Hebrews 7:4

Hebrews 7:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
• New International Version (NIV)Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!
• English Standard Version (ESV)See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.

Context of Hebrews 7:4

2Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth part of everything that he had won in the fight. The name ‘Melchizedek’ means ‘king of everything that is right’. His other name, ‘king of Salem’, means ‘king of peace’. 3Nobody wrote down that Melchizedek had a father or a mother. Nobody wrote down that he had any ancestors. Nobody wrote about when he was born or when he died. In that way, it seems like Melchizedek was a priest for ever. He is like the Son of God who continues to be a priest for all time. So think about how great this man, Melchizedek, was! Even Abraham, the ancestor of all Israel's people, gave gifts to Melchizedek. Abraham gave him a tenth part of everything that he had won in the fight. 5Men from Levi's family group who become priests receive gifts from their own people. God's Law says that the people must give the Levite priests a tenth part of what they have. But the priests and the other people are all Israelites. They all come from Abraham's family. 6As for Melchizedek, he did not come from Levi's family. But he still received a tenth part of what Abraham had. He also asked God to bless Abraham. But Abraham was the one who had already received God's promises.

Hebrews 7:4 word by word

Θεωρεῖτε δὲ πηλίκος οὗτος, ᾧ καὶ δεκάτην Ἀβραὰμ ἔδωκεν ἐκ τῶν ἀκροθινίων ὁ πατριάρχης.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• considerθεωρέωtheōreō · to see/experienceG2334
• how greatπηλίκοςpēlikos · how greatG4080
• this manοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• unto whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• the patriarchὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the patriarchπατριάρχηςpatriarchēs · patriarchG3966
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• the tenthδεκάτηdekatē · tenthG1181
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the spoilsἀκροθίνιονakrothinion · fine spoilsG205

Cross-references for Hebrews 7:4

• Acts 2:29Peter then said, ‘Friends, people of Israel, I must speak clearly to you about our ancestor, King David. He died and people buried his body in the ground. You can still see the place where people buried him.
• Acts 7:8Then God made an covenant with Abraham that his descendants would be his special people. God said, “You must circumcise all your baby boys.” Later, Abraham became the father of Isaac. Abraham circumcised Isaac when he was eight days old. Then Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob himself had 12 sons. These sons became the 12 ancestors of the families of Israel.
• Genesis 12:2I will cause your descendants to become a great nation. I will bless you. Everyone will know your name. You will bring my blessing to other people.
• Genesis 17:5Your name will not be Abram any more. Instead your name will be Abraham, because I will cause you to become the ancestor of many nations.
• Romans 4:11Some time after that, God told Abraham that someone should circumcise him. That would be a mark on his body to show that God had accepted him. God had already accepted Abraham because Abraham believed in him. God did not accept Abraham because they had circumcised him as a Jewish man. This shows that Abraham is like a father to everyone that God has accepted. Like Abraham, God has accepted them because they have believed in him. It is not important that nobody has circumcised them.
• Galatians 3:28It does not matter whether you are a Jew or a Gentile. It does not matter whether you are a slave or a free person. It does not matter whether you are a man or a woman. You all belong together because you all belong to Christ Jesus.
• James 2:23The Bible tells us what happened. It says, ‘Abraham believed God. As a result, God accepted Abraham as right with him.’ God also called Abraham his friend.
• Genesis 14:20Praise the Most High God! He has given you power over your enemies.’ After that, Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth part of everything.

Commentaries on Hebrews 7:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Consider how great this man was - There is something exceedingly mysterious in the person and character of this king of Salem; and to find out the whole is impossible. He seems to have been a sort of universal priest, having none superior to him in all that region; and confessedly superior even to Abraham himself, the father of the faithful, and the source of the Jewish race. See Hebrews 7:7. The patriarch Abraham - ̔ · Either from , a father, and , a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Now consider how great this man was - The object of the apostle was to exalt the rank and dignity of Melchizedek. The Jews had a profound veneration for Abraham, and if it could be shown that Melchizedek was superior to Abraham, then it would be easy to demonstrate the superiority of Christ as a priest to all who descended from Abraham. Accordingly he argues, that he to whom even the patriarch Abraham showed so much respect, must have had an exalted rank…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. 4This section (Hebrews 7:1–10) asks us to think about how important Melchizedek was by comparing him to Levi's descendants. Melchizedek was so significant that Abraham gave him a tenth of the battle spoils (Genesis 14:20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. consider--not merely see, but weigh with attentive contemplation, the fact. even--"to whom (as his superior) Abraham even paid tithe (went so far as to pay tithe) of (consisting of, literally, 'from') the best of the spoils (literally, 'the top of the heap"; whether of corn, the first-fruits of which, taken from the top, used to be consecrated to God; or of spoils, from the top of which the general used to take some portion for consecration to God, or…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 7:4

• Abraham
• Melchizedek
• Priest
• Succession
• Tithes
• Types

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Abraham, Abram
• Attendance
• Harmless
• Melchizedek
• Patriarch
• Separate
• Adam in the New Testament
• Christ, Offices of
• Congregation

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