God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 7:8
8Priests receive a tenth of everything, but they die. Melchizedek received a tenth of everything, but we are told that he lives.
Hebrews 7:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
- New International Version (NIV)In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.
- English Standard Version (ESV)In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
Context of Hebrews 7:8
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. 7No one can deny that the more important person blesses the less important person. Priests receive a tenth of everything, but they die. Melchizedek received a tenth of everything, but we are told that he lives. 9We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, Levi was giving a tenth of everything. Levi gave, although later his descendants would receive a tenth of everything. 10Even though Levi had not yet been born, he was in the body of Abraham when Melchizedek met him.
Read all of Hebrews 7Hebrews 7:8 word by word
καὶ ὧδε μὲν δεκάτας ἀποθνῄσκοντες ἄνθρωποι λαμβάνουσιν ἐκεῖ δὲ μαρτυρούμενος ὅτι ζῇ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- hereὧδεhōde · hereG5602
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- that dieἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
- receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- tithesδεκάτηdekatē · tenthG1181
- butδέde · thenG1161
- thereἐκεῖekei · thereG1563
- heμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- he livethζάωzaō · to liveG2198
Cross-references for Hebrews 7:8
- Hebrews 7:23There was a long succession of priests because when a priest died he could no longer serve.
- Hebrews 9:27People die once, and after that they are judged.
- Hebrews 3:16Who heard God and rebelled? All those whom Moses led out of Egypt rebelled.
- Hebrews 5:6In another place in Scripture, God said, “You are a priest forever, in the way Melchizedek was a priest.”
- Hebrews 6:20where Jesus went before us on our behalf. He has become the chief priest forever in the way Melchizedek was a priest.
- Hebrews 9:24Christ didn’t go into a holy place made by human hands. He didn’t go into a model of the real thing. Instead, he went into heaven to appear in God’s presence on our behalf.
- John 11:25Jesus said to her, “I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die.
- John 14:6Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.
- Revelation 1:18the living one. I was dead, but now I am alive forever. I have the keys of death and hell.
Commentaries on Hebrews 7:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Here men that die receive tithes - The apostle is speaking of the ecclesiastical constitution of the Jews, which was standing at the time this epistle was written. Under the Jewish dispensation, though the priests were successively removed by death, yet they were as duly replaced by others appointed from the same family, and the payment of tithes was never interrupted. But as there is no account of Melchisedec ceasing to be a priest, or of his dying, he…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8And here men that die receive tithes - Another point showing the inferiority of the Levitical priesthood. They who thus received tithes, though by the right to do this they asserted a superiority over their brethren, were mortal. Like others, they would soon die; and in regard to the most essential things they were on a level with their brethren. They had no exemption from sickness, affliction, or bereavement, and death came to them with just as much…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. 8One reason Melchizedek is greater than the Levites is his “immortality” (7:3). The Levites were men who died, but Scripture says Melchizedek continues to live.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Second point of superiority: Melchisedec's is an enduring, the Levitical a transitory, priesthood. As the law was a parenthesis between Abraham's dispensation of promise of grace, and its enduring fulfilment at Christ's coming (Ro 5:20, Greek, "The law entered as something adscititious and by the way"): so the Levitical priesthood was parenthetical and temporary, between Melchisedec's typically enduring priesthood, and its antitypical realization in…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 7:8
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries