Who Was Melchizedek?

Melchizedek was the king of Salem and priest of God Most High who met Abram with bread and wine and received a tenth of the spoil (Genesis 14:18–20Genesis 14:18–20 · King James Version^14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. ^14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: ^14:20 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 · King James VersionOpen the Source). Psalm 110:4Psalms 110:4 · King James VersionThe LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.Psalms 110:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source swears that David’s Lord is a priest forever after that order. Hebrews 7:23–24Hebrews 7:23–24 · King James Version^7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: ^7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.Hebrews 7:23–24 · King James VersionOpen the Source says Jesus holds a priesthood that does not pass on, because he continues forever.

Key Points

• Genesis 14:18Genesis 14:18 · King James VersionAnd Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.Genesis 14:18 · King James VersionOpen the Source calls Melchizedek king of Salem and priest of the most high God. The Hebrew name is מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק, “king of righteousness,” and Salem is tied to peace in Hebrews 7:2Hebrews 7:2 · King James VersionTo 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;Hebrews 7:2 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
• Psalm 110:4Psalms 110:4 · King James VersionThe LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.Psalms 110:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source is an oath: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:6Hebrews 5:6 · King James VersionAs he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.Hebrews 5:6 · King James VersionOpen the Source applies that oath to the Son.
• Hebrews 7:3Hebrews 7:3 · King James VersionWithout 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 · King James VersionOpen the Source says he is without father, mother, or genealogy in the record, and “made like unto the Son of God.” The likeness is the point of the sentence.
• Nedarim 32b wants the priesthood to come from Shem and cites Genesis 14:18. The William Davidson English adds “traditionally identified as Shem.”
• Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–4Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–4 · English on churchofjesuschrist.orgThere are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest. Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood.Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–4 · English on churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source names a Melchizedek Priesthood that men hold in the church, called that “out of respect” for the name of the Son of God.
• Hebrews 7:24Hebrews 7:24 · King James VersionBut this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.Hebrews 7:24 · King James VersionOpen the Source says this man has an unchangeable priesthood because he continues ever. Hebrews 7:25Hebrews 7:25 · King James VersionWherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.Hebrews 7:25 · King James VersionOpen the Source ties that life to his intercession.

What the Name and the Meeting Are

Genesis 14:18–20Genesis 14:18–20 · King James Version^14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. ^14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: ^14:20 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 · King James VersionOpen the Source is the only narrative. After Abram’s victory, Melchizedek brings bread and wine, blesses Abram by God Most High, and Abram gives him a tenth. The king of Sodom speaks in the next verse, Genesis 14:21Genesis 14:21 · King James VersionAnd the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.Genesis 14:21 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Melchizedek is not called the king of Sodom. Salem is a separate title. Hebrews 7:2Hebrews 7:2 · King James VersionTo 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;Hebrews 7:2 · King James VersionOpen the Source reads the name as king of righteousness and king of Salem, which is king of peace.

The priest’s God is “the most high God,” אֵל עֶלְיוֹן with כֹּהֵן. Abram accepts the blessing and the title. The chapter does not give Melchizedek’s parents, his death, or a line of successors.

Psalm 110 and the Oath

Psalm 110:1Psalms 110:1 · King James VersionThe LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.Psalms 110:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source is the LORD’s word to David’s Lord: sit at my right hand. Psalm 110:4Psalms 110:4 · King James VersionThe LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.Psalms 110:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source adds an oath the LORD will not repent: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Who Is David’s Lord? is that first verse. Hebrews reads both lines as about the Son. The oath is not a family tree. It is a priestly order named from the man in Genesis 14, and it is said to last forever.

Made Like the Son

Hebrews 7:3Hebrews 7:3 · King James VersionWithout 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 · King James VersionOpen the Source, King James Version:

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 · King James Version

One reading takes “without father, without mother” and “neither beginning of days nor end of life” as a description of the Son himself appearing before Bethlehem. The same sentence says he was “made like unto the Son of God.” A likeness names two parties. The chapter’s argument is that this priest resembles the Son, and that the Son is the priest the oath was about. Hebrews 7:1–2Hebrews 7:1–2 · King James Version^7:1 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; ^7:2 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;Hebrews 7:1–2 · King James VersionOpen the Source still narrates a meeting with Abraham, a blessing, and a tenth. Those are acts of a man in Genesis 14.

