Atomic Bible

King of Salem and priest of God Most High.

Melchizedek

Named in 11 verses across 3 books, first in Genesis 14:18.

מַלְכִּי־צֶ֫דֶקMelchizedek

ΜελχισεδέκMelchizedek

The name means “king of justice.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

People
Canaan

About Melchizedek Written by AI

Melchizedek was the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18). He blessed Abraham and received a tithe from him after Abraham's victory over Chedorlaomer and his allies. Melchizedek brought out bread and wine, demonstrating his priestly role. The Psalms refer to the Messiah as a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4), indicating that Melchizedek's priesthood was seen as a type or foreshadowing of Christ's eternal priesthood. The book of Hebrews expands on this concept, presenting Jesus as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6; 6.20; 7.1,10,11,15,17,21). Melchizedek's unique priesthood, which combined royalty and priestly service to God Most High, is seen as a precedent for Jesus' eternal priesthood and kingship.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

King of righteousness, the king of Salem (q.v.). All we know of him is recorded in Gen. 14:18-20. He is subsequently mentioned only once in the Old Testament, in Ps. 110:4. The typical significance of his history is set forth in detail in the Epistle to the Hebrews, ch. 7. The apostle there points out the superiority of his priesthood to that of Aaron in these several respects, (1) Even Abraham paid him tithes; (2) he blessed Abraham; (3) he is the type of a Priest who lives for ever; (4) Levi, yet unborn, paid him tithes in the person of Abraham; (5) the permanence of his priesthood in Christ implied the abrogation of the Levitical system; (6) he was made priest not without an oath; and (7) his priesthood can neither be transmitted nor interrupted by death: “this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”

The question as to who this mysterious personage was has given rise to a great deal of modern speculation. It is an old tradition among the Jews that he was Shem, the son of Noah, who may have survived to this time. Melchizedek was a Canaanitish prince, a worshipper of the true God, and in his peculiar history and character an instructive type of our Lord, the great High Priest (Heb. 5:6, 7; 6:20). One of the Amarna tablets is from Ebed-Tob, king of Jerusalem, the successor of Melchizedek, in which he claims the very attributes and dignity given to Melchizedek in the Epistle to the Hebrews.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. Genesis 14:18

    Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—

  2. Psalm 110:4

    The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

  3. Hebrews 5:6

    And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

  4. Hebrews 5:10

    and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

  5. Hebrews 6:20

    where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

  6. Hebrews 7:1

    This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

  7. Hebrews 7:10

    For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

  8. Hebrews 7:11

    Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

  9. Hebrews 7:15

    And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

  10. Hebrews 7:17

    For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

  11. Hebrews 7:21

    but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.