God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 7:6
6Although Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, he received a tenth of everything from Abraham. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had God’s promises.
Hebrews 7:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
- New International Version (NIV)This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
- New King James Version (NKJV)but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
Context of Hebrews 7:6
4You can see how important Melchizedek was. Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured, even though Abraham was the father of the chosen people. 5Moses’ Teachings say that members of the tribe of Levi who become priests must receive a tenth of everything from the people. The priests collect it from their own people, Abraham’s descendants. Although Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, he received a tenth of everything from Abraham. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had God’s promises. 7No one can deny that the more important person blesses the less important person. 8Priests receive a tenth of everything, but they die. Melchizedek received a tenth of everything, but we are told that he lives.
Read all of Hebrews 7Hebrews 7:6 word by word
ὁ δὲ μὴ γενεαλογούμενος ἐξ αὐτῶν δεδεκάτωκεν Ἀβραάμ· καὶ τὸν ἔχοντα τὰς ἐπαγγελίας εὐλόγηκεν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- he whose descent isγενεαλογέωgenealogeō · to trace genealogyG1075
- notμήmē · notG3361
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- received tithesδεκατόωdekatoō · to titheG1183
- of AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- blessedεὐλογέωeulogeō · to praise/blessG2127
- him that hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- the promisesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the promisesἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
Cross-references for Hebrews 7:6
- Hebrews 7:3No one knows anything about Melchizedek’s father, mother, or ancestors. No one knows when he was born or when he died. Like the Son of God, Melchizedek continues to be a priest forever.
- Hebrews 7:4You can see how important Melchizedek was. Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured, even though Abraham was the father of the chosen people.
- Genesis 14:19He blessed Abram, and said, “Blessed is Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth.
- Hebrews 6:13God made a promise to Abraham. Since he had no one greater on whom to base his oath, he based it on himself.
- Hebrews 11:13All these people died having faith. They didn’t receive the things that God had promised them, but they saw these things coming in the distant future and rejoiced. They acknowledged that they were living as strangers with no permanent home on earth.
- Genesis 12:2I will make you a great nation, I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
- Genesis 13:14After Lot left, the Lord said to Abram, “Look north, south, east, and west of where you are.
- Genesis 17:4“My promise is still with you. You will become the father of many nations.
- Genesis 22:17I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies’ cities.
- Acts 3:25You are the descendants of the prophets and the heirs of the promise that God made to our ancestors when he said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendant all people on earth will be blessed.’
- Romans 4:13So it was not by obeying the laws in Moses’ Teachings that Abraham or his descendants received the promise that he would inherit the world. Rather, he received this promise through God’s approval that comes by faith.
- Romans 9:4They are Israelites, God’s adopted children. They have the Lord’s glory, the pledges, Moses’ Teachings, the true worship, and the promises.
- Galatians 3:16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture doesn’t say, “descendants,” referring to many, but “your descendant,” referring to one. That descendant is Christ.
Commentaries on Hebrews 7:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Blessed him that had the promises - This is a continuation of the same argument, namely, to show the superiority of Melchisedec; and, in consequence, to prove the superiority of the priesthood of Christ beyond that of Aaron. As in the seed of Abraham all the nations of the earth were to be blessed, Abraham received a sacerdotal blessing from Melchisedec, who was the representative of the Messiah, the promised seed, to show that it was through him, as the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6But he whose descent is not counted from them - Melchizedek. The word “descent” is “pedigree” in the margin. The meaning is, that he was not “in the same genealogy” - ̀ ́ mē genealogoumenos- he was not of the order of Levitical priests. That Melchizedek is meant there can be no doubt; at the same time, also, the thought is presented with prominence on which Paul so much insists, that he was of a different order from the Levitical priesthood. And blessed…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. 6-7Melchizedek blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:19–20). This blessing is like one a superior gives to a subordinate, such as a father blessing his son or a priest blessing his people (Genesis 49:1–28; Numbers 6:22–27). The ability to give a blessing shows that Melchizedek is greater than Abraham.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. he whose descent is not counted from them--not from "the sons of Levi," as those "who receive the priesthood." This verse explains "without descent" (Greek, "genealogy" in both verses, He 7:3). He who needs not, as the Levitical priests, to be able to trace his genealogy back to Levi. received--Greek, "hath received tithes." blessed--Greek, "hath blessed." The perfect tense implies that the significance of the fact endures to the present time. him that…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 7:6
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
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