The Meaning of Hebrews 7:7 Explained

Hebrews 7:7

KJV: And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

YLT: and apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed --

Darby: But beyond all gainsaying, the inferior is blessed by the better.

ASV: But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  without  all  contradiction  the less  is blessed  of  the better. 

What does Hebrews 7:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Hebrews 7:1-10 - A Priesthood Superior To Aaron' S
Melchizedek was probably a literal king and priest in Salem. The blue smoke of his sacrifices rose morning and evening on the hill. Amid the turbulent lawlessness of those wild days, his realm was peace. Like him, Jesus meets us when flushed with success or wearied with some great effort, and therefore peculiarly liable to temptation. Notice the order! It is invariable! First righteousness, then peace, Zechariah 9:9.
The silences of Scripture are significant. In the case of this ancient priesthood no mention is made of parenthood. This was a matter of comparative indifference. So with our Lord. It is true that He did not come of the priestly family of Aaron, but this is quite unimportant. The one thing for us to notice is that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, thus confessing him to be the greater. Levi was, so to speak, included in his grandfather's act, so that the Hebrew priesthood, which sprang from Levi, was confessedly inferior to Melchizedek's. If, then, Melchizedek is a type of Christ, we are taught that Christ's priesthood is evidently and eternally superior to all other priesthoods whatsoever. [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 7:7

Dispute [αντιλογιας]
Ablative case with χωρις — chōris For the word see Hebrews 6:16. The writer makes a parenthetical generalization and uses the article and neuter adjective (το ελασσον — to elasson the less, υπο του κρειττονος — hupo tou kreittonos by the better), a regular Greek idiom. [source]
Without all contradiction [χωρὶς πάσης ἀντιλογίας]
Asserting a principle which no one thinks of questioning: it is the less who is blessed, and the greater who blesses. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 7:7

Hebrews 12:3 For consider [ἀναλογίσασθε γὰρ]
Γὰρ forintroduces the reason for the exhortation to look unto Jesus. Look unto him, for a comparison with him will show you how much more he had to endure than you have. Ἁναλογίζεσθαι N.T.oComp. Hebrews href="/desk/?q=heb+6:16&sr=1">Hebrews 6:16, and comp. Hebrews 7:7. See on gainsaying, Judges 1:11. Of sinners, ὑπὸ byat the hands of. [source]
Hebrews 12:3 Consider [αναλογισαστε]
First aorist middle imperative of αναλογιζομαι — analogizomai old word to reckon up, to compare, to weigh, only here in the N.T. See κατανοησατε — katanoēsate in Hebrews 3:1. Understanding Jesus is the key to the whole problem, the cure for doubt and hesitation. Endured Perfect active participle of the same verb υπομενω — hupomenō used in Hebrews 12:2. Gainsaying Old word from αντιλογος — antilogos (from αντιλεγω — antilegō), already in Hebrews 6:16; Hebrews 7:7. Of sinners “By sinners.” Against themselves Against their better selves if a genuine reading. But εις εαυτον — eis heauton (against himself), against Christ, is far more likely correct. That ye wax not weary Negative final clause with ινα μη — hina mē and the second aorist active subjunctive of καμνω — kamnō old verb to be weary as here or sick as in James 5:15. Fainting in your souls Present passive participle of εκλυω — ekluō old verb to loosen out, to set free, and in passive to be enfeebled, to be tired out (here in soul with locative case), as in Hebrews 12:5. The rest of the Epistle drives home the argument. [source]
Hebrews 6:16 In every dispute [πασης αντιλογιας]
Objective genitive of old word several times in Hebrews (Hebrews 6:16; Hebrews 7:7; Hebrews 12:3). Talking back, face to face, in opposition. Final Limit, boundary (Matthew 12:42). Men may perjure themselves. [source]
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]

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

Apart from now all dispute the inferior by the superior is blessed
χωρὶς δὲ πάσης ἀντιλογίας τὸ ἔλαττον ὑπὸ τοῦ κρείττονος εὐλογεῖται

χωρὶς  Apart  from 
Parse: Preposition
Root: χωρίς  
Sense: separate, apart.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἀντιλογίας  dispute 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἀντιλογία  
Sense: gainsaying, contradiction.
ἔλαττον  inferior 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular, Comparative
Root: ἐλάσσων 
Sense: less.
κρείττονος  superior 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Singular, Comparative
Root: κρείττων  
Sense: more useful, more serviceable, more advantageous.
εὐλογεῖται  is  blessed 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εὐλογέω 
Sense: to praise, celebrate with praises.