11
Suppose the Levites who were priests could have made people perfect. The law was given to the people so they could become perfect through the priests. Then why was there still a need for another priest to come? And why did he need to be like Melchizedek? Why wasn't he from Aaron's family line?
Reference
Greek: οἴομαι (oíomai)
to make like (oneself), i.e. imagine (be of the opinion)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: κατέχω (katéchō)
to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively)
Greek: δῆμος (dēmos)
the public (as bound together socially)
Hebrew: ʻam
{a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}
Greek: ἄρτιος (ártios)
fresh, i.e. (by implication) complete
Hebrew: gᵉmar
{to end (in the sense of completion or failure)}
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: νόμος (nómos)
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
Hebrew: tôwrâh
a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: δῆμος (dēmos)
the public (as bound together socially)
Hebrew: ʻam
{a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}
Hebrew: kᵉnêmâʼ
so or thus
Greek: πρέπω (prépō)
to tower up (be conspicuous), i.e. (by implication) to be suitable or proper (third person singular present indicative, often used impersonally, it is fit or right)
Greek: ἄρτιος (ártios)
fresh, i.e. (by implication) complete
Hebrew: gᵉmar
{to end (in the sense of completion or failure)}
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: τοίνυν (toínyn)
truly now, i.e. accordingly
Hebrew: ʼăzay
at that time
Greek: ἐκεῖ (ekeî)
there; by extension, thither
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: προσδέομαι (prosdéomai)
to require additionally, i.e. want further
Hebrew: tsôrek
need
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Hebrew: ʼâch
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
Hebrew: kâhên
{one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)}
Greek: ἐνίστημι (enístēmi)
to place on hand, i.e. (reflexively) impend, (participle) be instant
Hebrew: mᵉṭâʼ
to arrive, extend or happen
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: προσδέομαι (prosdéomai)
to require additionally, i.e. want further
Hebrew: tsôrek
need
Greek: εἴκω (eíkō)
to resemble
Hebrew: dᵉmâh
to resemble
Hebrew: Malkîy-Tsedeq
Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ἐγγύς (engýs)
near
Greek: Ἀαρών (Aarṓn)
Aaron, the brother of Moses
Hebrew: ʼAhărôwn
Aharon, the brother of Moses
Greek: πατριά (patriá)
paternal descent, i.e. (concretely) a group of families or a whole race (nation)
Hebrew: ʼeleph
a family; also (from the sense of yoking or taming) an ox or cow
Greek: κανών (kanṓn)
a rule ("canon"), i.e. (figuratively) a standard (of faith and practice); by implication, a boundary, i.e. (figuratively) a sphere (of activity)
Hebrew: qâveh
a (measuring) cord (as if for binding)
Parallel theme
Hebrews 8:7
Hebrews 5:6
Hebrews 7:21
Galatians 4:9
Resurrection
Hebrews 7:15
Word
Galatians 2:21
Verse Explanation
If the Levitical priesthood had been able to bring complete spiritual perfection, there would have been no need for another priest to arise according to Melchizedek's order rather than Aaron's, showing that the old priesthood was incomplete.
History
Mosaic covenant period: The Levitical priesthood was central to Israel's sacrificial system but could not permanently remove sin.