as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that Christ's priesthood isn't just a temporary role but an eternal one, established "after the order of Melchizedek." This ancient, unique priesthood, held by a king and priest, signifies a superior, unbroken lineage that transcends the Levitical system and points to Christ's ultimate authority and sacrifice.
as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author is building an argument for Jesus' unique priesthood, showing he wasn't a self-appointed priest but one ordained by God. After establishing that earthly priests are chosen by God, the author quotes Psalm 110 to prove Jesus' eternal, royal priesthood, which is distinct from the Levitical order and foreshadowed by the mysterious figure of Melchizedek. This sets the stage for a detailed explanation of Melchizedek's significance in the following chapter.
You know priests and you know kings, but what if one person held both titles perfectly?
The Bible, specifically Psalm 110, points to a future priest unlike any other. This isn't just any priest; this is a priest who is also a king.
A Royal Priesthood
Melchizedek, mentioned briefly in Genesis, was both a king and a priest. This was unusual! In Israel's history, these roles were distinct. Kings like David ruled, and Levitical priests offered sacrifices. But Melchizedek, and later the Messiah, embodied both.
A Superiority Revealed
By calling Jesus a priest 'after the order of Melchizedek,' the writer of Hebrews is highlighting Christ's unique position. His priesthood isn't bound by human lineage or the earthly system of Aaron. It's a higher, eternal order, established by God Himself.
What does 'forever' truly mean for spiritual leadership and atonement?
The phrase 'forever' in this verse is incredibly significant. It speaks to the eternal nature of Christ's priesthood.
Beyond Human Succession
The priests in the Old Testament served for a time and were replaced. Their ministry was tied to earthly life and a specific lineage. When they died, their role passed on. But Jesus' priesthood is different.
An Unchanging Ministry
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Because Jesus lives eternally, His priestly work is also eternal. He doesn't need to offer sacrifices repeatedly because His one sacrifice was sufficient for all time. He continually ministers on our behalf, offering access to God that will never be revoked. This 'forever' priesthood guarantees God's unending grace and our secure standing with Him.
Understand the original words
hiereus · Greek Noun
A person authorized to perform religious rites, especially making sacrifices, and to act as a mediator between God and humanity. In the New Testament, Christ is the ultimate High Priest who fulfills and surpasses the Levitical priesthood.
Melchisedek · Greek Proper Noun
A mysterious figure in Genesis 14 who was both a king and a priest of God Most High. In Hebrews, his priesthood serves as a type (a foreshadowing) of Christ’s priesthood, which is superior to the Aaronic/Levitical order because it is eternal and not based on genealogy.
The author of Hebrews draws on Psalm 110, a psalm widely understood to be Messianic, to firmly establish Jesus' eternal priesthood. This was crucial for a Jewish audience wrestling with the implications of Christ's sacrifice and the continued relevance of the Old Covenant.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Flourishes
King David rules over a unified Israel, a period marked by significant political and religious development.
c. 1000 BC - 931 BC
Psalms of David Composed
Many of the Psalms, including Psalm 110 which is central to this verse, are attributed to David and reflect the religious thought of the time.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian conquest leads to the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of Solomon's Temple, a profound crisis for Jewish identity and worship.
c. 539 BC onwards
Return from Exile and Temple Reconstruction
Cyrus the Great allows Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, a significant event in the restoration of Jewish religious life.
c. 2nd Century BC
Messianic Expectations Rise
As Jewish history unfolds, particularly during periods of foreign occupation, expectations of a coming Messiah who would restore God's people grow.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Ascension
Jesus, believed by Christians to be the Messiah, completes his earthly ministry and ascends to heaven.
c. AD 60-70
Composition of the Book of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to a community of Jewish Christians, addressing their spiritual immaturity and emphasizing the superiority of Christ's priesthood.
This is the direct quotation used in Hebrews 5:6, establishing Jesus' eternal priesthood. It's the foundational Old Testament text for this argument.
Genesis 14:18-20This passage introduces Melchizedek, the figure after whom Jesus' priesthood is modeled. His unique role as both king and priest, without genealogical record, sets him apart and foreshadows Christ's superior, eternal priesthood.
Hebrews 7:1-28This entire chapter is an extended commentary on Psalm 110:4 and the significance of Melchizedek. It builds upon the foundation laid in Hebrews 5:6 to show why Jesus' priesthood is superior to the Levitical system.
Matthew 22:44Jesus himself quotes Psalm 110:4, identifying the 'Lord' speaking to David as himself, thus affirming the Messianic interpretation of this prophecy and its relevance to his identity as priest.
ellicottHebrews 5:6: "As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
(6) Thou art a priest for ever . . . —On Psalms 110 see the Note on Hebrews 1:13 . The fourth verse, here quoted, is the kernel of the Psalm, and supplies the theme for a large portion of this Epistle, especially Hebrews 7. As the promise of 2 Samuel 7 was the prelude to the revelation of the second Psalm, the divine declaration recorded in Exodus 19:6 may have prepared the way for the p…
pooleHebrews 5:6: "As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever: the Spirit proves his call and investiture into this office, its confirmation to him for ever, by another testimony of the Father about it, penned by David, Psalm 110:4 , and ratified to be so by the Lord himself, Matthew 22:41-45 ; that he as man was David’s Son: as God-man, David’s Lord, and the grand officer to atone God b…
The verse highlights that Christ's priesthood isn't just a temporary role but an eternal one, established "after the order of Melchizedek." This ancient, unique priesthood, held by a king and priest, signifies a superior, unbroken lineage that transcends the Levitical system and points to Christ's ultimate authority and sacrifice.
The author is building an argument for Jesus' unique priesthood, showing he wasn't a self-appointed priest but one ordained by God. After establishing that earthly priests are chosen by God, the author quotes Psalm 110 to prove Jesus' eternal, royal priesthood, which is distinct from the Levitical order and foreshadowed by the mysterious figure of Melchizedek. This sets the stage for a detailed explanation of Melchizedek's significance in the following chapter.
The author is building an argument for Jesus' unique priesthood, showing he wasn't a self-appointed priest but one ordained by God. After establishing that earthly priests are chosen by God, the author quotes Psalm 110 to prove Jesus' eternal, royal priesthood, which is distinct from the Levitical order and foreshadowed by the mysterious figure of Melchizedek. This sets the stage for a detailed explanation of Melchizedek's significance in the following chapter.
"as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”" — The verse highlights that Christ's priesthood isn't just a temporary role but an eternal one, established "after the order of Melchizedek." This ancient, unique priesthood, held by a king and priest,…
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Last reviewed October 2026