Genesis 14:20 kjv

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Genesis 14:20 nkjv

And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.

Genesis 14:20 niv

And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Genesis 14:20 esv

and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Genesis 14:20 nlt

And blessed be God Most High,
who has defeated your enemies for you."
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

Genesis 14 verses

Genesis 14 20 Meaning

Genesis 14:20 declares Melchizedek's blessing upon God Most High, attributing Abram's resounding victory over his enemies directly to God's intervention. It acknowledges God's supreme power and active involvement in the affairs of mankind, specifically in granting victory and delivering adversaries into the hands of His chosen servant. This blessing is offered after Abram's triumphant return from rescuing Lot and recapturing the spoils, serving as an acknowledgment of divine sovereignty and power.

Genesis 14 20 Context

Genesis chapter 14 describes a significant historical event: the War of the Kings. Four Eastern kings, led by Chedorlaomer, dominate the kings of the Jordan Valley for twelve years. In the thirteenth year, these five kings rebel but are defeated by Chedorlaomer and his allies. During this conflict, Lot, Abram's nephew, living in Sodom, is captured. Upon hearing this, Abram, though dwelling in relative peace, mobilizes 318 trained men from his household and pursues the victorious kings. He miraculously defeats them, rescues Lot, recovers all the spoils, and returns home. It is upon Abram's victorious return that he is met by the King of Sodom and by Melchizedek, King of Salem and priest of God Most High. Melchizedek first blesses Abram, and then, in verse 20, he blesses God Most High for Abram's victory. This specific context highlights divine intervention and the recognition of God's hand in military triumph, setting the stage for Abram's immediate response of tithing and his later oath concerning God as the "Possessor of heaven and earth." This encounter also marks the first biblical appearance of the titles "priest" and "King of Salem," introducing a mysterious figure whose unique identity becomes highly significant in later biblical revelation.

Genesis 14 20 Word analysis

• And (וַיְבָרֵךְ - vay'varekh): This conjunction connects Melchizedek's prior blessing of Abram (v.19) to his subsequent blessing of God. It implies a direct continuation or consequence, indicating that blessing Abram and blessing God are part of a singular act of worship and acknowledgment following the victory.

• blessed be (בָּרוּךְ - barukh): This is a passive participle, often translated as "blessed is" or "praised be." It is a form of benediction or doxology, expressing an acknowledgment of God's inherent goodness, power, and glory. It's not a bestowal of blessing on God (as God cannot be "blessed" by humans in the sense of adding to His nature), but rather an act of giving praise, adoration, and honor to God, recognizing His supreme nature and actions. It contrasts with God's active blessing of humans.

• God (אֵל - ’El): This is a general Semitic term for "god" or "deity," denoting strength and power. It can refer to a supreme god, often found in ancient Near Eastern inscriptions. In this context, it refers to the one true God, Israel's God.

• Most High (עֶלְיוֹן - ‘Elyōn): This epithet literally means "Most High" or "Exalted." When combined with El (’El ‘Elyōn - אֵל עֶלְיוֹן), it forms the title "God Most High," emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, transcendence, and supremacy over all other so-called gods, powers, and earthly kings. It highlights God's unique position as the ultimate authority in the universe. This specific title was known in the ancient Near East, but Melchizedek and Abram use it to identify Yahweh, distinguishing Him from pagan deities. It directly counters polytheistic beliefs by affirming one supreme, universal God.

• who has delivered (אֲשֶׁר מִגֵּן - ’asher miggen): The verb māgān (מָגַן) means "to deliver," "to hand over," or "to protect." Here, it specifically means that God was the one who gave or handed over the enemies. This active participle strongly emphasizes God's direct agency and intervention. Abram's military success is not attributed to his own might or strategy, but entirely to divine action.

• your enemies (צָרֶיךָ - tsāreka): "Enemies" or "adversaries." In this specific context, it refers to Chedorlaomer and his allied kings who were defeated by Abram. It emphasizes the specific, tangible opposition that God overcame on Abram's behalf.

