Hebrews 7:23 Meaning and Explanation
“And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Under the law there had to be many priests in succession, because death kept removing them from office.
What Does Hebrews 7:23 Mean?
The writer points to an obvious limitation of the old priesthood. There were many priests across the generations, not by design of honor but by necessity, because death prevented any of them from continuing in office. Each had to be replaced when he died.
The priesthood under the law was therefore always interrupted, always passing from hand to hand at the grave. No single priest could see the work through. This recurring loss exposes the need for a priest whom death cannot remove, and the contrast prepares the reader for the next verse, where the abiding priesthood of Christ answers what mortality could never provide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 7:23
What does Hebrews 7:23 mean?
Under the law there had to be many priests in succession, because death kept removing them from office.