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

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.” 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. Consider 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. 5Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. 6But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God.

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“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us.
• Acts 7:8“God also gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision at that time. So when Abraham became the father of Isaac, he circumcised him on the eighth day. And the practice was continued when Isaac became the father of Jacob, and when Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Israelite nation.
• Genesis 12:2I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
• Genesis 17:5What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.
• Romans 4:11Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith.
• Galatians 3:28There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
• James 2:23And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.
• Genesis 14:20And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

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