Hebrews 7:9

9 And, so to speak, when Abraham paid the tenth, Levi (whose descendants collect the tenth) also paid it.

Hebrews 7:9 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 7:9

And as l may so say
With truth, and with great propriety and pertinence:

Levi also who receiveth tithes;
or the Levites, who receive tithes according to the law of Moses from the people of Israel:

paid tithes in Abraham;
that is, to Melchizedek; and therefore Melchizedek must be greater than they, and his priesthood a more excellent one than theirs; since they who receive tithes from others gave tithes to him.

Hebrews 7:9 In-Context

7 There is no doubt that the one who blesses is greater than the one who is blessed.

8 In the case of the priests the tenth is collected by men who die; but as for Melchizedek the tenth was collected by one who lives, as the scripture says.

9 And, so to speak, when Abraham paid the tenth, Levi (whose descendants collect the tenth) also paid it.

10 For Levi had not yet been born, but was, so to speak, in the body of his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

11 It was on the basis of the levitical priesthood that the Law was given to the people of Israel. Now, if the work of the levitical priests had been perfect, there would have been no need for a different kind of priest to appear, one who is in the priestly order of Melchizedek, not of Aaron.