independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The portrait — Melchizedek, king and priest forever 7:1–3
vv. 1–3 — one long period: the subject held aloft until μένει
1
Οὗτος γὰρ ὁ Μελχισέδεκ, βασιλεὺς Σαλήμ, ἱερεὺς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου,independent — the suspended subject — its finite verb (μένει) waits until v. 3
ὁ συναντήσας Ἀβραὰμ ὑποστρέφοντι ἀπὸ τῆς κοπῆς τῶν βασιλέωνparticipial — Gen 14:17 — the meeting
καὶ εὐλογήσας αὐτόν,participial — the blessing — the superiority-marker argued in v. 7
2
ᾧ καὶ δεκάτην ἀπὸ πάντων ἐμέρισεν Ἀβραάμ,relative — the tithe — the other superiority-marker (vv. 4–10)
πρῶτον μὲν ἑρμηνευόμενος βασιλεὺς δικαιοσύνηςparticipial — the name decoded — malkî-ṣedeq
ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ βασιλεὺς Σαλήμ,phrase modifier — the second title — the participle carried over
ὅ ἐστιν βασιλεὺς εἰρήνης,relative — Salem read through šālôm — righteousness, then peace
3
ἀπάτωρ, ἀμήτωρ, ἀγενεαλόγητος,phrase modifier — the alpha-privative triad — Scripture's silences made significant
μήτε ἀρχὴν ἡμερῶν μήτε ζωῆς τέλος ἔχων,participial — no recorded birth or death
ἀφωμοιωμένος δὲ τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ θεοῦ,participial — the type shaped to the archetype — the Son is prior
μένει ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸ διηνεκές.independent — the long-delayed finite verb — the portrait's point
Consider how great — the tithe and the blessing 7:4–10
vv. 4–7 — tithe and blessing: the patriarch outranked
4
Θεωρεῖτε δὲindependent — the imperative — the readers summoned to weigh the scene
πηλίκος οὗτοςcontent — indirect exclamation — verbless
ᾧ καὶ δεκάτην Ἀβραὰμ ἔδωκεν ἐκ τῶν ἀκροθινίων ὁ πατριάρχης.relative — ὁ πατριάρχης held to the end — even the patriarch paid
5
καὶ οἱ μὲν ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Λευὶ τὴν ἱερατείαν λαμβάνοντες ἐντολὴν ἔχουσινindependent — μέν — the Levitical foil: tithing by legal grant
ἀποδεκατοῦν τὸν λαὸν κατὰ τὸν νόμον,content — epexegetic infinitive — the commandment's content (Num 18:21)
τοῦτʼ ἔστιν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτῶν,phrase modifier — the people glossed — kinsmen tithing kinsmen
καίπερ ἐξεληλυθότας ἐκ τῆς ὀσφύος Ἀβραάμ·participial — καίπερ concessive — all alike Abraham's descendants
6
ὁ δὲ μὴ γενεαλογούμενος ἐξ αὐτῶν δεδεκάτωκεν Ἀβραάμ,independent — the answering δέ — perfect tense: the act still stands on record
καὶ τὸν ἔχοντα τὰς ἐπαγγελίας εὐλόγηκεν.independent — the second perfect — blessing over the promise-bearer himself
7
χωρὶς δὲ πάσης ἀντιλογίας τὸ ἔλαττον ὑπὸ τοῦ κρείττονος εὐλογεῖται.independent — the axiom — blessing flows downward; so Melchizedek is the greater
vv. 8–10 — mortal men and the one who lives; Levi tithed in Abraham
8
καὶ ὧδε μὲν δεκάτας ἀποθνῄσκοντες ἄνθρωποι λαμβάνουσιν,independent — ὧδε — the Levitical present: mortal collectors
ἐκεῖ δὲ μαρτυρούμενος ὅτι ζῇ.independent — ἐκεῖ — Genesis 14; λαμβάνει supplied, the witness is Scripture's silence
9
καὶ ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, διʼ Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Λευὶ ὁ δεκάτας λαμβάνων δεδεκάτωται·independent — ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν — the a-fortiori pressed, with a hedge
10
ἔτι γὰρ ἐν τῇ ὀσφύι τοῦ πατρὸς ἦνcause — corporate solidarity — Levi present in Abraham's body
ὅτε συνήντησεν αὐτῷ Μελχισέδεκ.relative — temporal ὅτε — the Genesis moment
The priesthood changes — and the law with it 7:11–14
vv. 11–12 — the hypothetical, and the hinge: new priesthood, new law
11
Εἰ μὲν οὖν τελείωσις διὰ τῆς Λευιτικῆς ἱερωσύνης ἦν,conditional — protasis — contrary to fact, leaning on the question below
ὁ λαὸς γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς νενομοθέτηται,cause — parenthesis — priesthood and law stand or fall together
τίς ἔτι χρείαindependent — apodosis — verbless question
κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ ἕτερον ἀνίστασθαι ἱερέαcontent — epexegetic infinitive — Ps 110:4 already implies the need
