticulous genealogical records were vital for legitimacy (Ezra 2:62). The absence here highlights a unique, non-hereditary appointment, unlike the Aaronid line.
• without mother (ametor, ἀμήτωρ): Similarly, indicates no mother recorded in the biblical narrative. Again, not literally motherless, but that his maternal lineage is not relevant or presented in scripture, which reinforces the mystery and non-conventional nature of his priestly status.
• without genealogy (agenealogetos, ἀγενεαλόγητος): This term literally means "without a family tree" or "not accounted by descent." This is a crucial point of contrast with the Levitical priesthood, which was entirely dependent on verifiable lineage from Aaron. Melchizedek's priesthood transcends human hereditary principles, pointing to a divine, sovereign appointment.
• having neither beginning of days: No birth record is provided for Melchizedek in Genesis. This absence of a temporal beginning in the scriptural account emphasizes his unique and sudden appearance as a priestly figure.
• nor end of life: No death record for Melchizedek is provided in Genesis. Unlike human priests who die, his narrative portrayal presents his priesthood as enduring, as if he simply is a priest without chronological limits. This "eternal" presentation in the biblical record is a typological echo of Christ's truly eternal existence.
• but made like the Son of God: (aphōmoiōmenos de tō Huiō tou Theou, ἀφωμοιωμένος δὲ τῷ Υἱῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ) – "made to resemble," "likened to," or "assimilated to the Son of God." This clarifies that Melchizedek is not the Son of God Himself, but his unique portrayal (no recorded lineage, birth, or death, and appearing as an enduring priest) prefigures and symbolizes the characteristics of the Son of God's eternal priesthood. He is a divinely designed pattern.
• he remains a priest perpetually: (meneir hiereus eis to diēnekes, μένει ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸ διηνεκές) – "he abides a priest for the perpetuity" or "continually." This statement affirms the continuous nature of Melchizedek's priesthood as presented in scripture. In Genesis, he appears as a priest and is never described as dying or being replaced, making his priesthood perpetual in the narrative. This serves as a powerful symbol for Christ's priesthood, which is actually eternal and uninterrupted.

Hebrews 7 3 Bonus Section

• Silence of Scripture as Argument: A key hermeneutical method used by the author of Hebrews in this verse is arguing from the silence of scripture. The omissions about Melchizedek's background are not accidental or due to incomplete records but are divinely purposed. This deliberate silence in Genesis becomes a theological argument for the perpetual and non-hereditary nature of his priesthood, directly contrasting it with the Law's requirements for Aaronic priests.
• Typology: This verse is a prime example of biblical typology. Melchizedek is a type, a foreshadowing, of Christ. His mysterious, sudden appearance, independent status, and the recorded permanence of his priestly office in scripture, are not ends in themselves but point beyond him to the anti-type: Jesus Christ, who is truly eternal, without genealogical limitations in His divine nature, and whose priesthood is genuinely unending.
• Polemic Against Levitical Supremacy: This chapter, particularly verse 3, directly confronts any Jewish believer's potential over-reliance or longing for the Levitical priesthood. By establishing Melchizedek's pre-eminence (even Abraham, ancestor of Levi, paid tithes to him and was blessed by him), the author subtly undermines the Levitical system's claim to ultimate authority or eternal relevance, paving the way for the greater priesthood of Christ.
• Unique Titles: Melchizedek is presented with unique titles: "King of Salem" (King of Peace, later Jerusalem) and "King of Righteousness" (Melchizedek means "King of Righteousness"). These attributes resonate perfectly with the character and work of Jesus Christ, who is truly the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6) and whose kingdom is one of righteousness (Rom 14:17). These dual roles (king and priest) are distinct from the Law, which kept kingship and priesthood separate, again highlighting Christ's unique qualifications.

Hebrews 7 3 Commentary

Hebrews 7:3 is pivotal in understanding the distinctiveness of Christ's priesthood. The "without" phrases ("without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life") are not biographical statements about Melchizedek's literal humanity (he was clearly human), but rather hermeneutical interpretations of the biblical account of him in Genesis 14. The Holy Spirit deliberately omitted these standard details (genealogy, birth, death) for Melchizedek to present him as an isolated, transcendent priestly figure. This divine silence creates a symbolic "eternality" for Melchizedek's office, making him an ideal type of Christ.

The central declaration "but made like the Son of God" reveals the purpose of this peculiar biblical presentation. Melchizedek’s extraordinary profile directly parallels features of Jesus: a priesthood not based on human ancestry or mortality, but on divine appointment and indestructible life. He represents a divinely appointed priestly order that predates and supersedes the Levitical system, offering a priesthood based on righteousness and peace (his names "King of Righteousness" and "King of Peace"). Unlike Aaronic priests who served a finite term due to mortality, Christ’s priesthood, typified by Melchizedek's described perpetuity, is eternal, never to be replaced, and supremely effective in granting access to God. This truth profoundly underscores the finality and superiority of Jesus Christ as the believer's Great High Priest.