• into your hand (בְּיָדֶךָ - b’yādekhā): This is a common Hebrew idiom meaning to give someone power, control, or victory over another. It signifies complete defeat and subjugation. When enemies are "delivered into one's hand," it means they are utterly conquered and rendered helpless, subject to the victor's will. Here, it attributes Abram's complete mastery over his adversaries to God's empowerment.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And blessed be God Most High": This phrase functions as a solemn doxology or benediction, not asking for God to be blessed, but declaring Him blessed and worthy of all praise. It serves as Melchizedek's formal theological acknowledgment of God's supremacy as demonstrated in the recent battle. This praise to "God Most High" identifies Him as the sovereign ruler over heaven and earth, establishing His preeminence over all other gods worshipped in the region.
  • "who has delivered your enemies into your hand!": This clause specifies why God Most High is being praised. The victory is not due to Abram's might or strategy, but is a direct, undeniable act of God's deliverance and power. It attributes the decisive subjugation of powerful enemies wholly to divine intervention, reinforcing the theme of God's active involvement and absolute sovereignty in human affairs and His protection of His chosen ones.

Genesis 14 20 Bonus section

The appearance of El Elyon in this chapter (Gen 14:18-22) is highly significant. While similar titles for high gods existed in Canaanite religion, the biblical El Elyon is definitively identified with the LORD (Yahweh), as affirmed by Abram in Gen 14:22. This demonstrates an understanding among some outside Abram's immediate lineage that there was a supreme, universal God, even if their understanding might have been partial or intertwined with other local deities. Melchizedek's priesthood and his direct access to this supreme God without a clear ancestral lineage point towards a priesthood not limited to Abraham's descendants (Levitical priesthood) or particular covenants. This is profoundly developed in the New Testament book of Hebrews, which identifies Melchizedek as a type of Christ, highlighting Christ's superior, eternal priesthood "after the order of Melchizedek" (Heb 5:6; 7:1-17). The acknowledgment of God's role in delivering enemies also sets a pattern for God's ongoing protection and enablement for His people throughout the Old Testament narratives (e.g., Exod 14:14, Deut 20:4, Josh 10:42) and into the New Testament spiritual warfare (e.g., Rom 16:20, 2 Cor 10:4).

Genesis 14 20 Commentary

Genesis 14:20 stands as a profound statement of divine sovereignty and power, offered in the immediate aftermath of a human triumph. Melchizedek, as the king-priest, rightly directs the praise not to Abram, the victorious warrior, but to "God Most High." This title, El Elyon, underscores God's ultimate supremacy, indicating that He is the true sovereign over all nations and powers, not merely a tribal deity. Melchizedek's blessing articulates a crucial theological truth: all human successes, particularly deliverance from adversaries, are ultimately sourced in God's enabling grace and mighty intervention. The phrase "who has delivered your enemies into your hand" functions as an explicit declaration of divine causality for Abram's victory. It reveals a fundamental biblical principle that genuine strength and victory come from God, not from human might or numbers (as later affirmed in Zech 4:6, Psa 20:7). Abram's subsequent action of tithing a tenth of all the spoils to Melchizedek (implied by the prior verses and explicitly stated in Heb 7:2) becomes the concrete demonstration of his agreement with this profound theological acknowledgment. It represents a worshipful response, an act of faith, and an external validation of God's proprietorship over all things and His role in granting the victory. This encounter, therefore, teaches us to always ascribe glory and thanks to God for His enabling power and for every deliverance we experience, recognizing His singular role as the "Most High" ruler and possessor of all things.Examples:

• Giving thanks to God for a successful job interview, recognizing His divine favor.
• Acknowledging God's hand when recovering from a severe illness, despite medical efforts.
• Praising God for enabling breakthroughs in difficult personal or relational challenges.