Hebrews 7:10

Hebrews 7:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
• New International Version (NIV)because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Context of Hebrews 7:10

8Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; but in that case [concerning Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives on [perpetually]. 9A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes, paid tithes through Abraham [the father of all Israel and of all who believe], for Levi was still in the loins (unborn) of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him (Abraham). 11Now if perfection [a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper] had been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people were given the Law) what further need was there for another and different kind of priest to arise, one in the manner of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed to the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity a change of the law [concerning the priesthood] as well.

Hebrews 7:10 word by word

ἔτι γὰρ ἐν τῇ ὀσφύϊ τοῦ πατρὸς ἦν ὅτε συνήντησεν αὐτῷ Μελχισέδεκ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• he wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• yetἔτιeti · stillG2089
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the loinsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the loinsὀσφῦςosphus · loinsG3751
• of his fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• MelchisedecΜελχισεδέκMelchisedek · MelchizedekG3198
• metσυναντάωsunantaō · to meetG4876
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Hebrews 7:10

• Hebrews 7:5It is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to collect tithes from the people—which means, from their kinsmen—though these have descended from Abraham.
• Genesis 35:11And God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall be born of your loins.
• Genesis 46:26All the persons who came with Jacob into Egypt—who were his direct descendants, not counting the wives of [Jacob or] Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all,
• 1 Kings 8:19Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son, who shall be born to you, it is he who shall build it for My Name [and My Presence].’

Commentaries on Hebrews 7:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10For he was yet in the loins of his father - That is, Levi was seminally included in Abraham, his forefather.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10For he was yet in the loins of his father - Abraham is here called the father of Levi, by a common use of the word, referring to a more remote ancestor than the literal father. The meaning of the apostle is, that he was even then, in a certain sense, in the loins of Abraham, when Melchizedek met him; or it was all the same as if he were there, and had then an existence. The relation which subsisted between him and Abraham, in the circumstances of the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-10Verses 4-10 That High Priest who should afterward appear, of whom Melchizedec was a type, must be much superior to the Levitical priests. Observe Abraham's great dignity and happiness; that he had the promises. That man is rich and happy indeed, who has the promises, both of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This honour have all those who receive the Lord Jesus. Let us go forth in our spiritual conflicts, trusting in his word and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-10And so to speak: The author knows that saying the Levites paid a tithe to Melchizedek is not literally true, since Levi was not born yet. Abraham represented all his descendants when he paid his tithe to Melchizedek. Levi was connected to Abraham because he came from Abraham's lineage. All of Abraham's descendants were united with him. So, his action could be seen as their action.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. in the loins of his father--that is, forefather Abraham. Christ did not, in this sense, pay tithes in Abraham, for He never was in the loins of an earthly father [Alford]. Though, in respect to His mother, He was "of the fruit of (David's, and so of) Abraham's loins," yet, being supernaturally, without human father, conceived, as He is above the natural law of birth, so is he above the law of tithes. Only those born in the natural way, and so in sin…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 7:10

• Abraham
• Melchizedek
• Priest
• Succession
• Types

In the dictionaries

• Attendance
• Harmless
• Melchizedek
• Separate
• Adam in the New Testament
• Christ, Offices of
• Congregation
• Faithful; Faithfulness
• Hebrews, Epistle to the
• Jashobeam

Commentaries on Hebrews 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings