Hebrews 7:4

Hebrews 7:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
• New International Version (NIV)Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!
• English Standard Version (ESV)See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.

Context of Hebrews 7:4

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. 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. But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder. 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. 6But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise.

Hebrews 7:4 word by word

Θεωρεῖτε δὲ πηλίκος οὗτος, ᾧ καὶ δεκάτην Ἀβραὰμ ἔδωκεν ἐκ τῶν ἀκροθινίων ὁ πατριάρχης.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• considerθεωρέωtheōreō · to see/experienceG2334
• how greatπηλίκοςpēlikos · how greatG4080
• this manοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• unto whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• the patriarchὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the patriarchπατριάρχηςpatriarchēs · patriarchG3966
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• the tenthδεκάτηdekatē · tenthG1181
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the spoilsἀκροθίνιονakrothinion · fine spoilsG205

Cross-references for Hebrews 7:4

• Acts 2:29“Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
• Acts 7:8Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and so he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him when he was eight days old, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
• Genesis 12:2Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing.
• Genesis 17:5No longer will your name be Abram. Instead, your name will be Abraham because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.
• Romans 4:11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them.
• Galatians 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
• James 2:23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
• Genesis 14:20Worthy of praise is the Most High God, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

Commentaries on Hebrews 7:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Consider how great this man was - There is something exceedingly mysterious in the person and character of this king of Salem; and to find out the whole is impossible. He seems to have been a sort of universal priest, having none superior to him in all that region; and confessedly superior even to Abraham himself, the father of the faithful, and the source of the Jewish race. See Hebrews 7:7. The patriarch Abraham - ̔ · Either from , a father, and , a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Now consider how great this man was - The object of the apostle was to exalt the rank and dignity of Melchizedek. The Jews had a profound veneration for Abraham, and if it could be shown that Melchizedek was superior to Abraham, then it would be easy to demonstrate the superiority of Christ as a priest to all who descended from Abraham. Accordingly he argues, that he to whom even the patriarch Abraham showed so much respect, must have had an exalted rank…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. 4This section (Hebrews 7:1–10) asks us to think about how important Melchizedek was by comparing him to Levi's descendants. Melchizedek was so significant that Abraham gave him a tenth of the battle spoils (Genesis 14:20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. consider--not merely see, but weigh with attentive contemplation, the fact. even--"to whom (as his superior) Abraham even paid tithe (went so far as to pay tithe) of (consisting of, literally, 'from') the best of the spoils (literally, 'the top of the heap"; whether of corn, the first-fruits of which, taken from the top, used to be consecrated to God; or of spoils, from the top of which the general used to take some portion for consecration to God, or…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 7:4

• Abraham
• Melchizedek
• Priest
• Succession
• Tithes
• Types

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Abraham, Abram
• Attendance
• Harmless
• Melchizedek
• Patriarch
• Separate
• Adam in the New Testament
• Christ, Offices of
• Congregation

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