Genesis 14:18-20
Context14:18 Melchizedek king of Salem 1 brought out bread and wine. (Now he was the priest of the Most High God.) 2 14:19 He blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by 3 the Most High God,
Creator 4 of heaven and earth. 5
14:20 Worthy of praise is 6 the Most High God,
who delivered 7 your enemies into your hand.”
Abram gave Melchizedek 8 a tenth of everything.
Numbers 6:23-27
Context6:23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is the way 9 you are to bless 10 the Israelites. Say 11 to them:
6:24 “The Lord bless you 12 and protect 13 you;
6:25 The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you; 14
6:26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you 15
and give you peace.”’
6:27 So they will put my name 16 on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
Deuteronomy 10:8
Context10:8 At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi 17 to carry the ark of the Lord’s covenant, to stand before the Lord to serve him, and to formulate blessings 18 in his name, as they do to this very day.
Deuteronomy 21:5
Context21:5 Then the Levitical priests 19 will approach (for the Lord your God has chosen them to serve him and to pronounce blessings in his name, 20 and to decide 21 every judicial verdict 22 )
Deuteronomy 21:1
Context21:1 If a homicide victim 23 should be found lying in a field in the land the Lord your God is giving you, 24 and no one knows who killed 25 him,
Deuteronomy 8:1
Context8:1 You must keep carefully all these commandments 26 I am giving 27 you today so that you may live, increase in number, 28 and go in and occupy the land that the Lord promised to your ancestors. 29
Deuteronomy 8:1
Context8:1 You must keep carefully all these commandments 30 I am giving 31 you today so that you may live, increase in number, 32 and go in and occupy the land that the Lord promised to your ancestors. 33
Deuteronomy 23:13
Context23:13 You must have a spade among your other equipment and when you relieve yourself 34 outside you must dig a hole with the spade 35 and then turn and cover your excrement. 36
Deuteronomy 23:2
Context23:2 A person of illegitimate birth 37 may not enter the assembly of the Lord; to the tenth generation no one related to him may do so. 38
Deuteronomy 6:3
Context6:3 Pay attention, Israel, and be careful to do this so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in number 39 – as the Lord, God of your ancestors, 40 said to you, you will have a land flowing with milk and honey.
Psalms 72:17
ContextMay his dynasty last as long as the sun remains in the sky! 42
May they use his name when they formulate their blessings! 43
May all nations consider him to be favored by God! 44
Mark 10:16
Context10:16 After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Luke 24:50
Context24:50 Then 45 Jesus 46 led them out as far as Bethany, 47 and lifting up his hands, he blessed them.
Acts 3:26
Context3:26 God raised up 48 his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning 49 each one of you from your iniquities.” 50
Acts 3:2
Context3:2 And a man lame 51 from birth 52 was being carried up, who was placed at the temple gate called “the Beautiful Gate” every day 53 so he could beg for money 54 from those going into the temple courts. 55
Colossians 1:14
Context1:14 in whom we have redemption, 56 the forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 7:6-7
Context7:6 But Melchizedek 57 who does not share their ancestry 58 collected a tithe 59 from Abraham and blessed 60 the one who possessed the promise. 7:7 Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,
Hebrews 7:1
Context7:1 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. 61
Hebrews 3:9
Context3:9 “There your fathers tested me and tried me, 62 and they saw my works for forty years.
[14:18] 1 sn Salem is traditionally identified as the Jebusite stronghold of old Jerusalem. Accordingly, there has been much speculation about its king. Though some have identified him with the preincarnate Christ or with Noah’s son Shem, it is far more likely that Melchizedek was a Canaanite royal priest whom God used to renew the promise of the blessing to Abram, perhaps because Abram considered Melchizedek his spiritual superior. But Melchizedek remains an enigma. In a book filled with genealogical records he appears on the scene without a genealogy and then disappears from the narrative. In Psalm 110 the
[14:18] 2 tn The parenthetical disjunctive clause significantly identifies Melchizedek as a priest as well as a king.
[14:19] 3 tn The preposition לְ (lamed) introduces the agent after the passive participle.
[14:19] 4 tn Some translate “possessor of heaven and earth” (cf. NASB). But cognate evidence from Ugaritic indicates that there were two homonymic roots ָקנָה (qanah), one meaning “to create” (as in Gen 4:1) and the other “to obtain, to acquire, to possess.” While “possessor” would fit here, “creator” is the more likely due to the collocation with “heaven and earth.”
[14:19] 5 tn The terms translated “heaven” and “earth” are both objective genitives after the participle in construct.
[14:20] 6 tn Heb “blessed be.” For God to be “blessed” means that is praised. His reputation is enriched in the world as his name is praised.
[14:20] 7 sn Who delivered. The Hebrew verb מִגֵּן (miggen, “delivered”) foreshadows the statement by God to Abram in Gen 15:1, “I am your shield” (מָגֵן, magen). Melchizedek provided a theological interpretation of Abram’s military victory.
