tithe

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “tithe” in English (which etymologically has the meaning of “the tenth”) is translated in Mokole as “(give) the tenth part.” This is the translation that most languages use that don’t use a specialized term like English does. See also complete verse (Hebrews 7:4) et al.

Source for Mokole: Hilary Deneufchâtel.

complete verse (Hebrews 7:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of Hebrews 7:8:

  • Uma: “So also, Melkisedek is greater than the priests descendants of Lewi. Those priests descendants of Lewi, they do get one-tenth-part from their companions. But those priests, they also do indeed die just like ordinary people/mankind. Yet Melkisedek got one-tenth-part from Abraham, and there is nothing written in the Holy Book that mentions his death. So, we can say that he lives on and on.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “As for the priests that I have mentioned, they are the ones that the people give their tithes to, they eventually die. But Malkisadik the one Ibrahim gave his tithes to, it is written in the holy-book that he lives.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for the priests who are descendants of Levi, they accept the tenth part and they die just the same; but as for Melchizedek whom Abraham gave the tenth part to long ago, according to what we understand in the word of God, it’s as if he is still alive.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Third, the descendants of Levi who are given a tenth, they are all people who die, but Melkizedek, nothing is said about his death in the word of God but rather it says that his priesthood remains-unchanging forever.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Here’s something else, as for those descendants of Levi who were taking a tenth part from the Israelita, they(emph) died. But this Melquisedec who received a tenth part coming from Abraham, it’s like he is alive without ending for it’s not written in the writing concerning his death.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Now concerning these priests who are now alive, whatever the people come to possess they have a tenth taken for the priest. When the priest dies, another priest takes over his work. But this Melchizedek, it isn’t to be seen that he finished his work. Rather it is written in the Holy Book as though he were still living.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Hebrews 7:8

The third point of contrast is between Melchizedek on the one hand, and Levi and his descendants on the other hand. The contrast may be only with the priests, but In the case of the priests is not expressed in the Greek. In the case of the priests may have to be rendered as “In the case of the priests descended from Levi”; otherwise “the priests” might also imply Melchizedek, since he is also called a priest.

Is collected: as in verse 5, there is no stress on the priest’s initiative in “collecting.”

Men who die means that the tithes are collected by “mortal men” (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Jerusalem Bible), that is to say, by “men who must die” (New English Bible). A strictly literal translation of men who die might suggest that the tithes are collected by “dying men.” It may therefore be necessary to render men who die as “men who will ultimately die” or “men who will finally die.”

The writer draws the conclusion that Melchizedek did not die from the fact that Scripture does not mention his death. New American Bible has “Scripture testifies that this man lives on.” The Greek verb is not simply “says” but “supports by its witness”; the same word is used of Abel and Enoch in 11.4-5. As for Melchizedek may be rendered as “in the case of Melchizedek” or “but in speaking about what Melchizedek did.”

If the passive construction was collected by one who lives must be rendered in an active form, it may be possible to render but as for Melchizedek the tenth was collected by one who lives as “but with regard to Melchizedek, he is the one who lives and is the one who collected the tenth.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .