New English Translation
Hebrews 7:2
2To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
Hebrews 7:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
- New International Version (NIV)and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
- New King James Version (NKJV)to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,”
Context of Hebrews 7:2
1Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him. To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time. 4But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder.
Read all of Hebrews 7Hebrews 7:2 word by word
ᾧ καὶ δεκάτην ἀπὸ πάντων ἐμέρισεν Ἀβραάμ, πρῶτον μὲν ἑρμηνευόμενος βασιλεὺς δικαιοσύνης ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ βασιλεὺς Σαλήμ, ὅ ἐστιν βασιλεὺς εἰρήνης,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- To whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
- AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
- gaveμερίζωmerizō · to divideG3307
- a tenth partδεκάτηdekatē · tenthG1181
- ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- being by interpretationἑρμηνεύωhermēneuō · to interpretG2059
- Kingβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
- of righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
- andδέde · thenG1161
- after thatἔπειταepeita · thenG1899
- of SalemΣαλήμSalēm · SalemG4532
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- of peaceεἰρήνηeirēnē · peaceG1515
Cross-references for Hebrews 7:2
- Genesis 28:22Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.”
- Leviticus 27:32All the tithe of herd or flock, everything which passes under the rod, the tenth one will be holy to the Lord.
- Numbers 18:21See, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they perform – the service of the tent of meeting.
- 1 Samuel 8:15He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators and his servants.
- 2 Samuel 8:15David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.
- 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to me. The one who rules fairly among men, the one who rules in the fear of God,
- 1 Kings 4:24His royal court was so large because he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah to Gaza; he was at peace with all his neighbors.
- 1 Chronicles 22:9Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. Indeed, Solomon will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.
- Psalms 45:4Appear in your majesty and be victorious! Ride forth for the sake of what is right, on behalf of justice! Then your right hand will accomplish mighty acts!
- Psalms 72:1O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions! Grant the king’s son the ability to make fair decisions!
- Psalms 85:10Loyal love and faithfulness meet; deliverance and peace greet each other with a kiss.
- Isaiah 9:6For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 32:1Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice.
- Isaiah 45:22Turn to me so you can be delivered, all you who live in the earth’s remote regions! For I am God, and I have no peer.
- Jeremiah 23:5“I, the Lord, promise that a new time will certainly come when I will raise up for them a righteous branch, a descendant of David. He will rule over them with wisdom and understanding and will do what is just and right in the land.
- Jeremiah 33:15In those days and at that time I will raise up for them a righteous descendant of David. “‘He will do what is just and right in the land.
Commentaries on Hebrews 7:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Gave a tenth part of all - It was an ancient custom, among all the nations of the earth, to consecrate a part or tenth of the spoils taken in war to the objects of their worship. Many examples of this kind occur. This however was not according to any provision in law, but merely ad libitum, and as a eucharistic offering to those to whom they imagined they owed the victory. But neither Abraham's decimation, nor theirs, had any thing to do, either with…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all - That is, a tenth part of all the spoils which he had taken Genesis 14:20, thus acknowledging that in dignity of office Melchizedek was greatly his superior; Hebrews 7:4, Hebrews 7:6, Hebrews 7:8. This does not appear to have been on the part of Abraham so much designed as a present to Melchizedek personally, as an act of pious thankfulness to God. He doubtless recognized in Melchizedek one who was a minister…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Abraham gave a tenth to the Lord by giving it to Melchizedek, his priest. This act foreshadows the giving of tithes under the law (Leviticus 27:30, 32) and is important in the author's argument (Hebrews 7:4). Melchi- (Hebrew melek) means king. -zedek (Hebrew tsedeq) means justice or righteousness. Salem (Hebrew shalom) means peace. Rabbis often highlighted the theological meaning of a biblical figure's name by linking it to other Hebrew terms.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. gave--Greek, "apportioned"; assigned as his portion. tenth ... of all--namely, the booty taken. The tithes given are closely associated with the priesthood: the mediating priest received them as a pledge of the giver's whole property being God's; and as he conveyed God's gifts to man (He 7:1, "blessed him"), so also man's gifts to God. Melchisedec is a sample of how God preserves, amidst general apostasy, an elect remnant. The meeting of Melchisedec…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 7:2
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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