[14:20] 8 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Melchizedek) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[6:23] 10 tn The Piel imperfect has the nuance of instruction. The particle “thus” explains that the following oracle is the form to use.
[6:23] 11 tn Here is the only use of the verb אָמַר (’amar) as an infinitive absolute; it functions as a verb form, an imperative or an imperfect of instruction. Several commentators have attempted to emend the text to get around the difficulty, but such emendations are unnecessary.
[6:24] 12 tn The short blessing uses the jussive throughout, here the Piel jussive with a pronominal suffix. While the jussive has quite a range of nuances, including wish, desire, prayer, or greeting, the jussives here are stronger. The formal subject of the verb is the
[6:24] 13 tn The verb “to keep” concerns the divine protection of the people; its basic meaning is “to exercise great care over,” “to guard,” or “to give attention to” (see TWOT 2:939). No doubt the priestly blessing informed the prayer and promise that makes up Ps 121, for the verb occurs six times in the eight verses. So in addition to the divine provision (“bless” basically means “enrich” in a number of ways) there is the assurance of divine protection.
[6:25] 14 tn Whereas the first line of the blessing had three Hebrew words, the second has five, and the third has seven. In this second line and the following third, the blessing takes the form of an emblem followed by the truth. For the
[6:26] 15 tn The last line of the blessing also has first the image and then the parallel interpretation – for God to lift up his face is for God to give peace. The idea of the fallen face is one of anger (see Gen 4:6,7); and the idea of the hidden face is that of withholding support, favor, or peace (see Deut 31:18; Ps 30:8; Ps 44:25). If God lifts his face toward his people, it means he has given them peace – peace, prosperity, completeness, health, safety, general well-being, and the like.
[6:27] 16 tn The idea of their putting the name of Yahweh on the people is somewhat problematic. The pronouncing of the name of Yahweh in this context over the people was taken to be the effectual means of blessings. “Putting the name on them” is an expression that emphasizes the truth that he is their God and they are his people or that having his name is having his blessing.
[10:8] 17 sn The
[10:8] 18 sn To formulate blessings. The most famous example of this is the priestly “blessing formula” of Num 6:24-26.
[21:5] 19 tn Heb “the priests, the sons of Levi.”
[21:5] 20 tn Heb “in the name of the
[21:5] 21 tn Heb “by their mouth.”
[21:5] 22 tn Heb “every controversy and every blow.”
[21:1] 23 tn Heb “slain [one].” The term חָלָל (khalal) suggests something other than a natural death (cf. Num 19:16; 23:24; Jer 51:52; Ezek 26:15; 30:24; 31:17-18).
[21:1] 24 tn The Hebrew text includes “to possess it,” but this has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[21:1] 25 tn Heb “struck,” but in context a fatal blow is meant; cf. NLT “who committed the murder.”
[8:1] 26 tn The singular term (מִצְוָה, mitsvah) includes the whole corpus of covenant stipulations, certainly the book of Deuteronomy at least (cf. Deut 5:28; 6:1, 25; 7:11; 11:8, 22; 15:5; 17:20; 19:9; 27:1; 30:11; 31:5). The plural (מִצְוֹת, mitsot) refers to individual stipulations (as in vv. 2, 6).
[8:1] 27 tn Heb “commanding” (so NASB). For stylistic reasons, to avoid redundancy, “giving” has been used in the translation (likewise in v. 11).
[8:1] 28 tn Heb “multiply” (so KJV, NASB, NLT); NIV, NRSV “increase.”
[8:1] 29 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 16, 18).
[8:1] 30 tn The singular term (מִצְוָה, mitsvah) includes the whole corpus of covenant stipulations, certainly the book of Deuteronomy at least (cf. Deut 5:28; 6:1, 25; 7:11; 11:8, 22; 15:5; 17:20; 19:9; 27:1; 30:11; 31:5). The plural (מִצְוֹת, mitsot) refers to individual stipulations (as in vv. 2, 6).
[8:1] 31 tn Heb “commanding” (so NASB). For stylistic reasons, to avoid redundancy, “giving” has been used in the translation (likewise in v. 11).
[8:1] 32 tn Heb “multiply” (so KJV, NASB, NLT); NIV, NRSV “increase.”
[8:1] 33 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 16, 18).
[23:13] 34 tn Heb “sit.” This expression is euphemistic.
[23:13] 35 tn Heb “with it”; the referent (the spade mentioned at the beginning of the verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[23:13] 36 tn Heb “what comes from you,” a euphemism.
[23:2] 37 tn Or “a person born of an illegitimate marriage.”
[23:2] 38 tn Heb “enter the assembly of the
[6:3] 39 tn Heb “may multiply greatly” (so NASB, NRSV); the words “in number” have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[6:3] 40 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 10, 18, 23).
