Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
Parallel translations
- WEB Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.
- KJV And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
- 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.
- 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 6:20where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
- Heb 5:6As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
- Rev 1:18and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
- Heb 7:23Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.
- John 14:19Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.
- Heb 3:16For who, when they heard, rebelled? No, didn’t all those who came out of Egypt by Moses?
- John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
- Heb 9:24–25For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
- John 11:25–26Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.
- Heb 9:27Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,
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 7:8 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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