In the Greek, verses 14 and 15 are linked by the use of words of similar meaning, “was descended” and “arose,” and similar form, “evident” and “(even) more evident.” However, the similarity of words covers a change in the argument: it is well known to everyone that Jesus was a member of the tribe of Judah (verse 14), but only Christians, and well instructed Christians at that, would be able to recognize in him a different priest … like Melchizedek.

New English Bible well expresses the new step in the thought: “The argument becomes still clearer, if the new priest who arises is one like Melchizedek….” Unlike the if of verse 11, this condition is fulfilled: “if, as is the case.” Revised Standard Version tries to express this by “when,” implying “when we remember that another priest has arisen.”

The clause The matter becomes even plainer may be rendered as “Now we can understand even more clearly,” “What I have been talking about now becomes clearer,” or “You can now understand better what I have been talking about.”

What becomes even plainer? Is it (a) the provisional nature of the old priesthood; (b) the change in the law; (c) both; or (d) the strength of the argument that there is really no comparison between Jesus and the levitical priests? (d) seems to fit in well with an increase of emotion which is felt from this point on. “The power of an indestructible life,” for example, is emotionally stronger than “it is testified that he lives” in verse 8, Revised Standard Version. Most translations agree with Good News Translation in using some such general phrase as The matter; Bijbel in Gewone Taal links it with the rest of the sentence: “It becomes much clearer still when we see that another priest appeared….” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch boldly but effectively repeats material from verse 11, just as 6.3 in Good News Translation repeats 6.1: “The levitical priesthood could not lead men to the goal. This becomes fully clear in that God has established another priest of the (same) kind (as) Melchizedek.”

On different, see verses 11, 13. A different kind of priest, as in verse 11, would not be too strong. New English Bible has “the new priest.” A different priest has appeared may be rendered as “a different kind of priest exists.”

Like Melchizedek does not translate the same expression in the Greek as does like the Son of God in verse 3, but the meaning is the same.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .