Hebrews 7:6 kjv

But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

Hebrews 7:6 nkjv

but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

Hebrews 7:6 niv

This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

Hebrews 7:6 esv

But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

Hebrews 7:6 nlt

But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God.

Hebrews 7 verses

Hebrews 7 6 Meaning

This verse highlights the remarkable position of Melchizedek as superior to Abraham, the patriarch who received God's promises. It establishes this superiority on two crucial points: first, Melchizedek’s priestly status did not depend on an earthly genealogy, contrasting sharply with the Levitical system. Second, Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham and blessed Abraham, the very one who possessed God's foundational covenants. These actions signify Melchizedek's higher authority, thus foreshadowing the ultimate supremacy of Christ's priesthood, which is patterned after Melchizedek, not the Levitical order.

Hebrews 7 6 Context

Hebrews chapter 7 meticulously builds an argument for the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over the Levitical priesthood. The immediate context of verse 6 follows the detailed exposition of Melchizedek's enigmatic character from Gen 14:18-20, as well as Ps 110:4, describing him as "without father or mother, without genealogy" (Heb 7:3), and thus an ideal type for Christ's non-Levitical priesthood.

The author begins by contrasting the Levitical priests who are commanded to collect tithes from their own kinsmen (Heb 7:5), who themselves are descendants of Abraham and receive their lineage and priesthood based on earthly regulations. Verse 6 directly counters this by presenting Melchizedek, a non-Levite whose genealogy is irrelevant to his priestly office, receiving tithes from Abraham himself. This historical event, preceding the Mosaic Law and the Levitical priesthood, demonstrates a pre-existent higher order. The pivotal acts of Melchizedek receiving tithes and blessing Abraham, the recipient of God's profound promises, clearly establish Melchizedek's higher rank (as explicitly stated in Heb 7:7), thereby laying the theological groundwork for arguing that Christ, being "after the order of Melchizedek," is infinitely superior to any priest from the limited, temporary Levitical line. The polemic is against any contemporary Jewish belief that the Levitical priesthood was the ultimate and perfect means of access to God.

Hebrews 7 6 Word analysis

• But (Greek: de): A conjunction indicating a strong contrast or transition. It pivots the discussion from the Levites, who derive their authority and tithing rights from a specific genealogical descent, to Melchizedek, who does not.
• he whose genealogy (Greek: ho mē genealogoumenos): Refers to Melchizedek. The phrase mē genealogoumenos literally means "not having his lineage recorded," or "not counted among a specific genealogy." This is critical because for Levitical priests, a verifiable genealogy was essential for their legitimacy (Ezra 2:62). Melchizedek's priesthood is thus independent of human lineage and descent, suggesting a divine appointment or a spiritual origin that transcends human legal structures. This mirrors Christ’s heavenly, non-Aaronic lineage.
• is not traced from them (Greek: ex autōn): "From them" refers to the Levitical line or the established Jewish genealogical system rooted in Abraham. This emphasizes Melchizedek's external origin to the Aaronic/Levitical order, strengthening the argument for his distinct, superior priesthood. His authority did not come from being a descendant of Aaron.
• received tithes (Greek: dedekatōken): Literally "has tithed" or "has collected a tenth." This verb is in the perfect tense, signifying a completed action with lasting significance. Melchizedek accepted Abraham's tithe. In the ancient world, giving tribute, including a tithe, was an act of acknowledging a superior’s authority. The one receiving the tithe demonstrated a higher status than the one giving it. This foreshadows the truth of Christ receiving worship and honor from all.
• from Abraham (Greek: Abraam): The foundational patriarch of the Israelites, revered for his faith and status as the recipient of divine promises. The fact that Abraham, not a lesser figure, gave tithes highlights Melchizedek’s extraordinary stature.
• and blessed him (Greek: kai eulogēsen auton): Melchizedek did not just receive a tithe, he also conferred a blessing upon Abraham. In biblical custom, a blessing pronounced by one person upon another signified the one giving the blessing was in a position of greater authority, power, or divine favor (Heb 7:7 reinforces this principle: "the lesser is blessed by the greater"). This further establishes Melchizedek’s superior standing.
• who had the promises (Greek: ton echonta tas epangelias): This epithet for Abraham stresses his unparalleled spiritual status as the recipient of God's covenant promises (e.g., land, numerous descendants, blessing for all nations, Gen 12:1-3; 15:5; 17:1-8). The author uses this designation to elevate Abraham’s standing, which, in turn, amplifies the significance of Melchizedek’s act of blessing him. If the one with such monumental divine promises was blessed by Melchizedek, then Melchizedek (and the Christ he represents) must be even greater.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But he whose genealogy is not traced from them": This phrase contrasts Melchizedek sharply with the Levitical priests. For the Levites, genealogy was paramount, demonstrating their legitimacy and right to minister. Melchizedek's priesthood, by contrast, is portrayed as supra-genealogical, rooted in something higher than human lineage, pointing towards divine appointment.
• "received tithes from Abraham": This highlights a voluntary act of homage from the patriarch to Melchizedek. The very act of Abraham giving tithes to Melchizedek implicitly recognizes Melchizedek's priestly authority and superiority, even before the Law of Moses established tithing for the Levites. This serves as historical evidence for the argument that a non-Levitical priesthood existed, and one to which Abraham himself submitted.
• "and blessed him who had the promises": This phrase unequivocally asserts Melchizedek's greater status. The one who blesses is superior to the one who receives the blessing (Heb 7:7). Abraham, the recipient of foundational promises from God that form the basis of Israel's identity and hope, receives a blessing from Melchizedek. This reversal of what might be expected (Abraham blessing, not being blessed by, a lesser priest) firmly establishes Melchizedek’s dignity. The inclusion of "who had the promises" amplifies Abraham's preeminent position, making Melchizedek's act of blessing all the more profound and impactful for the original Jewish audience.

