“And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”
My Notes
What Does Genesis 14:20 Mean?
After Melchizedek blesses Abram, Abram responds by giving him a tithe — a tenth of everything from the battle spoils. This is the first tithe in the Bible, given voluntarily, before any law required it, to a priest-king who appeared from nowhere.
The giving is upward: Abram gives to Melchizedek, not the reverse. The one who was just blessed gives a tenth to the one who blessed him. The tithe is a response to blessing, not a payment for services. Melchizedek brought bread and wine and a blessing. Abram returned a tenth of everything.
Hebrews 7:4 highlights the significance: "consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." Abraham — the father of faith, the one to whom God made the covenant promises — gave a tithe to Melchizedek. The tither is subordinate to the receiver. Abraham recognized someone greater.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Does knowing the first tithe was voluntary (pre-Law, unrequired) change how you think about giving?
- 2.How does giving as response to blessing differ from giving as obligation?
- 3.What does Abram's recognition of someone 'greater' (Melchizedek) teach about the posture of generosity?
- 4.If the tithe principle is older than the Law, is it more or less relevant today — and how do you practice it?
Devotional
Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Before the law. Before the temple. Before any requirement. He just gave.
The first tithe in Scripture is completely voluntary. No commandment. No obligation. No Mosaic Law mandating ten percent. Abram looked at Melchizedek — the mysterious priest-king who appeared from nowhere with bread and wine and a blessing — and gave him a tenth of everything he had.
This is generosity as response, not generosity as requirement. Melchizedek blessed Abram. Abram returned a tenth. The blessing came first. The giving came second. The tithe wasn't payment for the blessing. It was gratitude for it.
Hebrews makes the argument: if Abraham (the greatest patriarch) gave a tithe to Melchizedek, then Melchizedek is greater than Abraham. The giver is lesser than the receiver. The tither acknowledges someone above them. And Abram — the father of nations, the friend of God — found someone worth giving a tenth to.
The principle predates the Law: giving back a portion of what you've received is the natural response of someone who recognizes they've been blessed by someone greater. You don't wait for a commandment. You don't need a tax code. You see the blessing, you recognize the blesser, and you give.
The tithe wasn't invented at Sinai. It was born at Salem. In the heart of a man who received bread, wine, and blessing from a king who came from God. And the giving was as natural as the gratitude that produced it.
What has God blessed you with? And what are you giving back?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And blessed be the most high God,.... Let his name be praised, and thanks be given to him for all mercies temporal and…
- Abram Rescues Lot 1. אמרפל 'amrāpel, Amraphel; related: unknown. אלריוך 'aryôk, Ariok, “leonine?” related: ארי…
And he gave him tithes - A tenth part of all the spoils he had taken from the confederate kings. These Abram gave as a…
This paragraph begins with the mention of the respect which the king of Sodom paid to Abram at his return from the…
blessed be God Most High "praised be El Elyon." The verb has a different sense when applied to the Deity from what it…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture