On our behalf may be expressed as “For our benefit” or “In order to help us.”

This verse brings the reader back to the subject of 5.10 and at the same time introduces chapter 7. Revised Standard Version‘s “forerunner” also recalls “pioneer” in 2.10; compare Revised Standard Version 12.2 . Jesus has gone in there may be made more explicit, depending upon the relationship to the preceding verse; for example, “Jesus has gone into the inner sanctuary.”

Before us is not to be understood in the sense of “in our presence” but “ahead of us.”

Forever is emphasized in the Greek by a change of order in the words quoted from Psalm 110.4. However, the climax of verses 15-20, a single sentence in Greek, is reached in the word Jesus. Few modern translations bring this out as well as King James Version “whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus….”

The adverb forever may be emphasized as “and he will never cease to be a high priest.”

The phrase in the priestly order of Melchizedek may be rendered as “in the way in which Melchizedek was a priest.” See the comments on 5.6, 10.

The ground is now fully prepared for the more advanced teaching mentioned in 6. The priesthood of Jesus is unique because it belongs to eternity and is therefore permanent and unrepeatable (7.23-28).

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 .