The Meaning of Hebrews 7:18 Explained

Hebrews 7:18

KJV: For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

YLT: for a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,

Darby: For there is a setting aside of the commandment going before for its weakness and unprofitableness,

ASV: For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  there is  verily  a disannulling  of the commandment  going before  for  the weakness  and  unprofitableness  thereof. 

What does Hebrews 7:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Hebrews 7:11-28 - Our Ever-Living And All-Sufficient Intercessor
If, as we saw in our last reading, the Levitical priests have been superseded, clearly the whole order of things-that is, the Mosaic covenant under which these priests were appointed-has been superseded also. The law of the carnal-that is, the outward ritual-has passed away in favor of a new dispensation which deals with the heart and character. It served a temporary purpose, but we are living in an eternal order which is steadfast and abiding.
Our Lord's priesthood is unchangeable and indissoluble. His blood and righteousness, His mediation for us, His loving understanding of us, will be a joy and comfort in the unending ages. We shall always be specially associated with Him-the brethren of the King, the sheep of the Divine Shepherd. Each priest of Aaron's line had to vacate his office; but our Lord's priesthood will never pass to another; and therefore to the uttermost lapse of time and to the farthest demand of circumstance, He will save and help all that come to Him. No infirmity weakens Him, no stain or sin unfits Him-above the heavens and from the throne He exercises His ministry. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 7

1  Christ Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek;
11  and so far more excellent than the priests of Aaron's order

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 7:18

A disannulling [ατετησις]
Late word from ατετεω — atheteō (alpha privative and τιτημι — tithēmi), to set aside (Mark 6:26), in N.T. only here and Hebrews 9:26. Common in the papyri in a legal sense of making void. Involved in μετατεσις — metathesis (change in Hebrews 7:12). Foregoing Present active participle of προαγω — proagō to go before (1 Timothy 1:18). Because of its weakness Neuter abstract adjective with article for quality as in Hebrews 7:7 with δια — dia and accusative case for reason. Unprofitableness Old compound (alpha privative and οπελος — ophelos) useless, and neuter singular like αστενες — asthenes In N.T. only here and Titus 3:9. [source]
There is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before [ἀθέτησις μὲν γὰρ γίνεται προαγούσης ἐντολῆς]
Verily is superfluous. Ἀθέτησις only here and Hebrews 9:26; a very few times in lxx: The fundamental idea is the doing away of something established ( θετόν ). The verb ἀθετεῖν tomake void, do away with, is common in N.T. and in lxx, where it represents fifteen different Hebrew words, meaning to deal falsely, to make merchandise of, to abhor, to transgress, to rebel, to break an oath, etc. The noun, in a technical, legal sense, is found in a number of papyri from 98 to 271 a.d., meaning the making void of a document. It appears in the formula εἰς ἀθίτησιν καὶ ἀκύρωσιν forannulling and canceling. Προαγούσης ἐντολῆς rend. of a foregoing commandment. The expression is indefinite, applying to any commandment which might be superseded, although the commandment in Hebrews 7:16is probably in the writer's mind. Foregoing, not emphasizing mere precedence in time, but rather the preliminary character of the commandment as destined to be done away by a later ordinance. With foregoing comp. 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 5:24. [source]
For the weakness and unprofitableness thereof [διὰ τὸ αὐτῆς ἀσθενὲς καὶ ἀνωφελές]
Rend. “because of its weakness and unprofitableness.” It could not bring men into close fellowship with God. See Romans 5:20; Romans 8:3; Galatians 3:21. Ἀνωφελής unprofitableonly here and Titus 3:9. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 7:18

Galatians 4:9 Weak and beggarly elements [ἀσθενῆ καὶ πτωχὰ στοιχεῖα]
For elements see on Galatians 4:3. For πτωχὰ beggarlysee on Matthew 5:3. The two adjectives express the utter impotence of these “elements” to do and to bestow what was done and given by God in sending his Son into the world. Comp. Romans 8:3; Hebrews 7:18. [source]
Titus 3:9 Shun [περιιστασο]
Present middle imperative of περιιστημι — periistēmi intransitive, step around, stand aside (2 Timothy 2:16). Common in this sense in the literary Koiné. Unprofitable (ανωπελεις — anōpheleis). Old compound adjective (α — a privative and οπελος — ophelos), in N.T. only here and Hebrews 7:18. [source]
Titus 3:9 Unprofitable [ανωπελεις]
Old compound adjective (α — a privative and οπελος — ophelos), in N.T. only here and Hebrews 7:18. [source]
Titus 3:9 Unprofitable [ἀνωφελεῖς]
Only here and Hebrews 7:18. [source]
Hebrews 9:26 To put away sin [εἰς ἀθίτησιν τῆς ἁμαρτίας]
Lit. for the putting away of sin. For ἀθέτησις see on Hebrews 7:18. Note the singular number, sin. The sacrifice of Christ dealt with sin as a principle: the Levitical sacrifices with individual transgressions. [source]
Hebrews 10:28 He that despised [ἀφετήσας τις]
Lit. one that despised; any transgressor. The verb only here in Hebrews. The kindred noun ἀθέτησις only in Hebrews. See Hebrews 7:18; Hebrews 9:26. [source]
Hebrews 10:28 Hath set at naught [ατετησας]
First aorist active participle of ατετεω — atheteō late compound, very common in lxx, from alpha privative and τιτημι — tithēmi to render null and void, to set aside, only here in Hebrews (see Mark 7:9), but note ατετησις — athetēsis (Hebrews 7:18; Hebrews 9:26). Without mercy See 2 Corinthians 1:3. This was the law (Deuteronomy 17:6) for apostates. On the word of two or three “On the basis of two or three.” For this use of επι — epi with the locative see Hebrews 9:17. [source]
Hebrews 9:26 Else must he often have suffered [επει εδει αυτον πολλακις πατειν]
A common elliptical use of επει — epei after which one must supply “if that were true” or “in that case,” a protasis of a condition of the second class assumed to be untrue. The conclusion with εδει — edei is without αν — an (verbs of necessity, obligation, etc.). See Robertson, Grammar, p. 963. The conclusion with αν — an occurs in Hebrews 10:2. See also 1 Corinthians 5:10. “Since, if that were true, it would be necessary for him to suffer often.” Since the foundation of the world See Hebrews 4:3 for this phrase. The one sacrifice of Christ is of absolute and final value (1 Peter 1:19.; Revelation 13:8). At the end Consummation or completion as in Matthew 13:39. which see. Hath he been manifested Perfect passive indicative of πανεροω — phaneroō permanent state. See “the primitive hymn or confession of faith” (Moffatt) in 1 Timothy 3:16 and also 1 Peter 1:20. Jesus came once for all (Hebrews 1:2). To put away sin See Hebrews 7:18 for the word ατετησις — athetēsis “The sacrifice of Christ dealt with sin as a principle: the Levitical sacrifices with individual transgressions” (Vincent). [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 7:18 mean?

A putting away indeed for there is of the preceding commandment because of - its weakness and uselessness
Ἀθέτησις μὲν γὰρ γίνεται προαγούσης ἐντολῆς διὰ τὸ αὐτῆς ἀσθενὲς καὶ ἀνωφελές

Ἀθέτησις  A  putting  away 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀθέτησις  
Sense: abolition, disannulling, put away, rejection.
μὲν  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέν  
Sense: truly, certainly, surely, indeed.
γίνεται  there  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
προαγούσης  of  the  preceding 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: προάγω  
Sense: to lead forward, lead forth.
ἐντολῆς  commandment 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἐντολή  
Sense: an order, command, charge, precept, injunction.
διὰ  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
αὐτῆς  its 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἀσθενὲς  weakness 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀσθενής  
Sense: weak, infirm, feeble.
ἀνωφελές  uselessness 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀνωφελής  
Sense: unprofitable, useless.