Hebrews 7:20 says that Jesus did not become a priest by ordinary appointment alone. God confirmed His priesthood with a solemn oath, which gave it a permanence and reliability that the old Levitical priesthood never had. The verse is part of the writer’s larger argument that Jesus is a better priest than the ones who served under the law of Moses.
The writer of Hebrews, traditionally identified in the church as Paul though the author is unnamed in the letter itself, is addressing Jewish believers who may have been tempted to return to the familiar temple system. He is making a comparison, and this verse is one step in it.
Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath
Hebrews 7:20 (WEB)
What Hebrews 7:20 Means
The phrase “inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath” is a contrast with the priests of Israel. Those priests entered office through family descent from Levi and Aaron, and the Old Testament records no oath God swore over each one. Their service was real and God-appointed, but it was built on a human line of succession that ended with each generation.
With Jesus, the writer points to something different. God made a solemn promise, recorded in Psalm 110, that the Messiah would be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Because God swore that promise, its certainty rests on God’s own commitment rather than on a human lineage. The verse does not say Jesus was made priest by an oath taken from anyone else, but that the oath stands behind his appointment.
What the verse does not promise is a detailed account of how the oath works or a step-by-step explanation of Melchizedek. It sets up the claim, and the surrounding verses develop it.
The Context of Hebrews 7:20
Hebrews was written to encourage believers who were discouraged and possibly drifting back toward their former religious practices. The writer keeps returning to the superiority of Christ over everything the old covenant offered, including its priests, sacrifices, and temple. Chapter 7 focuses on Melchizedek, the mysterious king-priest of Genesis 14, whom the writer uses as a pattern pointing forward to Christ.
Just before this verse, the writer quotes Psalm 110 to show that the coming priest would be “after the order of Melchizedek.” Verse 20 explains why that quotation matters: the appointment came with an oath, and the oath set the new priesthood apart from the old one. Verse 21 then repeats the Psalm 110 quotation to emphasize the point. Reading the verse in this setting shows that its purpose is comparison and assurance, not a stand-alone doctrine of oaths.
Key Phrases in Hebrews 7:20
Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn, and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
(WEB)
This is the Old Testament promise the writer of Hebrews builds on. Reading it alongside Hebrews 7:20 shows where the oath and the priest-forever language come from.
Hebrews 7:24-25
24 But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable. 25 Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
(WEB)
These verses follow directly and explain that Jesus holds his priesthood permanently, so he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.
A Short Prayer From Hebrews 7:20
Lord, thank you that your word is steady and your promises do not change. When I look at my own failures and uncertainties, remind me that the priest who stands for me was appointed by your solemn oath, not by my performance. Help me trust that commitment when my faith feels thin. Let the certainty of your promise settle my heart today, and help me rest in the one who lives forever to intercede for me. Amen.
