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Easy-to-Read Version

Hebrews 7:9

Now those from the family of Levi are the ones who get a tenth from the people. But we can say that when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth, then Levi also paid it.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Abraham;   Melchizedek;   Priest;   Succession;   Tithes;   Types;   Scofield Reference Index - Sacrifice;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Access to God;   Levites, the;   Types of Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Melchizedek;   Priest;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Tithes;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fulfillment;   Priest, Christ as;   Tithe, Tithing;   Worship;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Covenant;   Law;   Offices of Christ;   Preaching;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Law;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Benjamin;   Hebrews, the Epistle to the;   Tithes;   Zechariah, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Christ, Christology;   Hebrews;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Hebrews, Epistle to;   Melchizedek;   Quotations;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Fall;   Hebrews Epistle to the;   Mediator;   Priest (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Melchisedec, Melchizedek ;   Tithes;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Paul;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Hebrews, Epistle to the;   Priest, High;   Priesthood in the New Testament;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
And in a sense Levi himself, who receives a tenth, has paid a tenth through Abraham,
King James Version (1611)
And as I may so say, Leui also who receiueth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
King James Version
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
English Standard Version
One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
New American Standard Bible
And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes,
New Century Version
We might even say that Levi, who receives a tenth, also paid it when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,
Legacy Standard Bible
And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,
Berean Standard Bible
And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
Contemporary English Version
Levi's descendants are now the ones who receive a tenth from people. We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth, Levi also gave him a tenth.
Complete Jewish Bible
One might go even further and say that Levi, who himself receives tenths, paid a tenth through Avraham;
Darby Translation
and, so to speak, through Abraham, Levi also, who received tithes, has been made to pay tithes.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And to say as the thing is, Leui also which receiueth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
George Lamsa Translation
Speaking as a man, through A''bra-ham, even Levi who received tithes, also gave tithes.
Good News Translation
And, so to speak, when Abraham paid the tenth, Levi (whose descendants collect the tenth) also paid it.
Lexham English Bible
And, so to speak, even Levi, the one who receives tithes, has paid tithes through Abraham.
Literal Translation
and as a word to say, through Abraham Levi also, the one receiving tithes, has been tithed.
Amplified Bible
A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes, paid tithes through Abraham [the father of all Israel and of all who believe],
American Standard Version
And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;
Bible in Basic English
And we may say that in Abraham, even Levi, who has a right to take the tenth part, gave it;
Hebrew Names Version
So to say, through Avraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,
International Standard Version
One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,
Etheridge Translation
And as one may say, by the hand of Abraham, even Levi, he who taketh tithes, himself also is tithed.
Murdock Translation
And through Abraham, as one may say, even Levi who receiveth tithes, was himself tithed.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And to say the trueth, Leuie also whiche receaueth tythes, payed tythes in Abraham.
English Revised Version
And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;
World English Bible
So to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And even Levi, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes (so to speak) thro' Abraham.
Weymouth's New Testament
And Levi too--if I may so speak--pays tithes through Abraham:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And that it be seid so, bi Abraham also Leuy, that took tithis, was tithid; and yit he was in his fadris leendis,
Update Bible Version
And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes;
Webster's Bible Translation
And as I may say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
New English Translation
And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.
New King James Version
Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,
New Living Translation
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.
New Life Bible
We might say that Levi, who receives one-tenth part, paid one-tenth part through Abraham.
New Revised Standard
One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And - so to say a word - through Abraham, even Levi who taketh tithes hath paid tithes;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And (as it may be said) even Levi who received tithes paid tithes in Abraham:
Revised Standard Version
One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And to saye the trueth Levy him silfe also which receaveth tythes payed tythes in Abraham.
Young's Literal Translation
and so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And to saye the trueth, Leui himselfe also which receaueth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham:
Mace New Testament (1729)
and even Levi who received tithes, pay'd tithes, if I may so say, in the person of Abraham.
Simplified Cowboy Version
You could even say those Levites who collected the tithes were kind of paying Mel a tithe because Abraham did.

Contextual Overview

1 Melchizedek was the king of Salem and a priest for God the Most High. He met Abraham when Abraham was coming back after defeating the kings. That day Melchizedek blessed him. 2 Then Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he had. The name Melchizedek, king of Salem, has two meanings. First, Melchizedek means "king of justice." And "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3 No one knows who his father or mother was or where he came from. And no one knows when he was born or when he died. Melchizedek is like the Son of God in that he will always be a priest. 4 You can see that Melchizedek was very great. Abraham, our great ancestor, gave him a tenth of everything he won in battle. 5 Now the law says that those from the tribe of Levi who become priests must get a tenth from their own people, even though they and their people are both from the family of Abraham. 6 Melchizedek was not even from the tribe of Levi, but Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had. And Melchizedek blessed Abraham—the one who had God's promises. 7 And everyone knows that the more important person always blesses the less important person. 8 Those priests get a tenth, but they are only men who live and then die. But Melchizedek, who got a tenth from Abraham, continues to live, as the Scriptures say. 9 Now those from the family of Levi are the ones who get a tenth from the people. But we can say that when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth, then Levi also paid it. 10 Levi was not yet born, but he already existed in his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

payed: Hebrews 7:4, Genesis 14:20, Romans 5:12, *marg.

