Definition: And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Hebrews 7:23 together. It’s a really interesting and slightly surprising one! Here's the explanation in simpler terms: Basically, this verse means that there were multiple priests serving God in ancient Israel. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Hebrews 7:23” : This is just the title of the passage. It’s a specific part of a larger section in the book of Hebrews about the priesthood and how it was structured. “And they truly were many priests…” – This means that God didn't have just one priest to offer sacrifices for people. He had multiple priests, each with their own special role. “…because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:” - This is the key part. It says that these priests weren’t allowed to keep doing their jobs after someone died. Think of it like this: God gave people a specific job – offering sacrifices – and it was meant to be done for a limited time. When someone dies, their position ends. So, what does this tell us about the Old Testament priesthood? It wasn't just one priest: The Old Testament had priests who performed rituals and offered sacrifices. But there were several of them. They weren’t limited by death: The idea that these priests couldn’t continue after someone died was a significant point of debate among scholars. It suggests that the priesthood wasn't tied to a single person or a specific lifespan. Why is this important? This verse helps us understand why the Jewish people believed in a single, unchanging God and the importance of continuing to observe His law. It was a way for them to believe in one true God, even after the death of their priests. In short: This verse speaks about a system where there were multiple priests serving God, which helped to ensure that worship would continue even after the death of the priests themselves. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the context of this passage in more detail? Answer any specific questions you have about it?