Hebrews 7:6

6 But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises.

Hebrews 7:6 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 7:6

But he whose descent is not counted from them,
&c] That is, Melchizedek, whose genealogy or pedigree is not reckoned from the Levites, nor from any from whom they descend; his lineal descent is not the same with theirs; and so did not receive tithes by any law, as they did, but by virtue of his superiority: received tithes of Abraham; not from the people, or his brethren, but from Abraham, the father of the people of Israel, and of Levi himself:

and blessed him that had the promises;
of a Son, and of the Messiah, that should spring from him, in whom all nations should be blessed, and of the land of Canaan, and of the blessings of grace and glory. This shows that Melchizedek had a descent, though it was not known; and that, since his descent was not the same with the Levites, he was a more proper type of Christ, who belonged not to that, but another tribe.

Hebrews 7:6 In-Context

4 See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils.
5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descended from Abraham.
6 But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises.
7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

Footnotes 1

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.