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

8and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive. 9And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham. For he was still in his ancestor Abraham’s loins when Melchizedek met him. 11So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order? 12For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come 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 7:5And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.
• Genesis 35:11Then God said to him, “I am the sovereign God. Be fruitful and multiply! A nation – even a company of nations – will descend from you; kings will be among your descendants!
• Genesis 46:26All the direct descendants of Jacob who went to Egypt with him were sixty-six in number. (This number does not include the wives of Jacob’s sons.)
• 1 Kings 8:19But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.’

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