New King James Version
Hebrews 7:8
8Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed 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 Living Translation (NLT)The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on.
Context of Hebrews 7:8
6but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10for he was still in the loins of his father 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 7:23Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.
- Hebrews 9:27And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
- Hebrews 3:16For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses?
- Hebrews 5:6As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;
- Hebrews 6:20where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
- Hebrews 9:24For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
- John 11:25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
- John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- Revelation 1:18I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries