Said is a different word from the one used in the last verse, but the writer often varies his choice of words for reasons of style. There is no difference in meaning.

A literal rendering of He also said in another place could imply that God also said something in a different geographical location. It may be useful to translate this clause as “God’s words are also recorded in another part of the holy writings” or “In another place in the holy writings God also said.”

You will be a priest forever is often expressed negatively as “You will never cease to be a priest.” Psalm 110.4 does not refer to a “high priest” but only to a priest, but there is no difference in meaning.

Melchizedek’s mysterious role will be discussed in detail in chapter 7. In Genesis 14.17-24 it is stated that Melchizedek was a priest, but there is no suggestion that he founded an order or succession of priests. In Good News Translation, priestly is added to explain order. In the priestly order of Melchizedek probably means no more than “like Melchizedek” (see 7.15). It may be rendered as “in the way in which Melchizedek was a priest” or “similar to the manner in which Melchizedek functioned as a priest.”

The writer sometimes quotes the same text several times, making a different point each time. (See comments on 4.7 and 6.20.) This is again true of the quotation from Psalm 110.4. Here and in verse 10 the emphasis is on God, the speaker.

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 .