Devine Scripture

Genesis 14:20

What does Genesis 14:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 14:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 14:20 means

Melchizedek further blessed God Most High for delivering Abram's enemies into his hand, explicitly attributing the victory to divine power. In response, Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had recovered from the battle. This act of tithing demonstrates Abram's recognition of Melchizedek's priestly authority and his acknowledgment that his victory came from God, not solely from his own strength. This sets a precedent for gratitude and worship.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And let the Most High God be praised, who has given into your hands those who were against you. Then Abram gave him a tenth of all the goods he had taken.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and blessed <FI>is<Fi> God Most High, who hath delivered thine adversaries into thy hand;' and he giveth to him a tenth of all.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And blessed be the most high God, by whose protection, the enemies are in thy hands. And he gave him the tithes of all.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And blessed be the Most HighGod, who has delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him the tenth of all.

Context

This verse continues Melchizedek's blessing, directing praise to God Most High for Abram's victory, and records Abram's significant act of giving a tenth of all to Melchizedek. This exchange highlights Abram's piety and reverence, immediately following Melchizedek's blessing of Abram, and it precedes Abram's interaction with the king of Sodom regarding the remaining spoils.

v.19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:

v.20This passage

v.21And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Nehemiah 13:12

    Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

  • Genesis 28:22

    then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

  • Deuteronomy 14:28

    At the end of every three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase in the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:

  • Psalms 44:3

    For they gat not the land in possession by their own sword, Neither did their own arm save them; But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, Because thou wast favorable unto them.

  • Nehemiah 10:37

    and that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our heave-offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

  • Deuteronomy 14:23

    And thou shalt eat before Jehovah thy God, in the place which he shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herd and of thy flock; that thou mayest learn to fear Jehovah thy God always.

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