Hebrews 7:3-13
New American Standard Bible
4Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.
5And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they are descended from Abraham.
6But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
7But without any dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater.
8In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.
9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes,
10for he was still in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met him.
11So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?
12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
13For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
King James Version
4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5And 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:
6But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Christian Standard Bible
4Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him.
5The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people —that is, from their brothers and sisters—though they have also descended from Abraham.
6But one without this lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
7Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8In the one case, men who will die receive a tenth, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives.
9And in a sense Levi himself, who receives a tenth, has paid a tenth through Abraham,
10for he was still within his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
11Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law ), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron?
12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.
13For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar.
New Living Translation
4Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle.
5Now 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.
6But 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.
7And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.
8The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on.
9In addition, we might even say that these Levites — the ones who collect the tithe — paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him.
10For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.
English Standard Version
4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
5And 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.
6But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
11Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
13For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
New International Version
4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!
5Now 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.
6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.
9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,
10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.
13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.
New King James Version
4Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
5And 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;
6but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.
8Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
9Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,
10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
11Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
12For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.
13For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
