Who Was Melchizedek the Priest?
Who Was Melchizedek the Priest? Melchizedek was the mysterious king-priest of Salem who blessed Abraham — a type of Christ as the eternal High Priest.
Key verse: Genesis 14:18 (KJV)
Melchizedek was the mysterious king-priest of Salem who blessed Abraham — a type of Christ as the eternal High Priest.
Melchizedek was the mysterious king-priest of Salem who blessed Abraham — a type of Christ as the eternal High Priest.
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God." — Genesis 14:18 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
Cross-reference scriptures
The Biblical Answer
Melchizedek appears suddenly in Genesis 14, after Abraham's victory over the kings who had captured Lot. He is identified as both king of Salem (later Jerusalem) and 'priest of the most high God.' He brought out bread and wine and blessed Abraham, who in turn gave him a tenth of all the spoils. Psalm 110 then prophesies that the Messiah will be 'a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek,' and Hebrews develops this at length. Because no genealogy, birth, or death is recorded for Melchizedek, he stands in Scripture as a picture of Christ — a priest whose ministry is not by ancestry but by divine appointment, and whose priesthood has no end. Jesus is the true and greater Melchizedek, our forever King-Priest.
Key Scripture References
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."
"The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
"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."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Who Was Moses?
Moses was the great deliverer and lawgiver of Israel who led the Exodus from Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
Who Was King David?
David was the shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king, known as 'a man after God's own heart' and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Who Was the Apostle Paul?
Paul was a former persecutor of Christians who had a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus and became the greatest missionary and theologian of the early church.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
People & Characters
Who Was Jehoiada the Priest in the Bible?
People & Characters
Who Was Zacharias the Priest in the Bible?
People & Characters
Genesis 14:18 Commentary
In-depth study • Priesthood & Christ
Genesis 14:19 Commentary
In-depth study • Blessed by a Greater Priest
Priest (כֹּהֵן (kohen))
A mediator between God and people, offering sacrifices and interceding.
Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Genesis. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Genesis on day 11 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “Who Was Melchizedek the Priest?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep Going
Continue Exploring Scripture
You've found one resource — here are more ways to go deeper into God's Word.
Today's Verse
Start each day with a hand-picked KJV verse and reflection.
Verses by Topic
Find what the Bible says about love, anxiety, strength, and 500+ more topics.
Bible Miracles
Discover the signs and wonders of God recorded in Scripture.
Angels & Spiritual Warfare
Angels, demons, and the armor of God — what the KJV really teaches about the unseen battle.
Bible Genealogies & Family Trees
Visual KJV family trees — the line of Jesus, the sons of Noah, the twelve tribes, and more.
Women of the Bible
Eve, Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Mary — the matriarchs, prophetesses, queens, and disciples of Scripture.