καὶ οὐ κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Ἀαρὼν λέγεσθαι;content — the negative counterpart — Aaron's order passed over
12
μετατιθεμένης γὰρ τῆς ἱερωσύνης ἐξ ἀνάγκης καὶ νόμου μετάθεσις γίνεται.independent — the hinge — a genitive absolute (protasis-equivalent) kept within the one clause
vv. 13–14 — the change is actual: our Lord is of Judah
13
ἐφʼ ὃν γὰρ λέγεται ταῦτα φυλῆς ἑτέρας μετέσχηκεν,cause — 'these things' = Ps 110:4 — spoken of one outside Levi
ἀφʼ ἧς οὐδεὶς προσέσχηκεν τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ·relative — no altar service from that tribe — the rupture is real
14
πρόδηλον γὰρcause — the evident fact — verbless (ἐστιν supplied)
ὅτι ἐξ Ἰούδα ἀνατέταλκεν ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν,content — ἀνατέλλω — the 'rising' verb, with messianic overtones
εἰς ἣν φυλὴν περὶ ἱερέων οὐδὲν Μωϋσῆς ἐλάλησεν.relative — Moses' silence — Judah never a priestly tribe
By the power of an indestructible life 7:15–19
vv. 15–17 — the priest after Melchizedek's likeness, warranted by Ps 110:4
15
καὶ περισσότερον ἔτι κατάδηλόν ἐστιν,independent — the argument escalates — what is 'evident': the change of vv. 11–12
εἰ κατὰ τὴν ὁμοιότητα Μελχισέδεκ ἀνίσταται ἱερεὺς ἕτερος,conditional — backward-leaning protasis — ὁμοιότης: likeness, not lineage
16
ὃς οὐ κατὰ νόμον ἐντολῆς σαρκίνης γέγονενrelative — σαρκίνης — a command about flesh: descent and mortality
ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν ζωῆς ἀκαταλύτου,phrase modifier — the chapter's great phrase — ἀκατάλυτος: a life death cannot dissolve
17
μαρτυρεῖται γὰρcause — Scripture the witness — the ground of the indestructible life
ὅτι Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ.content — Ps 110:4 — εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα carries the whole weight
vv. 18–19 — annulment and introduction: the μέν/δέ of the two orders
18
ἀθέτησις μὲν γὰρ γίνεται προαγούσης ἐντολῆςindependent — ἀθέτησις — legal language: the ordinance set aside
διὰ τὸ αὐτῆς ἀσθενὲς καὶ ἀνωφελές,cause — διά + articular adjectives — the command judged by its performance
19
οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐτελείωσεν ὁ νόμος,cause — the verdict beneath — the τελείωσις of v. 11 never came by law
ἐπεισαγωγὴ δὲ κρείττονος ἐλπίδος,independent — the answering δέ — γίνεται carried over; κρείττων again
διʼ ἧς ἐγγίζομεν τῷ θεῷ.relative — the cash value — priestly access: ἐγγίζειν τῷ θεῷ
Not without an oath — guarantor of a better covenant 7:20–22
20
Καὶ καθʼ ὅσον οὐ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας,comparative — καθ᾽ ὅσον — the measure clause, leaning forward on κατὰ τοσοῦτο (v. 22)
οἱ μὲν γὰρ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας εἰσὶν ἱερεῖς γεγονότες,cause — the Levitical μέν — office without oath
21
ὁ δὲ μετὰ ὁρκωμοσίαςcause — the answering δέ — elliptical: 'became priest' supplied
διὰ τοῦ λέγοντος πρὸς αὐτόν·phrase modifier — the oath located in God's own speech
Ὤμοσεν κύριος,content — Ps 110:4a — the oath itself
καὶ οὐ μεταμεληθήσεται·content — Ps 110:4b — the oath irrevocable
Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα,content — Ps 110:4c — re-quoted, now for the oath that frames it
22
κατὰ τοσοῦτο καὶ κρείττονος διαθήκης γέγονεν ἔγγυος Ἰησοῦς.independent — the answering measure — ἔγγυος; the name Ἰησοῦς held to the end; the letter's first διαθήκη
The many who die and the one who remains 7:23–25
23
Καὶ οἱ μὲν πλείονές εἰσιν γεγονότες ἱερεῖςindependent — the μέν — plurality itself a symptom of mortality
διὰ τὸ θανάτῳ κωλύεσθαι παραμένειν·cause — διὰ τό + infinitive — death the terminator of every tenure
24
ὁ δὲ διὰ τὸ μένειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἀπαράβατον ἔχει τὴν ἱερωσύνην·independent — the δέ — ἀπαράβατος: permanent, not passing to successors; μένειν echoes v. 3
25
ὅθεν καὶ σῴζειν εἰς τὸ παντελὲς δύναται τοὺς προσερχομένους διʼ αὐτοῦ τῷ θεῷ,independent — ὅθεν — the soteriological inference; εἰς τὸ παντελές: completely and forever
πάντοτε ζῶνparticipial — causal participle — the ground of the saving power
