Hebrews 7:5
in Hebrews 7Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest’s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:
KJV
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
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This verse in Hebrews 7
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Thus compare the "consider," Heb 7:4, in the case of Melchisedec, the type, with the "consider" (Greek, "contemplate attentively," see on Heb 3:1, a stronger word than here) in the case of Christ, the archetype.
This site's exposition
sons of Levi who become priests
on Hebrews 7:5-6
The Levites collect a tenth from their brothers, and they too are descended from Abraham. Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, took a tenth from Abraham himself and blessed him who had the promises. Rank here follows the tithe and the blessing.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
It confirms that he who was in the figure of Christ was greater than the priests of the Jews. The Levites, he says, being more honorable than the rest of the people, receive the tithes. For what is taken from brothers who have the same …
A commentator
Ephrem the SyrianCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS · Written before 373.
proposed
Through Abraham, who gave him the tenth part, the house of Levi, which had to be generated by him, took the tenth part in him. The Levites, even though they took the tenth part, did not take it from strangers but received the tenth part …
"And verily they that are of the sons of Levi who receive the office of Priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham." So great (he would say) is the superiority of the priesthood, that they who from their ancestors are of the same dignity, and have the same forefather, are yet far better than the rest. At all events they "receive tithes" from them. When then one is found, who receives tithes from these very persons, are not they indeed in the rank of laymen, and he among the Priests? And not only this; but neither was he of the same dignity with them, but of another race: so that he would not have given tithes to a stranger unless his dignity had been great. Astonishing! What has he accomplished? He has made quite clear a greater point than those relating to faith which he treated in the Epistle to the Romans. For there indeed he declares Abraham to be the forefather both of our polity and also of the Jewish. But here he is exceeding bold against him, and shows that the uncircumcised person is far superior. How then did he show that Levi paid tithes? Abraham (he says) paid them. "And how does this concern us?" It especially concerns you: for you will not contend that the Levites are superior to Abraham.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Now he shows in what way Melchizedek is above Abraham, saying that the ministers from the tribe of Levi received tithes from the people (Lev. 27:30–32), evidently as better and more honorable men on account of the dignity of the priesthood. For why else does …
A commentator
Photios I of ConstantinopleFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 7.5 · Written before 893.
proposed
He says, "even though they have come out of the loins of Abraham." Although the Levites are in all other respects equal in rank with the other tribes, nonetheless because the other tribes give tithes while the Levites receive them, the Levites are clearly superior. …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
337. – Then (v. 5) he shows the pre-eminence of Melchizedek's priesthood over that of the Levitical. In regard to this he does two things: first, he states his proposition; secondly, from this he concludes his thesis, namely, that Christ's priesthood is preferred to the …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The sons of Levi take tithes of their brethren -- sprung from Abraham as well as themselves. The Levites therefore are greater than they; but the priests are greater than the Levites, the patriarch Abraham than the priests, and Melchisedec than him.
, &c.): Now consider how great this man was, &c. The greatness of this man and his priesthood appears, 1. From Abraham's paying the tenth of the spoils unto him; and it is well observed that Levi paid tithes to Melchisedec in Abraham,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi,.... Or Levites; who are of the tribe of Levi, whose descent is from him: who receive the office of the priesthood; as some of them were priests, though not all; and the Levites therefore are sometimes called priests. R.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
They that are of the sons of Levi - The priests who are of the posterity of the Levites, and receive the priesthood in virtue of their descent from Aaron, have authority from the law of God to receive tithes from the people. According to the law - That is, the Levites received a tenth from the people. The priests received a tenth of this tenth from the Levites, who are here called their brethren, because they were of the same tribe, and employed in the same sacred work. The apostle is proceeding to show that Melchisedec was greater even than Abraham, the head of the fathers, for to him Abraham gave tithes; and as the Levites were the posterity of Abraham, they are represented here as paying tithes to Melchisedec through him. Yet Melchisedec was not of this family, and therefore must be considered as having a more honorable priesthood than even Aaron himself; for he took the tenth from Abraham, not for his maintenance, for he was a king, but in virtue of his office as universal high priest of all that region.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi - The meaning of this verse is, that the Levitical priests had a right to receive tithes of their brethren, but still that they were inferior to Melchizedek. The apostle admits that their superiority to the rest of the people was shown by the fact that they had a right to require of them the tenth part of the productions of the land for their maintenance, and for the support of religion.
The words behind it
29 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out from | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| υἱῶν | huion | sons | G5207 → | 377 times |
| Λευὶ | leui | of Levi | G3017 → | |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἱερατείαν | hi'erateian | priestly office | G2405 → | |
| λαμβάνοντες | lambanontes | receiving | G2983 → | 257 times |
| ἐντολὴν | entolen | a commandment | G1785 → | 67 times |
| ἔχουσιν | echousin | have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἀποδεκατοῦν | apodekatoun | to take a tenth | G586 → | |
| τὸν | ton | from the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λαὸν | laon | people | G2992 → | 141 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νόμον, | nomon | law, | G3551 → | 192 times |
| τοῦτ᾽ | tout᾽ | That | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἔστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| τοὺς | tous | from the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφοὺς | adelphous | brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| αὐτῶν, | auton | of them, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καίπερ | kaiper | though | G2539 → | 5 times |
| ἐξεληλυθότας | exeleluthotas | having come | G1831 → | 216 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀσφύος | osphuos | loin | G3751 → | |
| Ἀβραάμ. | abraam | of Abraham. | G11 → | 73 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
ἐκout from
ekG1537 →911 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
υἱῶνsons
huionG5207 →377 times
Λευὶof Levi
leuiG3017 →
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἱερατείανpriestly office
hi'erateianG2405 →
λαμβάνοντεςreceiving
lambanontesG2983 →257 times
ἐντολὴνa commandment
entolenG1785 →67 times
ἔχουσινhave
echousinG2192 →707 times
ἀποδεκατοῦνto take a tenth
apodekatounG586 →
τὸνfrom the
tonG3588 →19766 times
λαὸνpeople
laonG2992 →141 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
νόμον,law,
nomonG3551 →192 times
τοῦτ᾽That
tout᾽G3778 →1381 times
ἔστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
τοὺςfrom the
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφοὺςbrothers
adelphousG80 →343 times
αὐτῶν,of them,
autonG846 →5565 times
καίπερthough
kaiperG2539 →5 times
ἐξεληλυθόταςhaving come
exeleluthotasG1831 →216 times
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
ὀσφύοςloin
osphuosG3751 →
Ἀβραάμ.of Abraham.
abraamG11 →73 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Kings 8:19Nevertheless, you are not the one to build it; but your son, your own offspring, will build the house for My Name.’
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 22:8–10
but this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You are not to build a house for My Name because you have shed so much…
- 2 Samuel 7:5
“Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build for Me a house to dwell in?
- 1 Chronicles 28:6
And He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him as My son, and I will be his Father.
- 1 Chronicles 17:11–12
And when your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
- 2 Samuel 7:12–13
And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
- 1 Chronicles 22:8–10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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On this verse
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About Hebrews
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on Hebrews; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 12; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Photios I of Constantinople, FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 7.5; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.