Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hebrews 7:17
For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
17. he testifieih ] Rather, “he is testified of.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For he testifieth – That this is the true account of it is proved by the testimony of God himself, that he was to be a priest for ever; see the note on Heb 5:6.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. For he testifieth] That is, either the Scripture, in the place so often quoted, or God by that Scripture.
Thou art a priest for ever] This is the proof that he was not appointed according to the carnal commandment, but according to the power of an endless life, because he is a priest for ever; i.e. one that never dies, and is never disabled from performing the important functions of his office; for if he be a priest for ever, he ever lives.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For he testifieth: this is proved by infallible testimony in Psa 110:4, God the Father himself solemnly declared him to be so before the angels in heaven, and revealed it to men on earth by the prophet David.
Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: that as Melchisedec had no end of days recorded, so this is repeated again to prove, that the Priest after his similitude, i.e. after his order, (the words being here synonymous), must continue for ever. Christ was not a temporary Priest by a carnal law, but was made a Priest for ever, with everlasting power endowed to save all his people: see Heb 7:24,25,28, and Mat 1:21.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. Forproving His lifeto be “endless” or indissoluble (Heb7:16). The emphasis is on “for ever.” The oldestmanuscripts read, “He is testified of, that Thou art,”&c.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For he testifieth,…. That is, either David, the penman of the psalm, or rather the Holy Ghost, the enditer of it, or God in the Scripture, in Ps 110:4 of this form of citing Scripture,
[See comments on Heb 2:6].
thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec; see Heb 5:6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
It is witnessed (). Present passive indicative of . The author aptly quotes again Ps 110:4.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “For he testifieth,” (martureitai gar) “For it is witnessed,” certified; Because God witnessed, bare witness himself, Psa 110:4. The repeated testamentary evidence called up by the writer of the book of Hebrews is, in literary structure, that of a lawyer who was perhaps the Apostle Paul, who accepted the entire old testament as trustworthy, 2Ti 3:16-17.
2) “Thou art a priest forever,” (hoti su heireus eis ton aiona) “That thou art (dost exist) a priest (forever), into the age,” into eternity, an everlasting priest, Heb 4:14; Heb 6:20.
3) “After the order of Melchisedec,” (kata ten taksin Melchisedek) “According to the order, rank, or classification of Melchisedec; having neither father nor mother, beginning or ending of priesthood lineage, Heb 5:5-6.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
17. Thou art a priest forever, etc. It is on the single word forever, that the Apostle lays stress in this passage; for he confirms what he said of an indissoluble life. He then shows that Christ differs from the whole race of Levi, because he is made a priest for ever. (122)
But here it may be objected, as the Jews also do, that the word, לעולם laoulam, does not always mean eternity, but the extent of one age, or, at farthest, a long time; and it is added, that when Moses speaks of the ancient sacrifices, he often uses this expression, “This ordinance shall be forever.” (Exo 12:17.) To this I answer that whenever the sacrifices of the Law are mentioned, “forever” is to be confined to the time of the Law; nor ought this to be deemed strange; for by the coming of Christ a certain renovation of the world was effected. Whenever, then, Moses speaks of his own ministration, he extends the longest time no farther than to Christ. It must yet be also observed, that “forever” is applied to the ancient sacrifices, not with regard to the external ceremony, but on account of their mystical signification. On the present occasion, however, this reason ought to be sufficient, that Moses and his ministrations were for ever; that is, until the coming of the kingdom of Christ, under whom the world was renovated. Now when Christ is come, and a perpetual priesthood is given to him, we can find no end to his age, so that it cannot terminate after a certain period of time. So when applied to him, the word ought to be understood in the sense of eternity; for by the context we are always to judge of the meaning of the word, לעולם laoulam
(122) This paragraph extends from the 11 th verse to the end of the 17 th. The “law” parenthetically referred to in the 11 th, seems not to be the Mosaic Law generally, as too commonly supposed, but the law respecting the Levitical priesthood, as it appears evident from the 12 th and the following verses, for what is spoken of is Christ as being a priest not in succession from Aaron, but according to the order of Melchisedec. See Appendix A 2. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) For he testifieth.A slight change of reading makes the sense clearer: For witness is borne to himas to this power of indissoluble lifein the words of the prophecy itself.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. He The psalmist, or the Spirit that inspired him.
Testifieth Upon the testimony of this psalm our author grounds himself by repeated quotations as impregnably sustaining all his positions. This testimony involves in itself all the particulars he evolves from it. It is the middle point between him and the Melchizedekian passage in Genesis.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Heb 7:17 . Scripture proof for , Heb 7:16 . This Scripture proof the author finds in the , Psa 110:4 , upon which words, therefore, the emphasis rests in Heb 7:17 .
] for he (namely, the , Heb 7:15 , i.e. Christ) has the testimony . is not to be taken impersonally : “it is witnessed” (Bleek, Bisping, Conybeare, al. ).
