Study Desk

For this ^(C1)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the ^(C2)Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.

Without father, without mother, ^(C1)without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like ^(C2)the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the ^(C1)patriarch, ^(C2)gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.

And those indeed of ^(C1)the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have a commandment ^(F1)in the Law to collect ^(F2)a tenth from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they ^(F3)are descended from Abraham.

But the one ^(C1)whose genealogy is not traced from them ^(C2)collected ^(F1)a tenth from Abraham and ^(F2)(C2)blessed the one who ^(C3)had the promises.

But without any dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater.

In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, ^(C1)of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes,

for he was still in the loins of his ^(F1)forefather when Melchizedek met him.