What Does Hebrews 7:20 Mean in the King James?

And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

Hebrews 7:20 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The oath is part of the priesthood’s foundation: this authority rests on a sworn word.

THE MEANING

This priesthood stands under a sworn declaration. Its authority carries the commitment of the one who swears, giving the appointment weight in the present.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This priesthood’s authority comes from its title alone. The verse locates that authority in a sworn word.

THE ROOT

ὁρκωμοσία

horkōmosia

GROWS FROM

ὅρκ-

hork-

oath; sworn speech

⁨ὁρκωμοσία⁩ (horkōmosia, a sworn oath) combines ⁨ὅρκος⁩ (horkos, oath) with ⁨ὄμνυμι⁩ (omnumi, swear). The word holds together the oath and the act of swearing, so the appointment rests on a declaration backed by the speaker’s own commitment.

ALSO GROWS

horkos: oath

ὅρκος

This names the oath contained in the verse’s fuller word for a sworn declaration.

horkizō: to adjure, put under oath

ὁρκίζω

This related word shows the same oath-root at work in speech that binds a person to a solemn declaration.

THE PATTERN

A sworn word gives a promise a firm standing beyond the moment it is spoken.

And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

Genesis 22:16 · KJVThe LORD swears by himself, placing the promise under his own declared commitment.

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 110:4 · KJVThe sworn declaration establishes a priesthood that endures.

Where in God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Hebrews 6:17 · KJVThe oath makes the unchanging purpose of the promise plain to those who receive it.

THE THREAD

(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:)

Hebrews 7:21 · KJV

The Greek word ⁨ὁρκωμοσία⁩ (horkōmosia, sworn oath) repeats in this verse, where the contrast is completed: other priests are without an oath, while this priesthood is established with one. The verse then quotes Psalm 110:4, revealing the sworn declaration behind the claim.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us