Hebrews 7:9 Meaning and Explanation
“And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →In a manner of speaking, Levi himself, the very one who later collects tithes, paid tithes through his ancestor Abraham.
What Does Hebrews 7:9 Mean?
The writer adds a careful qualification, 'as I may so say,' signaling that he is making a point about representation rather than literal action. Levi, the forefather of the whole priestly tribe, had not yet been born when Abraham met Melchizedek.
Yet because Abraham acted as the head of the family, what he did was in a real sense done by all who would descend from him. So even Levi, the tithe-receiver, can be said to have paid a tithe through his great-grandfather. The thought reaches forward to a deeper truth of Scripture: that what a representative head does can be reckoned to all who are joined to him, a pattern fulfilled when Christ acts on behalf of His own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 7:9
What does Hebrews 7:9 mean?
In a manner of speaking, Levi himself, the very one who later collects tithes, paid tithes through his ancestor Abraham.