Hebrews 7:5 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:

Hebrews 7:5 nkjv

And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham;

Hebrews 7:5 niv

Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people?that is, from their fellow Israelites?even though they also are descended from Abraham.

Hebrews 7:5 esv

And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.

Hebrews 7:5 nlt

Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham.

Hebrews 7 verses

Hebrews 7 5 Meaning

This verse states a clear provision under the Mosaic Law: the descendants of Levi who serve as priests were commanded to collect tithes (a tenth of produce or income) from their fellow Israelites. This emphasizes their dependence on the people they ministered to for their livelihood, despite the fact that both priests and the tithing people were common descendants of Abraham. This point serves as a crucial setup for the author of Hebrews to illustrate the greater authority of Melchizedek, who received tithes from Abraham himself, thereby establishing a theological basis for the superiority of Christ's priesthood, which is after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7 5 Context

Hebrews chapter 7, where verse 5 is found, forms a crucial part of the author's argument for the superiority of Jesus Christ as the great High Priest. This entire chapter contrasts the Levitical (Aaronic) priesthood of the Old Covenant with Christ's priesthood, which is "after the order of Melchizedek." The historical context for the original audience, Jewish Christians, was their familiarity with the Mosaic Law, the temple service, and the established Levitical system, including the practice of tithing. Many were likely tempted to revert to aspects of Judaism, or to question the finality and sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice.

Within this chapter, verses 1-3 introduce Melchizedek as described in Gen 14. Verses 4-10 specifically focus on the significance of Abraham tithing to Melchizedek, demonstrating Melchizedek's greater status even over Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish nation, and by extension, over Levi who was still "in the loins" of Abraham at that time. Verse 5 sets up the contrast by describing the well-known and divinely ordained practice of the Levitical priests receiving tithes from their brethren, highlighting a system where those receiving tithes are from the "lesser" (Levi, as shown by Abraham's prior action) yet receiving from those equally of Abraham's seed. This familiar practice is then juxtaposed with Melchizedek receiving tithes from Abraham himself, establishing Melchizedek's superior position, which directly parallels and validates Christ's own superior, eternal priesthood.

Hebrews 7 5 Word analysis

• And verily (καὶ μὲν - kai men): An emphatic particle indicating an undeniable truth or concession, often used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a preceding thought or sets up a deeper argument. It signals "truly," "indeed," or "certainly," affirming the factual basis of the following statement from the Law.
• they that are of the sons of Levi (οἱ υἱοὶ Λευΐ - hoi huioi Leui): Refers to the descendants of Levi, the tribe from which both priests (Aaron's lineage) and Levites (who assisted the priests) were drawn. This emphasizes their lineage-based qualification under the Mosaic Law. Their identity is tied directly to a specific tribal descent, distinguishing them from other Israelites.
• who receive the office of the priesthood (τὴν ἱερωσύνην λαμβάνοντες - tēn hierosynēn lambanontes): Specifies those Levites who were actively ministering as priests. While all Levites had specific duties in the tabernacle/temple, only Aaron's direct male descendants held the priestly office itself. The phrase points to their designated sacred function and the authority conferred upon them.
• have a commandment (ἐντολὴν ἔχουσιν - entolēn echousin): Literally, "they possess a command" or "they have a charge." This highlights that their right to receive tithes was not a custom or tradition, but a direct, divinely given ordinance from God through the Mosaic Law (e.g., Num 18:21-24). It signifies the legal and binding nature of this provision.
• to take tithes (ἀποδεκατοῦν - apodekatoun): To "decimate" or "collect a tenth part." This refers to the specific religious obligation of Israel to give one tenth of their agricultural produce and livestock to support the Levitical priesthood. This was their appointed sustenance because they received no territorial inheritance in Canaan (Num 18:20).
• of the people (τὸν λαόν - ton laon): Refers to the common people of Israel, the lay members of the nation, distinguishing them from the priestly class.
• according to the law (κατὰ τὸν νόμον - kata ton nomon): This phrase explicitly grounds the practice of tithing in the Mosaic Law, reaffirming its divine authority and statutory nature within the Old Covenant. It reiterates that this was not arbitrary but established by God Himself for the maintenance of the religious service.
• that is, of their brethren (τοῦτ' ἔστιν τοὺς ἀδελφούς αὐτῶν - tout' estin tous adelphous autōn): An explanatory phrase emphasizing the shared ethnic and spiritual identity of the Levites/priests with the people they served. Despite their unique, sanctified role, they were still of the same kin, belonging to the same Abrahamic family. This shared brotherhood makes the subsequent comparison to Melchizedek receiving tithes from Abraham more potent.
• though they come out of the loins of Abraham (καίπερ ἐξεληλυθότας ἐκ τῆς ὀσφύος Ἀβραάμ - kaiper exelēlythotas ek tēs osphuos Abraam): "Loins" (ὀσφύς - osphus) is a Hebrew idiom referring to procreative power or physical descent. This phrase highlights that both the priests (sons of Levi) and the people from whom they collect tithes are all equally direct physical descendants of Abraham. This shared patriarchal heritage becomes a pivot for the argument that follows in Heb 7:6-10: if those from Abraham take tithes from Abraham's descendants, how much greater is the one who took tithes from Abraham himself? It points to the principle that a superior receives from an inferior.

Hebrews 7 5 Bonus section

The careful wording "though they come out of the loins of Abraham" (καίπερ ἐξεληλυθότας ἐκ τῆς ὀσφύος Ἀβραάμ) is critical. It implies a kind of familial equality between the tithe-givers and the tithe-receivers among Abraham's descendants. This contrasts sharply with Abraham himself, the progenitor of all these, paying tithes to Melchizedek. This establishes a hierarchy where Melchizedek is shown to be superior even to Abraham (and thus, by extension, to Levi who had not yet been born but was in Abraham's 'loins'), creating the theological groundwork for establishing Christ's priesthood as superior to the Levitical priesthood because Christ's priesthood is "after the order of Melchizedek." The phrase subtly introduces the concept of representation: Levi was, in a sense, present and subject to Melchizedek's authority when Abraham paid tithes, highlighting a "greater" order.

Hebrews 7 5 Commentary

Hebrews 7:5 acts as a foundational premise in the author's larger theological argument, presenting a well-established fact of the Mosaic Law before pivoting to demonstrate its limitations in comparison to Christ's superior priesthood. The verse clarifies that the Levitical priests' right to collect tithes was not a privilege they earned, but a divine command, crucial for their livelihood since they had no tribal land inheritance. This system highlights the priests' dependence on their "brethren," all sharing descent from Abraham. The author implicitly suggests a hierarchy here: the ones receiving tithes (Levites) are not inherently superior to those paying (other Israelites) in terms of ultimate ancestry from Abraham. In fact, in the grand scheme of God's covenant, this arrangement falls short. This is preparation for the surprising twist: Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham, who was the ancestor of Levi. Thus, even Levi, "in the loins of Abraham," effectively paid tithes to Melchizedek (Heb 7:9), proving Melchizedek's inherent superiority, and by extension, the absolute superiority of Christ's priesthood "after the order of Melchizedek" (Psa 110:4). The familiar Old Covenant practice is thus shown to contain a prophetic seed demonstrating the necessity of a better High Priest and a new, more perfect covenant.