Hebrews 7:21

 

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:)

(1611 KJV) (For those Priests were made without an oath: but this with an oath, by him that said vnto him, The Lord sware and wil not repent, thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec)

(1587 Geneva Bible) But this is made with an othe by him that said vnto him, The Lord hath sworne, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for euer, after the order of Melchi-sedec)

(1526 Tyndale) Those prestes were made wt out an oth: but this prest with an oth by him that saide vnto him The lorde sware and will not repent: Thou arte a prest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.

 

Counterfeit Versions

(CSB) but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.”

(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.' "

(NASV) (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, 'YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER'");

(THE MESSAGE) But then God intervened and called this new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise: God gave his word; he won't take it back: "You're the permanent priest."
(AMP) For those who formerly became priests received their office without its being confirmed by the taking of an oath by God, but this One was designated and addressed and saluted with an oath, The Lord has sworn and will not regret it or change His mind, You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

(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.’”

(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.'"

(CEV) But he did not make a promise like this when the other priests were appointed. The promise he made is, "I, the Lord, promise that you will be a priest forever! And I will ever

change my mind!"

(NCV) but Christ became a priest with God's oath. God said: "The Lord has made a promise and will not change his mind. 'You are a priest forever.'"

(1901 ASV) (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);

(NLV) God did not make such a promise when Levi's family group became religious leaders. But when Christ became a Religious Leader, this is the promise God made, "The Lord has made a promise. He will never change His mind. You will be a Religious Leader forever."

(HCSB) but He with an oath made by the One who said to Him: The Lord has sworn, and He will not change His mind, You are a priest forever.

(RSV) Those who formerly became priests took their office without an oath, but this one was addressed with an oath, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, `Thou art a priest for ever.'"

(NAB-Roman Catholic) but he with an oath, through the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: 'You are a priest forever'"--

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) (for there are indeed men that have become priests without a sworn oath, but there is one with an oath sworn by the One who said respecting him: “Jehovah has sworn (and he will feel no regret), ‘You are a priest forever,’”)

 

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text

oi men gar cwriV orkwmosiaV eisin iereiV gegonoteV (:) o de meta orkwmosiaV dia tou legontoV proV auton wmosen kurioV kai ou metamelhqhsetai su iereuV eiV ton aiwna kata thn taxin melcisedek

 

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text

o de meta orkwmosiaV dia tou legontoV proV auton wmosen kurioV kai ou metamelhqhsetai su iereuV eiV ton aiwna

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century

C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century

33 (Miniscule) - Ninth Century

 

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse

Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century

K 018 - Ninth century

L 020 - Ninth century

P 025 - Ninth century

 

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions

Omit “after the order of Melchisedec”

Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869

Tregelles, Samuel - 1857

Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871

Westcott and Hort - 1881

Weiss, Bernhard - 1894

Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

 

Affected Teaching

The last part of the verse which is omitted in the modern versions is the reference to the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ having an eternal nature. It is a quote taken from Psalm 110:4. (Psa 110:4 KJV) The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. If you recall Melchisedec is described in eternal terms in Hebrews 7:3. (Heb 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. It is a shame that the modern versions omit this significant fact about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gnostics never believed that Jesus was eternal so they did what they could to destroy the truth of His eternal nature.

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