Hebrews 7:16
What does Hebrews 7:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 7:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 7:16 means
This priest is constituted, not by the law’s regulation concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an endless life. The Levitical order stood on hereditary rules; this new priesthood stands on life that cannot be extinguished. The author is pointing to a quality intrinsic to the priest himself—indestructible life—that qualifies him to serve forever. The contrast is profound: legal command versus living power. In Jesus, priestly authority flows from who he is and what life he possesses, granting him an unending capacity to represent and to bring people into God’s presence.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949That is to say, not made by a law based on the flesh, but by the power of a life without end:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who is made, not according to the law of a law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who has been constituted not according to law of fleshly commandment, but according to power of indissoluble life.
Context
Verse 16 defines the foundation of the Melchizedek-like priesthood. No longer tied to genealogy, it is grounded in life’s unconquerable power. Immediately, verse 17 supports this with God’s own testimony that the priest is “for ever” after Melchizedek’s order. The progression shows that Jesus’ priesthood is both experientially evident (endless life) and scripturally attested (divine witness), paving the way for the conclusion that the former commandment is set aside and a better hope introduced (vv. 18–19).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 10:1
For the law having a shadow of the goodthingsto come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.
- Colossians 2:14
having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
- Hebrews 7:3
without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.
- Galatians 4:3
So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:
- Hebrews 7:24
but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.
- Hebrews 7:21
(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);
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