What is the meaning of Hebrews 7:9?

And so to speak

– The writer of Hebrews pauses to underscore that he is making an illustrative point.

– By saying “so to speak,” he invites readers to think about a spiritual principle rather than a mere historical detail, just as he does in Hebrews 6:18 when he says “God did this so that” to highlight a truth.

– Cross reference: Hebrews 7:4–“Consider how great this man was” sets up the same reflective tone.

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Levi, who collects the tenth

– Levi represents the priestly tribe ordained to receive tithes from Israel (Numbers 18:21; Deuteronomy 14:27–29).

– The present-tense wording “collects” reminds readers that, at the time of writing, the Levitical system was still operating in the temple.

– The function of Levi highlights human, earthly priesthood that depends on genealogy, unlike Jesus’ priesthood “in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:15–17).

– Key idea: Levi’s right to collect the tithe shows legitimate authority—but only within the Old Covenant.

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Paid the tenth through Abraham

– When Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils (Genesis 14:18–20), Levi was still “in the body of his ancestor” (Hebrews 7:10).

– Because ancestors act as representatives of their descendants (Romans 5:12; Joshua 7:1), Scripture treats Levi as participating in Abraham’s act.

– The point: if Levi symbolically tithed to Melchizedek, then Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to Levi’s.

• Melchizedek blesses Abraham—“the lesser is blessed by the greater” (Hebrews 7:7).

• Therefore, the priesthood that Melchizedek foreshadows (fulfilled in Christ) outranks the Levitical one.

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summary

Hebrews 7:9 uses Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek to demonstrate that even Levi—through his forefather—acknowledged a higher priesthood. This proves the superiority of Christ’s Melchizedek-like priesthood over the Levitical system and affirms that the New Covenant supersedes the Old without undermining its divine origin.