Hebrews 7:10

10 for he was still within his forefather^[a] when Melchizedek met him.

Hebrews 7:10 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 7:10

For he was yet in the loins of his father
Abraham; namely, Levi and his whole posterity; which is to be understood seminally, just as all mankind were in the loins of Adam, when he sinned and fell, and so they sinned and fell in him; and so Levi was in Abraham's loins,

when Melchisedec met him;
which, as it proves Melchizedek to be greater than Levi, and much more Jesus Christ, who is a priest of his order, which is the grand thing the apostle has in view; so it serves to illustrate several points of doctrine, in which either of the public heads, Adam and Christ, are concerned, with respect to their seed and offspring; such as personal election in Christ, an eternal donation of all blessings of grace to the elect in him, eternal justification in him, the doctrine of original sin, and the saints' crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and session in Christ, and together with him.

Hebrews 7:10 In-Context

8 In the one case, men who will die receive tithes; but in the other case, [Scripture] testifies that he lives.

9 And in a sense Levi himself, who receives tithes, has paid tithes through Abraham,

10 for he was still within his forefather when Melchizedek met him.

11 If, then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise in the order of Melchizedek, and not to be described as being in the order of Aaron?

12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit still in his father's loins