[72:17] 41 tn Heb “may his name [be] permanent.” The prefixed verbal form is jussive, not imperfect.
[72:17] 42 tn Heb “before the sun may his name increase.” The Kethib (consonantal text) assumes יָנִין (yanin; a Hiphil of the verbal root נִין, nin) or יְנַיֵן (yÿnayen; a Piel form), while the Qere (marginal reading) assumes יִנּוֹן (yinnon; a Niphal form). The verb נִין occurs only here, though a derived noun, meaning “offspring,” appears elsewhere (see Isa 14:22). The verb appears to mean “propagate, increase” (BDB 630 s.v. נוּן, נִין) or “produce shoots, get descendants” (HALOT 696 s.v. נין). In this context this appears to be a prayer for a lasting dynasty that will keep the king’s name and memory alive.
[72:17] 43 tn Heb “may they bless one another by him,” that is, use the king’s name in their blessing formulae because he is a prime example of one blessed by God (for examples of such blessing formulae, see Gen 48:20 and Ruth 4:11). There is some debate on whether the Hitpael form of בָּרַךְ (barakh, “bless”) is reflexive-reciprocal (as assumed in the present translation) or passive. The Hitpael of בָּרַךְ occurs in five other passages, including the hotly debated Gen 22:18 and 26:4. In these two texts one could understand the verb form as passive and translate, “all the nations of the earth will be blessed through your offspring,” or one could take the Hitpael as reflexive or reciprocal and translate, “all the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings [i.e., on themselves or one another] by your offspring.” In the first instance Abraham’s (or Isaac’s) offspring are viewed as a channel of divine blessing. In the second instance they are viewed as a prime example of blessing that will appear as part of the nations’ blessing formulae, but not necessarily as a channel of blessing to the nations. In Deut 29:18 one reads: “When one hears the words of this covenant [or “oath”] and invokes a blessing on himself (Hitpael of בָּרַךְ) in his heart, saying: ‘I will have peace, even though I walk with a rebellious heart.’” In this case the Hitpael is clearly reflexive, as the phrases “in his heart” and “I will have peace” indicate. The Hitpael of בָּרַךְ appears twice in Isaiah 65:16: “The one who invokes a blessing on himself (see Deut 9:18) in the land will invoke that blessing by the God of truth; and the one who makes an oath in the land will make that oath by the God of truth.” A passive nuance does not fit here. The parallel line, which mentions making an oath, suggests that the Hitpael of בָּרַךְ refers here to invoking a blessing. Both pronouncements of blessing and oaths will appeal to God as the one who rewards and judges, respectively. Jer 4:2 states: “If you swear, ‘As surely as the
[72:17] 44 tn Heb “all the nations, may they regard him as happy.” The Piel is used here in a delocutive sense (“regard as”).
[24:50] 45 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
[24:50] 46 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[24:50] 47 sn Bethany was village on the Mount of Olives about 2 mi (3 km) from Jerusalem; see John 11:1, 18.
[3:26] 48 tn Grk “God raising up his servant, sent him.” The participle ἀναστήσας (anasthsa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Some translations (e.g., NIV, NRSV) render this participle as temporal (“when God raised up his servant”).
[3:26] 49 sn The picture of turning is again seen as the appropriate response to the message. See v. 19 above. In v. 19 it was “turning to,” here it is “turning away from.” The direction of the two metaphors is important.
[3:26] 50 tn For the translation of plural πονηρία (ponhria) as “iniquities,” see G. Harder, TDNT 6:565. The plural is important, since for Luke turning to Jesus means turning away from sins, not just the sin of rejecting Jesus.
[3:2] 52 tn Grk “from his mother’s womb.”
[3:2] 53 tn BDAG 437 s.v. ἡμέρα 2.c has “every day” for this phrase.
[3:2] 54 tn Grk “alms.” The term “alms” is not in common use today, so what the man expected, “money,” is used in the translation instead. The idea is that of money given as a gift to someone who was poor. Giving alms was viewed as honorable in Judaism (Tob 1:3, 16; 12:8-9; m. Pe’ah 1:1). See also Luke 11:41; 12:33; Acts 9:36; 10:2, 4, 31; 24:17.
[3:2] 55 tn Grk “the temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper, and has been translated accordingly.
[1:14] 56 tc διὰ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ (dia tou {aimato" autou, “through his blood”) is read at this juncture by several minuscule
[7:6] 57 tn Grk “the one”; in the translation the referent (Melchizedek) has been specified for clarity.
[7:6] 58 tn Grk “is not descended from them.”
[7:6] 59 tn Or “a tenth part.”
[7:6] 60 sn The verbs “collected…and blessed” emphasize the continuing effect of the past actions, i.e., Melchizedek’s importance.
[7:1] 61 sn A series of quotations from Gen 14:17-19.