Hebrews 7:5

Hebrews 7:5

And 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:

a. NLT: Now 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,fn who are also descendants of Abraham.

b. NIV: Now 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.

c. YLT: and 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;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people—which means, from their brethren—though these have descended from Abraham.

e. Worrell Translation: And those, indeed, from among the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, (though having come out of the loins of Abraham);

1.  “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood…”

a. and [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.]

b. verily [3303 * men] [Strong: a primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with 1161 (this one, the former, etc.):--even, indeed, so, some, truly, verily. Often compounded with other particles in an intensive or asseverative sense.]

c. they that 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.]

d. the sons [5207 * huios] [Strong: apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship:--child, foal, son.]

e. of Levi [3017 * Leui] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (3878); Levi, the name of three Israelites:--Levi.]

f. who [3588 * ho, including the feminine he, and the neuter to] [Strong: in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

g. receive [2983 * lambano] [Strong: a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas 1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while 138 is more violent, to seize or remove)):--accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).]

h. the office of the priesthood [2405 *  hierateia] [Strong: from 2407; priestliness, i.e. the sacerdotal function:--office of the priesthood, priest's office.]

1). Yes, all in the priesthood were sons of Levi, but not all Levites were priests. The priesthood was made up of the sons of Aaron exclusively. Only a male Levite descended from Aaron could be a priest. Within the tribe of Levi there were different families.The tribe of Levi had the distinct ministry of the administration of the tabernacle and everything involved in it. There were families within the Levitical tribe that had specific ministries. Numbers chapter 4 gives the directions for three of those families, the Kohathites, the Gershonites, and the sons of Merari. These three families within the tribe of Levi had the exclusive ministry of transporting the pieces of the tabernacle from place to place after the Priests disassembled the tabernacle. Violation of these commandments could mean death, as evidenced in 2 Samuel 6:1-7; 1 Chronicles 13 & 15.

2. “…have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law…”

a. have [2192 * echo, including an alternate form scheo, (used in certain tenses only)] [Strong: a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

b. a commandment [1785 * entole] [Strong: from 1781; injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription:--commandment, precept.]

c. to take tithes [586 * apodekatoo] ap-od-ek-at-o'-o from 575 and 1183; to tithe (as debtor or creditor):--(give, pay, take) tithe.]

d. of the people [2992 * laos] [Strong: apparently a primary word; a people (in general; thus differing from 1218, which denotes one's own populace):--people.]

e. according to [2596 * kata] [Strong: a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]

f. the law [3551 * nomos] [Strong: from a primary nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.]

1). The “law” here is a clear reference to Numbers 18:20-24.

a). Numbers 18:20-24 And the LORD spake unto Aaron. Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service of which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

18:22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.

18:23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.

18:24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as a heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

2. “…that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham.”

a. that is [5123 * toutesti] [Strong: contraction for 5124 and 2076; that is:--that is (to say).]

b. of their [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

c. brethren [80 * adephos] [Strong: from 1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1):--brother.]

d. though [2539 * kaiper] [Strong: from 2532 and 4007; and indeed, i.e. nevertheless or notwithstanding:--and yet, although.]

e. they come [1831 * exerchomai] [Strong: from 1537 and 2064; to issue (literally or figuratively):--come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad.]

f. out 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.]

g. the loins [3751 * osphus] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; the loin (externally), i.e. the hip; internally (by extension) procreative power:--loin.]

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

1). Here he is continuing the original thought of verse 4 where he asked the readers to consider how great Melchizedec was. Here he is establishing the fact that the tithe was to go to the Levites only. Though it was before the law was established, he is still pointing to it relating to the greatness of Melchizedec.