Hebrews 7:22

Hebrews 7:22

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

a. NLT: Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God.

b. NIV: Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

c. YLT: by so much of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,

d. Amplified Bible: And so [because of the oath’s greater strength and force] Jesus has become the certain guarantee of a better covenant [a more excellent and more advantageous agreement; one that will never be replaced or annulled]

e. Worrell Translation: by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.

1. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

a. By [2596 * kata] [Strong: a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]

b. so much [5118 * tosoutos] [Strong: from tosos (so much; apparently from 3588 and 3739) and 3778 (including its variations); so vast as this, i.e. such (in quantity, amount, number of space):--as large, so great (long, many, much), these many.]

c. was…made [1096 * ginomai] [Strong:  a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.]

d. Jesus [2424 * Iesous] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.]

e. a surety [1450 *  egguos] [Strong: from 1722 and guion (a limb); pledged (as if articulated by a member), i.e. a bondsman:--surety.]

f. of a better [2909 *  kreitton] [Strong: comparative of a derivative of 2904; stronger, i.e. (figuratively) better, i.e. nobler:--best, better.]

g. testament [1242 * diatheke] [Strong: from 1303; properly, a disposition, i.e. (specially) a contract (especially a devisory will):--covenant, testament.]

1). By what was Jesus made the guarantee of a better covenant? It was the oath that the LORD God swore to the LORD God, the pre-incarnate Christ.

a). Hebrews 7:21 (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:)

(1) The NLT, NIV, and the Worrell Translation as well as other newer translations omit the last part of the citation from Psalm 110:4. It is my personal preference not to agree with their reasoning. The Amplified Bible has the words in italics. The use of italics in the Amplified is described in the beginning pages under Explanation of Arbitrary Punctuation. Italics: point out certain familiar passages now recognized as not adequately supported by the original manuscripts.

(2) I understand the science behind textual criticism, but the fact is we don’t have the original manuscripts, so the above statement is in my mind questionable.  

b). I want to repeat the commentary from Hebrews 6:13 when we studied that God swore by himself to Abraham. Of course here in Hebrews its reporting that God swore to the Second Person of the Godhead.

(1) Exposition of Hebrews, Arthur Pink, Baker Book House, 1986, p. 341. “The assurance which was given to Abraham was the greatest that Heaven itself could afford: a promise and an oath. We say the greatest, for in v. 16, the Apostle declares that amongst men an “oath” is an end of strife; how much more when the great God Himself takes one! Moreover, observe He sware “by Himself”: He staked Himself; it was as though He had said, I will cease to be God if I do not perform this. The Lord pledged His veracity, declared the event should be as certain as His existence.”