Hebrews 7:5
What does Hebrews 7:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 7:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 7:5 means
Under the Mosaic law, sons of Levi holding the priestly office were authorized to take tithes from their fellow Israelites. Although the people were their brothers, all alike descended from Abraham, the Levites had a God-given right to receive tithes because of their office. This shows how the Levitical system worked: by legal command and genealogical qualification. The point is not to belittle that arrangement, but to mark its nature. It was a regulated, familial system within Israel. By recalling this, the writer prepares a contrast: Melchizedek’s authority to receive tithes did not rest on the law or shared descent, yet Abraham voluntarily gave to him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest’s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest’s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And it is true that by the law, those of the sons of Levi who have the position of priests may take a tenth part of the people's goods; that is to say, they take it from their brothers though these are the sons of Abraham.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth out of the loins of Abraham;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And indeed they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is to say, of their brethren: though they themselves also came out of the loins of Abraham.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they indeed from among the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is from their brethren, though these are come out of the loins of Abraham:
Context
Verse 5 explains how tithes functioned under the law to highlight what made Melchizedek different. Levitical priests collected tithes from their kin, authorized by divine statute. The authority was legal and genealogical. In the next verse, the author points out that Melchizedek, outside that lineage, took tithes from Abraham and also blessed him, the promise-bearer. This contrast between legal right (Levites) and acknowledged greatness (Melchizedek) deepens the case that Melchizedek’s priesthood stands on a higher footing than the Levitical order.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 28:1
And bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
- Numbers 16:10
and that he hath brought thee near, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee? and seek ye the priesthood also?
- Genesis 46:26
All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, that came out of his loins, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were threescore and six;
- Numbers 17:3
And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses.
- Nehemiah 13:10
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
- Leviticus 27:30
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is Jehovah’s: it is holy unto Jehovah.
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