Hebrews 7:10
New International Version
because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

New Living Translation
For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.

English Standard Version
for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Berean Standard Bible
For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

Berean Literal Bible
For he was still in the loin of his father when Melchizedek met him.

King James Bible
For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

New King James Version
for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

New American Standard Bible
for he was still in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met him.

NASB 1995
for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

NASB 1977
for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Legacy Standard Bible
for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Amplified Bible
for Levi was still in the loins (unborn) of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him (Abraham).

Christian Standard Bible
for he was still within his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for he was still within his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

American Standard Version
for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

Contemporary English Version
This is because Levi was born later into the family of Abraham, who gave a tenth to Melchizedek.

English Revised Version
for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even though Levi had not yet been born, he was in the body of Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

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

International Standard Version
because Levi was still inside his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Majority Standard Bible
For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

NET Bible
For he was still in his ancestor Abraham's loins when Melchizedek met him.

New Heart English Bible
for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Webster's Bible Translation
For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Weymouth New Testament
for Levi was yet in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met Abraham.

World English Bible
for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchizedek met him.

Berean Literal Bible
For he was still in the loin of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Young's Literal Translation
for he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchisedek met him.

Smith's Literal Translation
For yet was he in his father's loins, when Melchisedec met him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedech met him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

New American Bible
for he was still in his father’s loins when Melchizedek met him.

New Revised Standard Version
for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For he was yet in the loins of his forefather Abraham, when Mel-chis'e-dec met him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For he was yet in the loins of his father when he met Melchizedek.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Godbey New Testament
For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

Haweis New Testament
For he was as yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedec met him.

Mace New Testament
for he was even then in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Weymouth New Testament
for Levi was yet in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met Abraham.

Worrell New Testament
for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

Worsley New Testament
for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Melchizedek and Abraham
9And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham. 10For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor. 11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?…

Cross References
Genesis 14:18-20
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High— / and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, / and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

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

Genesis 14:17
After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

Genesis 14:21-24
The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.” / But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, / that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ ...

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 7:1-3
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.

Hebrews 7:4-6
Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder. / Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham. / But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

Hebrews 7:11
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

Hebrews 7:15-17
And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, / one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life. / 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 8:1-2
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, / and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.

Hebrews 9:11-12
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. / He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.


Treasury of Scripture

For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Hebrews 7:5
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

Genesis 35:11
And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

Genesis 46:26
All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six;

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Hebrews 7
1. Christ Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek;
11. and so far more excellent than the priests of Aaron's order.














For when Melchizedek met Abraham
This phrase refers to the historical and scriptural account found in Genesis 14:18-20, where Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High, meets Abraham. The meeting is significant because Melchizedek blesses Abraham, and Abraham gives him a tenth of everything. Theologically, Melchizedek is seen as a type of Christ, representing a priesthood that is eternal and superior to the Levitical priesthood. The Greek word for "met" (συναντάω, synantaō) implies a purposeful encounter, highlighting the divine orchestration in this meeting, which prefigures the coming of Christ.

Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor
This phrase uses the concept of seminal presence, where Levi, the great-grandson of Abraham, is considered to be present in Abraham's body at the time of his encounter with Melchizedek. The Greek word for "loin" (ὀσφύς, osphys) refers to the generative power and lineage. This concept is crucial in understanding the argument of the author of Hebrews, who is emphasizing the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood over the Levitical priesthood. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of corporate identity and ancestral representation, where descendants are seen as part of their forebears.

his ancestor
The term "ancestor" (προπάτωρ, propatōr) refers to Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelite nation. In a broader theological context, Abraham is not only the physical ancestor of Levi but also the spiritual father of all who believe (Romans 4:11). This highlights the continuity of God's covenantal promises from Abraham to his descendants and ultimately to all believers through Christ. The use of "ancestor" underscores the deep-rooted connection between the Old and New Covenants, with Abraham as a pivotal figure in God's redemptive plan.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

when
ὅτε (hote)
Adverb
Strong's 3753: When, at which time. From hos and te; at which too, i.e. When.

Melchizedek
Μελχισέδεκ (Melchisedek)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3198: Melchizedek, king and priest of Salem. Of Hebrew origin; Melchisedek, a patriarch.

met
συνήντησεν (synēntēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4876: To meet, encounter, fall in with. From sun and a derivative of anti; to meet with; figuratively, to occur.

Abraham,
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[Levi] was
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

still
ἔτι (eti)
Adverb
Strong's 2089: (a) of time: still, yet, even now, (b) of degree: even, further, more, in addition. Perhaps akin to etos; 'yet, ' still.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

loin
ὀσφύϊ (osphui)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3751: The loins. Of uncertain affinity; the loin, i.e. The hip; internally procreative power.

of [his]
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ancestor.
πατρὸς (patros)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 7:10 For he was yet in the body (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 7:9
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