English Standard Version
Hebrews 7:10
10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.
Context of Hebrews 7:10
8In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. 11Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
Read all of Hebrews 7Hebrews 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 7:5And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are 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 come from your own body.
- Genesis 46:26All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, 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 shall build the house for my name.'
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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