And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.
- BSB In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.
- NKJV Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
- NASB In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.
- NLT The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on.
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
Levitical priests who receive tithes are mortal men who die, but Melchizedek receives them as one of whom Scripture testifies that he lives. His priesthood points to a life that does not end.
Overview
The writer contrasts the dying Levitical priests with Melchizedek, whose Scripture portrayal records no death, so he is depicted as living on. This typological 'living' anticipates the truly endless life of Christ. The permanence of Melchizedek's order, fulfilled in the risen Jesus, marks its superiority over the temporary Levitical system.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Heb 6:20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- Heb 5:6As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- Rev 1:18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
- Heb 7:23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
- John 14:19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
- Heb 3:16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
- John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- Heb 9:24–25For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
- John 11:25–26Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
- Heb 9:27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
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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 7:8 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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