Hebrews 7:9
◄  Hebrews 7:9  ►
New International Version (©2011)
One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,

New Living Translation (©2007)
In addition, we might even say that these Levites--the ones who collect the tithe--paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him.

English Standard Version (©2001)
One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
And in a sense Levi himself, who receives tenths, has paid tenths through Abraham,

International Standard Version (©2012)
One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,

NET Bible (©2006)
And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And as a man, let us say about him that by Abraham, Levi, who receives tithes, was caused to tithe.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, Levi was giving a tenth of everything. Levi gave, although later his descendants would receive a tenth of everything.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

American King James Version
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

American Standard Version
And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And (as it may be said) even Levi who received tithes, paid tithes in Abraham:

Darby Bible Translation
and, so to speak, through Abraham, Levi also, who received tithes, has been made to pay tithes.

English Revised Version
And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;

Webster's Bible Translation
And as I may say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Weymouth New Testament
And Levi too--if I may so speak--pays tithes through Abraham:

World English Bible
We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,

Young's Literal Translation
and so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:4-10 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 strength, ascribing our victories to his grace, and desiring to be met and blessed by him in all our ways.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 9, 10. - And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. Or, in other words, "Nay, further, Melchizedek may be said to have tithed Levi himself and his priestly tribe." For, inasmuch as the whole position of Levi and his tribe, in the old dispensation, came by inheritance from the great patriarch who received the promises, the subordination of the patriarch to one above himself involved that of all who so inherited, it is not simply the physical descent of Levi from Abraham, but the peculiar position of the latter as "the patriarch," that justifies the assertion that Levi paid tithes through him. And thus, while we remember how Abraham is elsewhere viewed in Scripture as the representative of the chosen people, and also how the lives of individual patriarchs (notably so in the case of Jacob and Esau) are so told and referred to as to prefigure the positions and fortunes of the races they represent, we may recognize in this assertion no mere rabbinical fancy, but an interpretation true to the spirit of the Old Testament. Be it further observed that the original significance of Abraham's action as bearing upon his descendants is enhanced by the fact that, while it was after the receiving of the promise, it was before the birth of Isaac. He, and consequently his descendant Levi, was yet (ἔτι) in the loins of Abraham; on which point, "Proles e parenlis poteslate egressa in suam venit tutelain: sod quoad in parentis potestate, imo in lumbis est, illius conditionem sequitur" (Bengel).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And as l may so say,.... With truth, and with great propriety and pertinence:

Levi also who receiveth tithes; or the Levites, who receive tithes according to the law of Moses from the people of Israel:

paid tithes in Abraham; that is, to Melchizedek; and therefore Melchizedek must be greater than they, and his priesthood a more excellent one than theirs; since they who receive tithes from others gave tithes to him.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

9. as I may so say—to preclude what he is about to say being taken in the mere literal sense; I may say that, virtually, Levi, in the person of his father Abraham, acknowledged Melchisedec's superiority, and paid tithes to him.

who receiveth tithes—(Compare Heb 7:5).

in Abraham—Greek, "by means of (by the hand of) Abraham"; through Abraham. "Paid tithes," literally, "hath been tithed," that is, been taken tithes of.

Hebrews 7:9 Parallel Commentaries

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Melchizedek and Abraham
…8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. 10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Deuteronomy 26:12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.
Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Hebrews 7:8 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.
Hebrews 7:10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.