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Patriarchs · around 2000 BC

Melchizedek in the Bible

The priest-king of Salem. Name meaning: “King of righteousness,” according to the interpretation of his name (Heb 7:2); king of Salem, that is, “king of peace”

King of Salem and “priest of the most high God,” Melchizedek goes out to meet the victorious Abram: he brings out bread and wine, blesses him, and receives from him a tenth of everything (Gen 14:18-20). Then silence: a single verse in Psalm 110 recalls him (Ps 110:4). The letter to the Hebrews sees in him a picture of Christ, a priest forever “after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 5:6; 7:1-3).

Main books: Genesis

Key moments

  • He brings bread and wine to Abram Genesis 14:18
  • He blesses Abram in the name of God Most High Genesis 14:19
  • Abram gives him a tenth of everything Genesis 14:20
  • The LORD swears: a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek Psalms 110:4
  • Jesus declared high priest after the order of Melchizedek Hebrews 5:10
  • Without father, without mother, without descent Hebrews 7:3
  • Greater than Levi, who paid tithes through Abraham Hebrews 7:9–10

Strengths

  • King of righteousness
  • King of peace
  • Priest of God Most High
  • Blessing

Weaknesses

Scripture records no fault in Melchizedek; in fact it says almost nothing about him: three verses in Genesis (Gen 14:18-20), one in the Psalms (Ps 110:4). Hebrews sees in this very silence a likeness to the Son of God (Heb 7:3).

Lessons for today

  • Victory comes from God: Melchizedek blesses “the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand” (Gen 14:20).
  • Honor God first: Abram gives a tenth of everything, long before the law of Moses (Gen 14:20; Heb 7:4).
  • Jesus is our high priest forever: he “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (Heb 7:25).
  • The priesthood of Jesus brings what the law could not: “a better hope… by the which we draw nigh unto God” (Heb 7:18-19).
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
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Psalms 110:4
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 7:3

People around Melchizedek

  • Abraham — He blesses him and receives from him a tenth of everything
  • David — Author of Psalm 110, which foretells a priest after the order of Melchizedek
  • Jesus Christ — Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek
  • Aaron — First priest under the law, from whom Hebrews distinguishes “the order of Melchizedek”
  • Bera, king of Sodom — The king who also goes out to meet Abram and to whom Abram refuses the spoils

Stories with Melchizedek

Quiz: how well do you know Melchizedek?

Of which city was Melchizedek king?

What did Melchizedek bring out to Abram?

What did Abram give to Melchizedek?

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