Discovery BoxHebrews 7:4-9 
Context7:4 But see how great he must be, if 1 Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe 2 of his plunder. 7:5 And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office 3 have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, 4 although they too are descendants of Abraham. 5 7:6 But Melchizedek 6 who does not share their ancestry 7 collected a tithe 8 from Abraham and blessed 9 the one who possessed the promise. 7:7 Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior, 7:8 and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive. 7:9 And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.
1 tn Grk “to whom.”
2 tn Or “a tenth part.”
3 tn Or “the priesthood.”
4 tn Grk “from their brothers.” See BDAG 18-19 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.b.
5 tn Grk “have come from the loins of Abraham.”
6 tn Grk “the one”; in the translation the referent (Melchizedek) has been specified for clarity.
7 tn Grk “is not descended from them.”
8 tn Or “a tenth part.”
9 sn The verbs “collected…and blessed” emphasize the continuing effect of the past actions, i.e., Melchizedek’s importance.
