Hebrews 7:4

Hebrews 7:4

Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

a. NLT: Consider 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.

b. NIV: Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!

1). Note in NIV: “Think how great he was. The one who collects a tithe is greater than the one who pays it, and “the lesser person is blessed by the greater.” In both ways Melchizedec was greater than Abraham.

c. YLT: And see how great this one is, to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the spoils,

d. Amplified Bible: Now observe and consider how great [a personage] this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth [the topmost or the pick of the heap] of the spoils.

e. Worrell Translation:  Now consider how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a thenth of the chief spoils

1. “Now consider how great this man was…”

a. now [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. consider [2334 * theoreo] [Strong: from a derivative of 2300 (perhaps by addition of 3708); to be a spectator of, i.e. discern, (literally, figuratively (experience) or intensively (acknowledge)):--behold, consider, look on, perceive, see.]

c. how great [4080 * pelikos] [Strong: a quantitative form (the feminine) of the base of 4225; how much (as an indefinite), i.e. in size or (figuratively) dignity:--how great (large).]

d. this man [3778 *  houtos, including nominative masculine plural houtoi, nominative feminine singular haute, and nominative feminine plural hautai] [Strong: from the article 3588 and 846; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):--he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who.]

2. “…unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.”

a. unto whom [3739 * hos, including feminine he, and neuter ho] [Strong: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

b. even [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

c. the patriarch [3966 * patriarches] [Strong: from 3965 and 757; a progenitor ("patriarch"):--patriarch.]

d. Abraham [11 * Abraam] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (85); Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch:--Abraham.]

e. gave [1325 * didomi] [Strong:  a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.]

f. the tenth [1181 * dekate] [Strong: feminine of 1182; a tenth, i.e. as a percentage or (technically) tithe:--tenth (part), tithe.]

g. of [1537 * ek] [Strong: ek or ex ex a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.]

h. the spoils[ 205 * akrothinion] [Strong: from 206 and this (a heap); properly (in the plural) the top of the heap, i.e. (by implication) best of the booty:--spoils.]

1). This is referring to Abraham’s battle with the kings of Mesopotamia.

a). Genesis 14:14-20 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

14:16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

2). This tithe was probably a worship act in response to God faithfully delivering these enemies into Abraham’s hands. I believe this is more than hinted at in Abraham’s response to the king of Sodom when he offered to give Abraham all the goods. Abraham’s statement that he lifted up his hand to the Most High God is key.

a). Genesis 14:21-24 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

14:23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

14:24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.