But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Parallel translations
- WEB but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.
- BSB But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
- ESV But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
- NKJV but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
- NASB But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
- NLT But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Melchizedek, though not descended from Levi, received tithes from Abraham and blessed the man who held God's promises. He stands above even the bearer of the promises.
Overview
Unlike the Levites who tithe within their own lineage, Melchizedek, an outsider to that line, received Abraham's tithe and pronounced blessing on him. Since Abraham held God's covenant promises, Melchizedek's blessing of him signals his superior standing. This advances the argument that Melchizedek's order surpasses the Levitical priesthood.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Rom 4:13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
- Gen 17:4–8As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
- Gen 13:14–17And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
- Heb 7:3–4Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
- Heb 11:17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
- Rom 9:4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
- Gen 22:17–18That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
- Gen 12:2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
- Gen 14:19–20And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
- Gal 3:16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
- Heb 6:13–15For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
- Acts 3:25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
- Heb 7:1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
- Gen 12:13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
- Heb 11:13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 7:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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