New Living Translation
Hebrews 7:2
2Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “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
1This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” 3There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God. 4Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle.
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 28:22And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.”
- Leviticus 27:32Count off every tenth animal from your herds and flocks and set them apart for the Lord as holy.
- Numbers 18:21As for the tribe of Levi, your relatives, I will compensate them for their service in the Tabernacle. Instead of an allotment of land, I will give them the tithes from the entire land of Israel.
- 1 Samuel 8:15He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.
- 2 Samuel 8:15So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.
- 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
- 1 Kings 4:24Solomon’s dominion extended over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza. And there was peace on all his borders.
- 1 Chronicles 22:9But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.
- Psalms 45:4In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
- Psalms 72:1Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son.
- Psalms 85:10Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!
- Isaiah 9:6For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 32:1Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest princes will rule under him.
- Isaiah 45:22Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.
- Jeremiah 23:5“For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
- Jeremiah 33:15“In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout 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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