Genesis 14:20

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

And blessed {H1288} be the most high {H5945} God {H410}, which hath delivered {H4042} thine enemies {H6862} into thy hand {H3027}. And he gave {H5414} him tithes {H4643} of all.

and blessed be El 'Elyon, who handed your enemies over to you." Avram gave him a tenth of everything.

and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.

Commentary

Genesis 14:20 records a pivotal moment after Abram's successful military campaign, highlighting the first biblical mention of tithing and the significant figure of Melchizedek. This verse encapsulates themes of divine sovereignty, gratitude, and the establishment of a unique spiritual principle.

Context

This verse immediately follows Abram's daring rescue mission, where he pursued and defeated four powerful kings who had captured his nephew Lot and plundered Sodom and Gomorrah. Upon his return, Abram is met by two figures: the King of Sodom and Melchizedek, King of Salem and "priest of the most high God." Melchizedek blesses Abram, and in response, Abram gives him a tenth of everything he had recovered.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Deliverance: Melchizedek's blessing explicitly attributes Abram's victory not to his own military prowess, but to "the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand." This emphasizes God's active involvement in human affairs and His power to grant victory and protection to His servants. It underscores that all success ultimately comes from Him.
  • The Priesthood of Melchizedek: Melchizedek is introduced as a unique "priest of the most high God" and King of Salem (believed to be ancient Jerusalem). His appearance is enigmatic, predating the Levitical priesthood. His blessing of Abram and receiving of tithes establishes his spiritual authority. The New Testament profoundly elaborates on Melchizedek's priesthood as a type of Christ's eternal priesthood.
  • The Principle of Tithing: Abram's act of giving "tithes of all" to Melchizedek is the first recorded instance of tithing in the Bible, occurring centuries before the Mosaic Law prescribed tithing for the Israelites. This was a voluntary act of worship, gratitude, and acknowledgment of God's provision and Melchizedek's spiritual authority. It signifies Abram's recognition that all he possessed ultimately belonged to God. This act precedes God counting Abram's faith as righteousness in Genesis 15:6.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Most High God" (El Elyon): The Hebrew phrase is 'El 'Elyon (א֡ל Χ’ΦΆΧœΦ°Χ™Χ•ΦΉΧŸ), a powerful divine title. 'El is a general term for God, while 'Elyon means "Most High" or "Exalted One." It conveys God's supreme sovereignty, His transcendence above all other gods or powers, and His position as the ultimate ruler of heaven and earth.
  • "Tithes" (Ma'aser): The Hebrew word is ma'aser (ΧžΦ·Χ’Φ²Χ©Χ‚Φ΅Χ¨), literally meaning "a tenth." It denotes a tenth part of one's possessions, produce, or spoils given as an offering or tribute.

Practical Application

Genesis 14:20 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Gratitude and Acknowledgment: We are called to acknowledge God as the ultimate source of our blessings, victories, and provisions. Like Abram, our first response to success should be gratitude and worship towards the Giver, not pride in our own accomplishments.
  • Voluntary Generosity: Abram's tithe was a spontaneous act of worship and generosity, predating any commandment. It teaches us that giving to God and His work should stem from a heart of love and thanksgiving, not merely obligation. It is an expression of our trust in His continued provision.
  • Honoring God's Representatives: Abram honored Melchizedek, the priest of God, with his tithes. This principle extends to recognizing and supporting those whom God has appointed to serve Him and His people, as an act of reverence for God Himself.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 28:22

    And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

  • Malachi 3:10

    Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].

  • Hebrews 7:4

    Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

  • Hebrews 7:9

    And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

  • Luke 18:12

    I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

  • Genesis 24:27

    And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I [being] in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.

  • Leviticus 27:30

    And all the tithe of the land, [whether] of the seed of the land, [or] of the fruit of the tree, [is] the LORD'S: [it is] holy unto the LORD.
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