Hebrews 7:3

Hebrews 7:3

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.

a. 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.

b. 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.

c. YLT: Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain a priest continually.

d. Amplified Bible:  Without [record of] father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor.

e. Worrell Translation: Without father, or mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like to the Son of God), abides a priest continually.

f. Wuest Translation: Fatherless, motherless, having no genealogy, having no beginning of days nor termination of life, but likened [in these respects in the historical record] to the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

1. “Without father, without mother, without descent…”

a. Without father [Strong: 540 apator ap-at'-ore from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3962; fatherless, i.e. of unrecorded paternity:--without father.]

b. without mother [Strong: 282 ametor am-ay'-tore from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3384; motherless, i.e. of unknown maternity:--without mother.]

c. without descent [Strong: 35 agenealogetos ag-en-eh-al-og'-ay-tos from 1 (as negative particle) and 1075; unregistered as to birth:--without descent.

1). Exposistion of Hebrews, Pink: Now in connection with the Aaronic priesthood, personal genealogy was a vital prerequisite, hence the great care with which they preserved their pedigree: Ezra 2:61, 62. But in contradistinction from them, Melchizedek was priest of an order where natural descent was not regarded, an order free from the restrictions of the Levitical, Numbers 3:10.”

2). This is speaking of the genealogy for the priesthood. Every priest had to come not only from the tribe of Levi, but also from the family of Aaron. All priests were Levites but not all Levites were priests. An example of the required genealogy is found in Ezra 2:61, 62.

a). Ezra 2:61, 62 “And the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:

These sought their register among those that were reckoned by their genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.”

b). Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible: Only those who could prove they were priests by genealogy were accepted.

2. “…having neither beginning of days, nor end of life…”

a. having [Strong: 2192 echo ekh'-o, including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; (used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

b. neither [Strong: 3383  mete may'-teh from 3361 and 5037; not too, i.e. (in continued negation) neither or nor; also, not even:--neither, (n-)or, so as much. ]

c. beginning [Strong: 746 arche ar-khay' from 756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank):--beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.]

d. of days [Strong: 2250 hemera hay-mer'-ah feminine (with 5610 implied) of a derivative of hemai (to sit; akin to the base of 1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle; day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context):--age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.

e. nor [Strong: 3383  mete may'-teh from 3361 and 5037; not too, i.e. (in continued negation) neither or nor; also, not even:--neither, (n-)or, so as much.]

f. end [Strong: 5056 telos tel'-os from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination (literally, figuratively or indefinitely), result (immediate, ultimate or prophetic), purpose); specially, an impost or levy (as paid):--+ continual, custom, end(-ing), finally, uttermost.]

g. of life [Strong: 2222 zoe dzo-ay' from 2198; life (literally or figuratively):--life(-time).]

1). The priest ministered for 25 years, thus there was a beginning and an end to their ministry.

a). Numbers 8:24-26 This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

8:25 And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:

8:26 But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

3. “…but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”

a. but [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. made like [Strong: 871 aphomoioo af-om-oy-o'-o from 575 and 3666; to assimilate closely:--make like.]

c. [unto] the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. Son [Strong: 5207 huios hwee-os' apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship:--child, foal, son.]

e. of God [Strong: 2316 theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

1). In Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6; 5:10; 6:20, they all refer to Jesus being made a priest “after the order of Melchizedec”. But here Melchizedec is said to have been “made like unto the Son of God.”

f. abideth [Strong: 3306 meno men'-o a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):--abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.]

g. a priest [Strong: 2409 hiereus hee-er-yooce' from 2413; a priest (literally or figuratively):--(high) priest.]

h. [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

i. continually [Strong: 1336 dienekes dee-ay-nek-es' neuter of a compound of 1223 and a derivative of an alternate of 5342; carried through, i.e. (adverbially with 1519 and 3588 prefixed) perpetually:--+ continually, for ever.]

1). Here we have the foreshadow of Jesus in the person of Melchizedec , and the person casting the shadow, Jesus. Jesus is in his High Priestly ministry right now and will be for eternity.

a). Hebrews 7:24, 25 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he everliveth to make intercession for them.