Melchizedek
Gentile King of Salem (nationality not stated) · Creation & Patriarchs · Old Testament
- Also called
- Melchisedec
- Name means
- King of righteousness
- Role
- King of Salem and priest of the most high God
- When
- c. 2000 BC (days of Abraham, traditional)
What they did
Met Abram after the battle of the kings, brought forth bread and wine and blessed him. Abram gave him tithes of all.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
A priest of God outside the line of Abraham, he shows that God had worshippers among the nations. Psalm 110 and Hebrews present him as a picture of Christ's eternal priesthood.
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. Genesis 14:18 (KJV)
Bible references
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14:18-20 (KJV)
The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Psalms 110:4 (KJV)
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 5:6 (KJV)
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Hebrews 7:1-3 (KJV)
Family
No genealogy is recorded: 'without father, without mother, without descent' (Hebrews 7:3).