11
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Reference
Greek: κατάρτισις (katártisis)
thorough equipment (subjectively)
Hebrew: miklâl
perfection (of beauty)
Hebrew: ʻim
{adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)}
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: Λευϊτικός (Leuïtikós)
Levitic, i.e. relating to the Levites
Greek: ἱερωσύνη (hierōsýnē)
sacredness, i.e. (by implication) the priestly office
Hebrew: kᵉhunnâh
priesthood
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Greek: ὑποκάτω (hypokátō)
down under, i.e. beneath
Hebrew: tᵉchôwth
beneath
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
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}
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
Hebrew: mân
who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively)
Greek: προσδέομαι (prosdéomai)
to require additionally, i.e. want further
Hebrew: tsôrek
need
Greek: ἐκεῖ (ekeî)
there; by extension, thither
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
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: ὑπάρχω (hypárchō)
to begin under (quietly), i.e. come into existence (be present or at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula or subordinate to an adjective, participle, adverb or preposition, or as an auxiliary to a principal (verb)
Hebrew: ʼăthar
a place; (adverb) after
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: τάξις (táxis)
regular arrangement, i.e. (in time) fixed succession (of rank or character), official dignity
Hebrew: çeder
order
Greek: Μελχισεδέκ (Melchisedék)
Melchisedek (i.e. Malkitsedek), a patriarch
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: οὐδαμῶς (oudamōs)
by no means
Hebrew: ʼîyn
is it not?
Greek: χρηματίζω (chrēmatízō)
to utter an oracle (compare the original sense of G5530 (χράομαι)), i.e. divinely intimate; by implication, (compare the secular sense of G5532 (χρεία)) to constitute a firm for business, i.e. (generally) bear as a title
Greek: ὑπάρχω (hypárchō)
to begin under (quietly), i.e. come into existence (be present or at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula or subordinate to an adjective, participle, adverb or preposition, or as an auxiliary to a principal (verb)
Hebrew: ʼăthar
a place; (adverb) after
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: τάξις (táxis)
regular arrangement, i.e. (in time) fixed succession (of rank or character), official dignity
Hebrew: çeder
order
Greek: Ἀαρών (Aarṓn)
Aaron, the brother of Moses
Hebrew: ʼAhărôwn
Aharon, the brother of Moses
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.