New Living Translation
Hebrews 7:6
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 7:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
- New International Version (NIV)This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
- New King James Version (NKJV)but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
Context of Hebrews 7:6
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. 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. But 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. 7And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed. 8The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on.
Read all of Hebrews 7Hebrews 7:6 word by word
ὁ δὲ μὴ γενεαλογούμενος ἐξ αὐτῶν δεδεκάτωκεν Ἀβραάμ· καὶ τὸν ἔχοντα τὰς ἐπαγγελίας εὐλόγηκεν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- he whose descent isγενεαλογέωgenealogeō · to trace genealogyG1075
- notμήmē · notG3361
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- received tithesδεκατόωdekatoō · to titheG1183
- of AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- blessedεὐλογέωeulogeō · to praise/blessG2127
- him that hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- the promisesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the promisesἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
Cross-references for Hebrews 7:6
- Hebrews 7:3There 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.
- Hebrews 7:4Consider 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.
- Genesis 14:19Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
- Hebrews 6:13For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:
- Hebrews 11:13All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.
- 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 13:14After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west.
- Genesis 17:4“This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations!
- Genesis 22:17I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies.
- Acts 3:25You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’
- Romans 4:13Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.
- Romans 9:4They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises.
- Galatians 3:16God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ.
Commentaries on Hebrews 7:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Blessed him that had the promises - This is a continuation of the same argument, namely, to show the superiority of Melchisedec; and, in consequence, to prove the superiority of the priesthood of Christ beyond that of Aaron. As in the seed of Abraham all the nations of the earth were to be blessed, Abraham received a sacerdotal blessing from Melchisedec, who was the representative of the Messiah, the promised seed, to show that it was through him, as the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6But he whose descent is not counted from them - Melchizedek. The word “descent” is “pedigree” in the margin. The meaning is, that he was not “in the same genealogy” - ̀ ́ mē genealogoumenos- he was not of the order of Levitical priests. That Melchizedek is meant there can be no doubt; at the same time, also, the thought is presented with prominence on which Paul so much insists, that he was of a different order from the Levitical priesthood. And blessed…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. 6-7Melchizedek blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:19–20). This blessing is like one a superior gives to a subordinate, such as a father blessing his son or a priest blessing his people (Genesis 49:1–28; Numbers 6:22–27). The ability to give a blessing shows that Melchizedek is greater than Abraham.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. he whose descent is not counted from them--not from "the sons of Levi," as those "who receive the priesthood." This verse explains "without descent" (Greek, "genealogy" in both verses, He 7:3). He who needs not, as the Levitical priests, to be able to trace his genealogy back to Levi. received--Greek, "hath received tithes." blessed--Greek, "hath blessed." The perfect tense implies that the significance of the fact endures to the present time. him that…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 7:6
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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