7:8 mortal men . . . it is testified that he lives. The “mortal men” are the Levites, whose office and authority is transmitted through descent and inheritance, in association with the provisions of the law (v. 5). Melchizedek, however, “lives.” The declaration that he is living is found in Ps. 110:4, quoted in 5:6, and returned to the foreground with the allusions in 6:20 and 7:3. In the next section (vv. 11–28), the importance of this declaration or “oath” is explained (vv. 20–22).