Another reading, in the Talmud, attaches the priesthood to Shem. Nedarim 32b, William Davidson English, says the Holy One wanted the priesthood to emerge from Shem, “as it is stated” in Genesis 14:18, and then says that once Melchizedek, “traditionally identified as Shem,” blessed Abram before he blessed God, the priesthood was given to Abraham. The identification is how that English joins Shem to the verse. Genesis itself does not say “Shem, that is Melchizedek.” Shem is in the genealogy of Genesis 11:10–26Genesis 11:10–26 · King James Version^11:10 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: ^11:11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. ^11:12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: ^11:13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. ^11:14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: ^11:15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. ^11:16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: ^11:17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. ^11:18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: ^11:19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. ^11:20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: ^11:21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. ^11:22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: ^11:23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. ^11:24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: ^11:25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. ^11:26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.Genesis 11:10–26 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Melchizedek is not given a genealogy. The two readings answer different questions: one looks for a hidden appearance of Christ, and one looks for a named ancestor. Hebrews uses the silence of the record as a likeness, and then names Jesus as the priest who remains.

The Latter-day Saint Priesthood

Latter-day Saints teach a Melchizedek Priesthood that living men hold. Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–4Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–4 · English on churchofjesuschrist.orgThere are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest. Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood.Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–4 · English on churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source:

There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest. Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–4 · English on churchofjesuschrist.org

The section goes on to offices: elder, high priest, the Presidency, the Twelve, and the Seventy. Verse 2 gives the reason for the name: Melchizedek was a great high priest. Verse 3 says the older name was “the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.” The heading dates the section to 1835 and says verses 60 through 100 incorporate an 1831 revelation. Joseph Smith—History 1:68–72Joseph Smith—History 1:68–72 · English, churchofjesuschrist.org⁶⁸ We still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month (May, 1829), we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying: ⁶⁹ Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. ⁷⁰ He said this Aaronic Priesthood had not the power of laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that this should be conferred on us hereafter; and he commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and that afterwards he should baptize me. ⁷¹ Accordingly we went and were baptized. I baptized him first, and afterwards he baptized me—after which I laid my hands upon his head and ordained him to the Aaronic Priesthood, and afterwards he laid his hands on me and ordained me to the same Priesthood—for so we were commanded. ⁷² The messenger who visited us on this occasion and conferred this Priesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament, and that he acted under the direction of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the Priesthood of Melchizedek, which Priesthood, he said, would in due time be conferred on us, and that I should be called the first Elder of the Church, and he (Oliver Cowdery) the second. It was on the fifteenth day of May, 1829, that we were ordained under the hand of this messenger, and baptized.Joseph Smith—History 1:68–72 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen the Source, quoted on Who Was John the Baptist?, says Peter, James, and John held “the keys of the Priesthood of Melchizedek.”

That is a real account of an order conferred on men. Hebrews describes a different fact about the priest in the oath. Hebrews 7:23Hebrews 7:23 · King James VersionAnd they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:Hebrews 7:23 · King James VersionOpen the Source says there were many priests because death kept them from continuing. Hebrews 7:24Hebrews 7:24 · King James VersionBut this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.Hebrews 7:24 · King James VersionOpen the Source says this man has an unchangeable priesthood because he continues ever. Hebrews 7:25Hebrews 7:25 · King James VersionWherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.Hebrews 7:25 · King James VersionOpen the Source says he is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by him, because he ever lives to intercede. “Unchangeable” is the King James word for a priesthood that does not pass to a successor. The reason in the verse is that this man continues ever. Levitical priests were many because they died. The contrast is succession by death, not a lack of elders in a church. Hebrews 7:16Hebrews 7:16 · King James VersionWho is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.Hebrews 7:16 · King James VersionOpen the Source says this priest is made not after a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life. Christians confess that this priest is Jesus, and that Jesus is God. Is Jesus God? and the Trinity are that confession. A priesthood handed from man to man is the pattern Hebrews says death forced on the earlier priests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Melchizedek the King of Sodom?

No. Genesis 14:18Genesis 14:18 · King James VersionAnd Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.Genesis 14:18 · King James VersionOpen the Source calls him king of Salem. Genesis 14:21Genesis 14:21 · King James VersionAnd the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.Genesis 14:21 · King James VersionOpen the Source introduces the king of Sodom as a different speaker.

Was Melchizedek a Human Being?

Genesis presents a king and priest who meets Abram, blesses him, and receives a tenth. Hebrews says the record does not list his parents or his death, and that he was made like the Son of God. The chapter does not say the meeting was with a vision in place of a man.

Does the Order of Melchizedek Still Exist Today?

Psalm 110:4Psalms 110:4 · King James VersionThe LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.Psalms 110:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source and Hebrews 7:24Hebrews 7:24 · King James VersionBut this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.Hebrews 7:24 · King James VersionOpen the Source speak of one priest forever, Jesus, whose priesthood does not pass by death. Latter-day Saints, in Doctrine and Covenants 107, name a Melchizedek Priesthood held by elders and high priests. Those are two uses of the name.

What Did Enoch Say About Melchizedek?

The books of the Protestant canon do not record a speech of Enoch about Melchizedek. This page does not quote a later Enoch book on him.

Keep Reading

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• Psalm 110: Who Is David’s Lord?
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• The Trinity
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