John Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 7:4 - 7:4

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John Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 7:4 - 7:4


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Heb 7:4. Θεωρεῖτε) you see; comp. Act 25:24, note; or rather see, consider. For Paul begins to teach in this passage, and at the same time excites our admiration: οὗτος, this man, accords with this view.-ᾧ, to whom) as greater, and as a priest.-καὶ) even. The greatness of Melchisedec is described in all those things which precede and follow this clause; but the principal thing is receiving the tithes. For this is the privilege of a superior.-ἐκ τῶν ἀκροθινίων) of the spoils, which had properly belonged to Abraham as the conqueror. Hesychius explains: ἀκροθινίον, ἀπαρχὴ καρπῶν, ἢ σκῦλα, λαφύρων ἀπαρχαί. Ἀκροθινίον, ἀπαρχὴ τῶν θινῶν, θίνες δὲ εἰσιν οἱ σωροὶ τῶν πυρῶν ἢ κριθῶν· ἢ πᾶσα ἀπαρχή: “ἀκροθινίον is first fruits, or arms, clothes, the first fruits of spoils: ἀκροθινίον, the first fruits of θίνες, and θίνες are heaps of wheat or barley; or any first fruits whatever.”-ὁ πατριάρχης, the patriarch) He highly praises Abraham, that Melchisedec may be made the greater. The patriarch is even greater than a king, as being the progenitor of kings.