7:1 Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him. 1 7:2 To him 2 also Abraham apportioned a tithe 3 of everything. 4 His name first means 5 king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time. 7:4 But see how great he must be, if 6 Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe 7 of his plunder. 7:5 And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office 8 have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, 9 although they too are descendants of Abraham. 10
1 sn A series of quotations from Gen 14:17-19.
2 tn Grk “to whom,” continuing the description of Melchizedek. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
3 tn Or “a tenth part.”
4 sn A quotation from Gen 14:20.
5 tn Grk “first being interpreted,” describing Melchizedek.
6 tn Grk “to whom.”
7 tn Or “a tenth part.”
8 tn Or “the priesthood.”
9 tn Grk “from their brothers.” See BDAG 18-19 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.b.
10 tn Grk “have come from the loins of Abraham.”