MembersAfter the Order Of?

It is apparent that King David is referring to someone he calls “my Lord,” who is being addressed by the Lord (YHWH). Moreover, with this verse continuing, “Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool,” this person being addressed by YHWH must be divine! In verse 4, the English reads: “The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” But the Hebrew differs!

In the Hebrew, the last part of the verse, which in the English is rendered “after the order of Melchizedek”, is על-דברתי מלכי-צדק (AL-DIVRATI MALKI-TZEDEK). Had it been על-דברת (AL-DIVRAT), I would have had no reason to quibble with the rendering “after the order of”. However, על-דברתי (AL-DIVRATI) can only be “upon my word” – which parallels “… sworn and will not repent…” The presence of the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the yod, made for a considerable difference!