Reciprocal: Numbers 31:41 - Eleazar

Cross-References

Genesis 2:19
The Lord God used dust from the ground and made every animal in the fields and every bird in the air. He brought all these animals to the man, and the man gave them all a name.
Genesis 7:6
Noah was 600 years old at the time the rains came.
Genesis 7:9
went into the boat with Noah. These animals went into the boat in groups of two, male and female, just as God commanded.
Genesis 7:11
On the 17th day of the second month, when Noah was 600 years old, the springs under the earth broke through the ground, and water flowed out everywhere. The sky also opened like windows and rain poured down. The rain fell on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. That same day Noah went into the boat with his wife, his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives.
Genesis 7:16
All these animals went into the boat in groups of two, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door behind Noah.
Isaiah 65:25
Wolves and little lambs will eat together. Lions will eat hay like cattle, and snakes will eat only dust. They will not hurt or destroy each other on my holy mountain." This is what the Lord said.
Jeremiah 8:7
Even the birds in the sky know the right time to do things. The storks, doves, swifts, and thrushes know when it is time to fly to a new home. But my people don't know what the Lord wants them to do.
Galatians 3:28
Now, in Christ, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or free, male or female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:11
In this new life it doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, circumcised or not. It doesn't matter if you speak a different language or even if you are a Scythian. It doesn't matter if you are a slave or free. Christ is all that matters, and he is in all of you.

Gill's Notes on the 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And as I may so say - So to speak - ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν hōs epos eipein. For numerous examples in the classic writers of this expression, see Wetstein in loc. It is used precisely as it is with us when we say “so to speak,” or “if I may be allowed the expression.” It is employed when what is said is not strictly and literally true, but when it amounts to the same thing, or when about the same idea is conveyed. “It is a “softening down” of an expression which a writer supposes his readers may deem too strong, or which may have the appearance of excess or severity. It amounts to an indirect apology for employing an unusual or unexpected assertion or phrase.” “Prof. Stuart.” Here Paul could not mean that Levi had actually paid tithes in Abraham - for he had not then an existence; or that Abraham was his representative - for there had been no appointment of Abraham to act in that capacity by Levi; or that the act of Abraham was imputed or reckoned to Levi, for that was not true, and would not have been pertinent to the case if it were so. But it means, that in the circumstances of the case, the same thing occurred in regard to the superiority of Melchizedek, and the inferiority of the Levitical priesthood, as if Levi had been present with Abraham, and had himself actually paid tithes on that occasion. This was so because Abraham was the distinguished ancestor of Levi, and when an ancestor has done an act implying inferiority of rank to another, we feel as if the whole family or all the descendants, by that act recognized the inferiority, unless something occurs to change the relative rank of the persons. Here nothing indicating any such change had occurred. Melchizedek had no descendants of which mention is made, and the act of Abraham, as the head of the Hebrew race, stood therefore as if it were the act of all who descended from him.

Levi - The ancestor of the whole Levitical priesthood, and from whom they received their name. He was the third son of Jacob and Leah, and was born in Mesopotamia. On account of the conduct of Simeon and Levi toward Shechem, for the manner in which he had treated their sister Dinah Genesis 34:25, and which Jacob characterized as “cruelty” Genesis 49:5-6, Jacob said that they should be “scattered in Israel.” Genesis 49:7. Afterward the whole tribe of Levi was chosen by God to execute the various functions of the priesthood, and were “scattered” over the land, having no inheritance of their own, but deriving their subsistence from the offerings of the people; Numbers 3:6 ff. Levi is here spoken of as the ancestor of the tribe, or collectively to denote the entire Jewish priesthood.

Who receiveth tithes - That is, his descendants, the priests and Levites, receive tithes.

Payed tithes in Abraham - It is the same as if he had payed tithes in or by Abraham.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hebrews 7:9. And as I may so say — και ως επος ειπειν. And so to speak a word. This form of speech, which is very frequent among the purest Greek writers, is generally used to soften some harsh expression, or to limit the meaning when the proposition might otherwise appear to be too general. It answers fully to our so to speak - as one would say - I had almost said - in a certain sense. Many examples of its use by Aristotle, Philo, Lucian, Josephus, Demosthenes, AEschines, and Plutarch, may be seen in Raphelius and Kypke.

Payed tithes in Abraham. — The Levites, who were descendants of Abraham, paid tithes to Melchisedec δια through, Abraham, their progenitor and representative.


 
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