Melchizedek (Genesis 14:17–18; Genesis 14:19–20; Psalm 110:1–4; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 5:10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:1–3; Hebrews 7:4–7; Hebrews 7:11; Hebrews 7:17; Hebrews 7:21; Hebrews 7:24)

King of Salem, Priest of God Most High

The king of Salem and priest of God Most High, who brought forth bread and wine to Abram after the slaughter of the kings, blessed him, and received a tenth of all; a psalm and the letter to the Hebrews later speak of a priest after his order.

Genesis introduces him in one scene. After Abram's return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings with him, “Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18). He “blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all” (Genesis 14:19-20). Genesis does not name who gave the tenth; Hebrews says it was Abraham (Hebrews 7:2, 4). Genesis records no parents, no death, and no further word from him.

He is named once more in the Old Testament, in a psalm whose title bears David's name: “Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4). The psalm addresses one called “my Lord” (Psalm 110:1).

Hebrews applies the psalm to Christ, who was “named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:10), and describes Melchizedek himself: “King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is, King of peace” (Hebrews 7:2). The writer says he was “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God” (Hebrews 7:3), and reasons that “the less is blessed of the better” (Hebrews 7:7). He sets this priesthood against the order of Aaron (Hebrews 7:11), and says of Jesus, “he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable” (Hebrews 7:24).

Strengths

• Brought forth bread and wine
• Blessed Abram of God Most High
• Blessed God Most High for the deliverance

Themes

• Priest and king
• King of righteousness and peace
• God Most High
• The blessing and the tenth
• A priest for ever
• Hebrews and the psalm

Brings forth bread and wine (Genesis 14:17–18)

After Abram's return from the slaughter of the kings, the king of Sodom goes out to meet him, and Melchizedek king of Salem brings forth bread and wine, being priest of God Most High.

The blessing and the tenth (Genesis 14:19–20; Hebrews 7:2; Hebrews 7:4)

Melchizedek blesses Abram of God Most High and blesses God Most High who delivered his enemies; a tenth of all is given, by Abraham according to Hebrews.

The blessing and the tenth

“And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all” (Genesis 14:19-20).

Genesis 14:20 does not say who gave the tenth. Hebrews names the giver: “to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all” (Hebrews 7:2), and “Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils” (Hebrews 7:4).

These are the only words Scripture records from Melchizedek. Speaking next to the king of Sodom, Abram uses the same name for God: “I have lifted up my hand unto Jehovah, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:22).

The LORD's oath: a priest after his order (Psalm 110:1–4)

A psalm whose title bears David's name records the LORD's oath to the one the psalm calls my Lord: he is a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

The LORD's oath: a priest after his order

The psalm opens, “Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1).

Then it records an oath: “Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4).

Hebrews quotes this verse again and again in chapters 5 to 7.

Named of God a high priest after his order (Hebrews 5:5–10)

Hebrews says Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest, quotes the psalm, and says he was named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The oath and the forerunner (Hebrews 6:13–20)

Hebrews recalls God's oath by himself to Abraham, speaks of hope entering within the veil, and says Jesus entered there as forerunner, a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

King of righteousness and King of peace (Hebrews 7:1–10)

Hebrews describes Melchizedek as king of Salem and priest of God Most High, interprets his name and title, says he was without father, without mother, without genealogy, and argues that Abraham gave him a tenth and was blessed by him.

King of righteousness and King of peace

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; without father, without mother, without genealogy, 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).

The writer then weighs what happened: “he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises. But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better” (Hebrews 7:6-7). Of Levi he says, “he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him” (Hebrews 7:10).

Another priest, not after the order of Aaron (Hebrews 7:11–28)

Hebrews asks what further need there was for another priest after the order of Melchizedek if the Levitical priesthood gave perfection, and says Jesus is made priest with an oath.

Another priest, not after the order of Aaron

“Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?” (Hebrews 7:11).

The writer cites the psalm again: “it is witnessed of him, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:17). The Levitical priests “have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever” (Hebrews 7:21).

“And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing: but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable” (Hebrews 7:23-24).

Abraham (Genesis 14:18–20; Hebrews 7:1–7)

Melchizedek met him returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; Hebrews says Abraham gave him a tenth and that the less is blessed of the better.

God Most High (Genesis 14:18–20; Hebrews 7:1)

Melchizedek was priest of God Most High, and blessed him as the God who delivered Abram's enemies into his hand.

Jesus (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:15–17)

Hebrews says Jesus entered within the veil as forerunner, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Aaron (Hebrews 7:11)

Hebrews asks why another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron.

Major sections

• Genesis 14:17–24
• Psalm 110:1–4
• Hebrews 5:5–10
• Hebrews 6:13–20
• Hebrews 7:1–28

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