] recitative, as Heb 10:8 , Heb 11:18 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Ver. 17. For he testfieth ] Thus the author still argueth out of Scripture, as knowing that quicquid non habet authoritatem ex Scripturis, eadem facilitate contemnitur qua approbatur, whatsoever is not grounded upon Scripture authority is as easily rejected as received. (Jerome.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
17 .] Proof of the last clause : , . Thl. The stress of the citation is on . For he (the ) is borne witness of that (just as in , Heb 7:8 . The belongs, not to the citation, but to the verb. If the rec. be taken, must be supplied, as in ch. Heb 1:6 , and passim in this Epistle. And then also the belongs to the verb) Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Heb 7:17 . That Jesus carries on His work perennially is proved by Scripture. “For it is witnessed Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek,” not merely as in Heb 7:11 , . ., although this itself involves the perpetuity of the priesthood, but expressly and emphatically . Heb 7:18-19 taking up the idea of Heb 7:16 affirm the negative and positive result of the superseding of the fleshly ordinance by the power of an indestructible life. On the one hand there is an , “a setting aside of a foregoing enactment,” that namely which is referred to in Heb 7:17 , and on the other hand, there is “a further bringing in of a better hope”. , the in balances , and indicates that the better hope was introduced over and above all that had already been done in the same behalf of bringing men to God. The indicate that the sentence must thus be construed, and not as rendered in A.V. The reason of this replacement of the old legal enactment is given in the clause, “on account of its weakness and uselessness”. This arrangement depending on the flesh was helpless to achieve the most spiritual of achievements, the union of man with God, the bringing together in true spiritual fellowship of sinful and earthly man with the holy God. So Paul found that arrangements of a mechanical and external nature were , Gal 4:9 . “The uselessness (unhelplessness) of the priesthood was proved by its inability to aid men in that , which is their one want” (Vaughan). The ordinance regulating the priesthood failed to accomplish its object; and indeed this characterised the entire system of which it was a characteristic part. , “for nothing was brought to perfection by the law”. The law made beginnings, taught rudiments, gave initial impulses, hinted, foreshadowed, but brought nothing to perfection, did not in itself provide for man’s perfect entrance into God’s fellowship. Therefore there was introduced that which did achieve in perfect form this reconcilement with God, viz .: a better hope, which is therefore defined as , “by which we draw near to God”. The law said (Exo 19:21 ) . The “better” hope is that which springs from belief in the indestructible life of Christ and the assurance that that life is still active in the priestly function of intercession. It is the hope that is anchored within the veil fixed in Christ’s person and therefore bringing us into God’s presence and fellowship.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
testifieth. Same as “witnessed”, Heb 7:8.
for ever. See Heb 6:20. Quoted from Psa 110:4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
17.] Proof of the last clause: , . Thl. The stress of the citation is on . For he (the ) is borne witness of that (just as in , Heb 7:8. The belongs, not to the citation, but to the verb. If the rec. be taken, must be supplied, as in ch. Heb 1:6, and passim in this Epistle. And then also the belongs to the verb) Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Heb 7:15, Heb 7:21, Heb 5:6, Heb 5:10, Heb 6:20, Psa 110:4
Reciprocal: Exo 40:15 – everlasting Num 25:13 – an everlasting Zec 11:10 – that Heb 7:3 – a priest Heb 7:11 – another Heb 7:16 – the power
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A PRIEST FOR EVER
Thou art a Priest for ever.
Heb 7:17
This verse refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is quoted from Psa 110:4. Indeed, with two exceptions (2Sa 7:14; Isa 8:17), all the texts quoted in this Epistle to set forth the Person and work of the Saviour are taken from the Psalter.
I. Jesus is a great Priest (Heb 4:14).All power is His in heaven and in earth. There is no priest like Christ.
II. Jesus is a sympathising Priest (Heb 4:15).But Jesus pities the wants and woes of His people. There is no Priest like Christ.
III. Jesus is a merciful and faithful Priest (Heb 2:17).Merciful, therefore full of tenderness and love; and faithful; that is, One Who can be trusted without fail. There is no priest like Christ.
IV. Jesus is an unchanging Priest (Heb 7:23-24).He has an unchangeable priesthood; or, as the margin reads it, a priesthood which passeth not from one to another.
All this is very full of comfort to Gods children.
Rev. F. Harper.
Illustration
Mr. Justice Lush came into Westminster Hall one day, and seeing a brother serjeant, went to him and found him weeping. Judge Lush said, I am afraid you have heard some bad news. His friend answered, I am thankful to see you; come and talk to me. He went on, I always thought I should have to turn to God; I always meant to beseech God to have mercy upon me; but, brother Lush, it has just come over me in court, and I never thought of it before, that instead of my having to beseech God, God has been for fifty-eight years beseeching me. Do you remember the words? They have broken me down: As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Heb 7:17. The pronoun he refers to God, who testified or declared that the Son was to be priest for ever (unchanging, throughout the age) after the order of Melchisedec.