2tn Grk “to whom,” continuing the description of Melchizedek. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

3tn Or “a tenth part.”

4sn A quotation from Gen 14:20.

5tn Grk “first being interpreted,” describing Melchizedek.

6tn Grk “to whom.”

7tn Or “a tenth part.”

8tn Or “the priesthood.”

9tn Grk “from their brothers.” See BDAG 18-19 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.b.

10tn Grk “have come from the loins of Abraham.”

11tn Grk “the one”; in the translation the referent (Melchizedek) has been specified for clarity.

12tn Grk “is not descended from them.”

13tn Or “a tenth part.”

14sn The verbs “collected…and blessed” emphasize the continuing effect of the past actions, i.e., Melchizedek’s importance.

15tn Grk “in the loins of his father” (a reference to Abraham). The name “Abraham” has been repeated in the translation at this point (cf. v. 9) in order to clarify the referent (i.e., what ancestor was in view).

sn The point of the phrase still in his ancestor’s loins is that Levi was as yet unborn, still in his ancestor Abraham’s body. Thus Levi participated in Abraham’s action when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.

16tn Grk “based on it.”

17tn Grk “of necessity a change in the law comes to pass.”

18tn Grk “shares in.”

19tn Grk “from which no one.”

20tn Grk “a law of a fleshly command.”

21tn Grk “for he/it is witnessed that.”

22sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6 and 6:20).

23tn Grk “the setting aside of a former command comes to pass.”

24tn Grk “because of its weakness and uselessness.”

25sn The Greek text contains an elaborate comparison between v. 20a and v. 22, with a parenthesis (vv. 20b-21) in between; the comparison is literally, “by as much as…by so much” or “to the degree that…to that same degree.”

26tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

27tn The words “did so” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

28sn A quotation from Ps 110:4 (see Heb 5:6, 6:20, and 7:17).

29tn Or “surety.”

30tn Grk “they on the one hand” in contrast with “he on the other hand” in v. 24.

31tn Grk “they were prevented by death.”

32tn Grk “from continuing” (the words “in office” are supplied for clarity).

33sn See Heb 5:2 where this concept was introduced.