Hebrews 7 6 Bonus section

The concept of "genealogy" (genealogia or genealogoumenos) in this passage extends beyond simple family history. In ancient Judaism, priestly lineage was fundamental; if a priest could not prove his genealogy to be Aaronic, he could not serve (e.g., Ezra 2:61-63). By stating Melchizedek’s genealogy is "not traced from them," the author makes a powerful statement: his authority comes from a different, higher source, not from human legalistic requirements or bloodline succession. This is vital for the Christological argument, as Jesus was from the tribe of Judah (Heb 7:14), not Levi, and thus could not be a Levitical priest. His priesthood had to come from another order – the divine, permanent order typified by Melchizedek. This also highlights a significant aspect of polemics; the author of Hebrews is not simply informing but actively refuting the idea that a temple-centric, Levitical system is superior or even relevant compared to Christ’s eternal High Priesthood. The Melchizedek motif is a counter-narrative, showing that even within the Old Testament narrative, there was a foreshadowing of a priesthood unbound by earthly conventions.

Hebrews 7 6 Commentary

Hebrews 7:6 serves as a linchpin in the author's argument for the supremacy of Christ's priesthood, drawing deeply from the historical account in Genesis 14. The verse juxtaposes two systems of priesthood: the Mosaic-Levitical, founded on traceable genealogy and regulated by the Law, and the Melchizedekian, characterized by a lack of recorded lineage and a different, superior source of authority.

The central point is that Melchizedek, who stood outside the Levitical lineage, nonetheless exercised priestly functions that were demonstrably superior. By receiving tithes from Abraham, Melchizedek showed his elevated position; in ancient Near Eastern culture, the giver of a tenth acknowledged the greater authority or sanctity of the receiver. More profoundly, Melchizedek blessed Abraham, the revered patriarch and custodian of God's most vital promises. This act of blessing signified the superior imparting favor or authority to the inferior, confirming Melchizedek's greater dignity over the one from whom the Levitical line would spring.

The argument, further articulated in verses 7:9-10, suggests that Levi, Abraham’s great-grandson, symbolically paid tithes through his ancestor Abraham to Melchizedek. This establishes the pre-eminence of the Melchizedekian order, as it pre-dated and effectively overshadowed the Levitical priesthood at its very fount. The passage demonstrates that a priesthood not bound by Mosaic Law or Israelite genealogy was implicitly recognized by God's chosen patriarch. This sets the stage for understanding Christ's priesthood, which is likewise not Levitical, but "in the order of Melchizedek," as the ultimate, eternal, and superior priesthood capable of bringing true perfection and lasting salvation. It implies that the Levitical system, though divinely appointed for a time, was imperfect and temporary, pointing to the need for a better way—the Melchizedekian order of Christ.