εἰς τὸ ἐντυγχάνειν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν.purpose — εἰς τό + infinitive — a life whose purpose is intercession
Such a high priest befits us 7:26–28
vv. 26–27 — the fitting priest, and the once-for-all
26
Τοιοῦτος γὰρ ἡμῖν καὶ ἔπρεπεν ἀρχιερεύς,independent — ἔπρεπεν — the fittingness argument (cf. 2:10); Τοιοῦτος opens the peroration
ὅσιος, ἄκακος, ἀμίαντος,phrase modifier — the adjective column — personal qualification, not pedigree
κεχωρισμένος ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν,participial — perfect participle — a settled separation
καὶ ὑψηλότερος τῶν οὐρανῶν γενόμενος·participial — the exaltation — the ascended priest of 4:14
27
ὃς οὐκ ἔχει καθʼ ἡμέραν ἀνάγκην,relative — καθ᾽ ἡμέραν — the recurring round he does not need
ὥσπερ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς,comparative — the Aaronic comparison — the repeated offerings
πρότερον ὑπὲρ τῶν ἰδίων ἁμαρτιῶν θυσίας ἀναφέρειν,content — epexegetic infinitive — the necessity's content; πρότερον … ἔπειτα
ἔπειτα τῶν τοῦ λαοῦ·phrase modifier — the ellipsis — the people's sins supplied
τοῦτο γὰρ ἐποίησεν ἐφάπαξcause — ἐφάπαξ — the once-for-all that abolishes the daily; τοῦτο read of the people's offering
ἑαυτὸν ἀνενέγκας.participial — priest and victim in one — the participle of means
v. 28 — law and oath: the closing antithesis
28
ὁ νόμος γὰρ ἀνθρώπους καθίστησιν ἀρχιερεῖςindependent — the summarizing antithesis — νόμος vs ὁρκωμοσία
ἔχοντας ἀσθένειαν,participial — ἀσθένεια — the note of v. 18 sounded of persons
ὁ λόγος δὲ τῆς ὁρκωμοσίας τῆς μετὰ τὸν νόμονindependent — the δέ — καθίστησιν carried over; the oath (Ps 110) postdates and outranks the law
υἱὸν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τετελειωμένον.phrase modifier — the last word — anarthrous υἱός; τετελειωμένον: the perfection the law could not give (v. 11)
Analysis. Hebrews 7 opens with the letter's most famous suspended sentence: Οὗτος γὰρ ὁ Μελχισέδεκ stands flush left as a dashed, verbless subject-line — king of Salem, priest of God Most High — while everything Genesis 14 says about him hangs beneath the one word Μελχισέδεκ (the meeting, the blessing, the tithe, the two decoded royal titles, the alpha-privative triad ἀπάτωρ ἀμήτωρ ἀγενεαλόγητος, the likeness to the Son), until the delayed finite verb finally lands back at the margin: μένει ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸ διηνεκές. From there the chapter argues in paired flush-left clauses — the μέν/δέ antitheses that structure nearly every movement (Levites/Melchizedek in vv. 5–6, dying men/the living one in v. 8, annulment/introduction in vv. 18–19, oathless priests/the sworn priest in vv. 20–21, the many/the one in vv. 23–24, law/oath-word in v. 28) — with the Ps 110:4 oracle appearing twice in blue, first under μαρτυρεῖται (v. 17) as the warrant for the ζωὴ ἀκατάλυτος, then under the λέγων of the divine oath (v. 21). The layout takes sides where it must: the v. 11 Εἰ-protasis leans forward, unanchored, on the verbless apodosis τίς ἔτι χρεία, with ὁ λαὸς γὰρ … νενομοθέτηται hung inside it as a parenthesis (ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς read as 'on the basis of the priesthood'); v. 12 is kept as a single clause, its genitive absolute read as the protasis-equivalent hinge of the whole chapter; the v. 15 εἰ-clause is taken as a backward-leaning, anchored protasis ('it is evident, if — as is the case — another priest arises'); the correlative καθ᾽ ὅσον of v. 20 is treated like a forward-leaning protasis, leaning across the two-priesthoods parenthesis onto κατὰ τοσοῦτο … Ἰησοῦς (v. 22); ἀπαράβατος (v. 24) is rendered 'inviolable, permanent' rather than 'untransferable'; in v. 27 τοῦτο is read of the offering for the people — the sinless priest had nothing of his own to expiate — so that ἐφάπαξ ἑαυτὸν ἀνενέγκας answers precisely the καθ᾽ ἡμέραν; and v. 28 closes on the carried-over object of καθίστησιν, υἱὸν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τετελειωμένον — the τελείωσις the law could not give (v. 11) now predicated of the Son.