Genesis 14:20
New International Version
And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

New Living Translation
And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

English Standard Version
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Berean Standard Bible
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

King James Bible
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

New King James Version
And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

New American Standard Bible
And blessed be God Most High, Who has handed over your enemies to you.” And he gave him a tenth of everything.

NASB 1995
And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all.

NASB 1977
And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”And he gave him a tenth of all.

Legacy Standard Bible
And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then he gave him a tenth of all.

Amplified Bible
And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your enemies into your hand.” And Abram gave him a tenth of all [the treasure he had taken in battle].

Christian Standard Bible
and blessed be God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and I give praise to God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

American Standard Version
and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.

Contemporary English Version
All praise belongs to God Most High for helping you defeat your enemies." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

English Revised Version
and blessed be God Most High, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Blessed is God Most High, who has handed your enemies over to you." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Good News Translation
May the Most High God, who gave you victory over your enemies, be praised!" And Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the loot he had recovered.

International Standard Version
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your control." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Majority Standard Bible
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

NET Bible
Worthy of praise is the Most High God, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

New Heart English Bible
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tenth of everything.

Webster's Bible Translation
And blessed be the most high God, who hath delivered thy enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

World English Bible
Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and blessed [is] God Most High, who has delivered your adversaries into your hand”; and he gives to him a tenth of all.

Young's Literal Translation
and blessed is God Most High, who hath delivered thine adversaries into thy hand;' and he giveth to him a tenth of all.

Smith's Literal Translation
And praised be the most high God who delivered thine oppressors into thy hand; and he will give him of the tenth of all.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And blessed be the most high God, by whose protection the enemies are in thy hands. And he gave him the tithes of all.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And blessed be the Most High God, through whose protection the enemies are in your hands.” And he gave him tithes from everything.

New American Bible
And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

New Revised Standard Version
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And blessed be the Most High God, who has delivered your enemies into your hands. And Abram gave him tithes of everything.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And blessed is God the Highest who delivered your enemies into your hands”, and he gave to him a tenth of everything.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and blessed be God the Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.' And he gave him a tenth of all.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and blessed be the most high God who delivered thine enemies into thy power. And Abram gave him the tithe of all.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Melchizedek Blesses Abram
19and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 20and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. 21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”…

Cross References
Hebrews 7:1-10
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, / and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” / Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time. ...

Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 5:6
And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 6:20
where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:17
For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 7:21
but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”

Hebrews 7:24-25
But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. / Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

Hebrews 7:28
For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Hebrews 8:1
The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

Hebrews 8:6
Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.

Hebrews 9:11
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.

Hebrews 9:24
For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.

Hebrews 10:12
But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.

Hebrews 10:21
and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

Hebrews 13:15
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.


Treasury of Scripture

And blessed be the most high God, which has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

blessed.

Genesis 9:26
And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Genesis 24:27
And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

which.

Joshua 10:42
And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.

Psalm 44:3
For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

tithes.

Genesis 28:22
And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Leviticus 27:30-32
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD…

Numbers 28:26
Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

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Abram Adversaries Blessed Delivered Enemies Goods Hand Hands High Praised Tenth Tithes
Genesis 14
1. The battle of four kings against the king of Sodom and his allies.
12. Lot is taken prisoner.
14. Abram rescues him.
17. Melchizedek blesses Abram, who gives him tithes.
21. Abram restores the rest of the spoil to the king of Sodom.














And blessed be God Most High
The phrase "blessed be" is a form of praise and acknowledgment of God's supreme authority and benevolence. The Hebrew word for "blessed" is "barak," which means to kneel or to bless. This indicates a posture of reverence and worship. "God Most High" translates to "El Elyon" in Hebrew, emphasizing God's sovereignty and supremacy over all creation. This title is significant as it acknowledges God's ultimate authority and power, setting the stage for understanding His role in the events that unfold.

who has delivered your enemies into your hand
The word "delivered" comes from the Hebrew "magan," meaning to shield or protect. This implies that God actively intervened to ensure Abram's victory. The phrase "your enemies into your hand" signifies a complete and decisive victory, orchestrated by divine intervention. Historically, this reflects the belief that God is actively involved in the affairs of His people, providing protection and victory over adversaries. It underscores the theme of divine providence and the belief that God fights on behalf of His chosen ones.

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything
The act of giving "a tenth" is the first recorded instance of tithing in the Bible. The Hebrew word for "tenth" is "ma'aser," which later becomes a foundational practice in the Israelite community as a form of worship and acknowledgment of God's provision. "Everything" indicates that Abram's offering was comprehensive, not limited to specific items, reflecting a heart of gratitude and recognition of God's role in his success. This act of giving to Melchizedek, a priest of God Most High, symbolizes Abram's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and his submission to divine authority. It sets a precedent for the practice of tithing as an expression of faith and gratitude.

(20) He gave him tithes.--Abram thus consecrated the war by a thank-offering to God, Who had given him the victory. But he also, by paying tithes, acknowledged the priesthood of Melchizedek, and that the God Whom he served was the true God. See Hebrews 7:4-11.

Verse 20. - And blessed be the most high God (cf. Genesis 9:56), who hath delivered - miggen, a word peculiar to poetry - nathan (cf. Proverbs 4:9; Hosea 11:8) - thine enemies - tsarecha, also a poetical expression - oyeb (cf. Deuteronomy 32:27; Job 16:9; Psalm 81:15) - into thy hand. And he - not Melchisedeck (Jewish interpreters), but Abram (Josephus, LXX., Jonathan, Hebrews 7:6) - gave him (not Abram, but Melchisedeck) tithes "tenths." These, being the customary offering to the Deity, were an acknowledgment of the Divine priesthood of Melchisedeck. The practice of paying tithes, primarily a voluntary tax for the servants of the sanctuary, appears to have obtained among different nations from the remotest antiquity (vide Dr. Ginsburg in 'Kitto's Cyclopedia,' art. Tithes). The tithal law was afterwards incorporated among the Mosaic statutes (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:31-32) - of all - the spoils which he had taken (Hebrews 7:4.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and blessed be
וּבָרוּךְ֙ (ū·ḇā·rūḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

God
אֵ֣ל (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

Most High,
עֶלְי֔וֹן (‘el·yō·wn)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5945: An elevation, lofty, as title, the Supreme

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

has delivered
מִגֵּ֥ן (mig·gên)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4042: To shield, encompass with, to rescue, to hand safely over

your enemies
צָרֶ֖יךָ (ṣā·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6862: Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent

into your hand.”
בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ (bə·yā·ḏe·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

Then Abram gave
וַיִּתֶּן־ (way·yit·ten-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

[Melchizedek] a tenth
מַעֲשֵׂ֖ר (ma·‘ă·śêr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4643: Tenth part, tithe

of everything.
מִכֹּֽל׃ (mik·kōl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every


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OT Law: Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High who (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 14:19
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