The Meaning of "Melchizedek" in Hebrews
The Book of Hebrews, a profound exposition of Christ's superiority and the new covenant, centers much of its argument on the unique priesthood of Jesus Christ. Central to this understanding is the mysterious figure of Melchizedek, a priest and king who appears briefly in the Old Testament but whose significance is greatly expanded and interpreted in Hebrews. The author of Hebrews employs Melchizedek as a pivotal type, or foreshadowing, of Christ, establishing Jesus's eternal and superior high priesthood, which supersedes the Levitical order.
Melchizedek: A Figure of Righteousness and Peace
Our first encounter with Melchizedek is in the Book of Genesis, where he emerges as a figure of remarkable stature after Abraham's victory over the confederate kings. The King James Version presents him thus:
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.
This brief account introduces Melchizedek as both a king ("king of Salem") and a priest ("priest of the most high God"), a dual role not typically found together in the Old Testament, where kingship belonged to the tribe of Judah and priesthood to Levi. Abraham, the patriarch, acknowledges Melchizedek's authority by receiving his blessing and giving him a tenth of the spoils. This singular event, seemingly isolated, becomes the foundation for a significant theological argument in Hebrews.
The next mention of Melchizedek is in the prophetic Psalms 110, a messianic psalm often quoted in the New Testament:
The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
This divine oath elevates Melchizedek's priesthood beyond a mere historical anecdote, designating it as the prototype for an eternal, unchangeable priesthood that God himself would establish. The Book of Hebrews picks up on this prophecy, applying it directly and unequivocally to Jesus Christ.
Hebrews' Exposition of Melchizedek's Name and Lineage
The author of Hebrews dedicates significant attention to Melchizedek in Hebrews chapter 7, building upon the foundation laid in Hebrews chapter 5 and Hebrews chapter 6. The first verses of Hebrews 7 provide a crucial interpretation of Melchizedek's identity:
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.
Here, the inspired author draws profound meaning from Melchizedek's name and title. "Melchizedek" is interpreted as "King of righteousness" (from the Hebrew melek, "king," and tzedek, "righteousness"). His city, "Salem," is interpreted as "King of peace" (from shalom, "peace"). These two attributes—righteousness and peace—are fundamental aspects of God's character and the blessings of the new covenant. Jesus Christ perfectly embodies both; He is the righteous King who brings peace to those who believe.
Furthermore, Hebrews 7:3 describes Melchizedek as "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life." This is not to be understood literally, as if Melchizedek were not born of human parents or was immortal. Rather, it emphasizes the absence of any recorded genealogy for him in scripture. Unlike the Levitical priests, whose legitimacy depended entirely on their documented lineage from Aaron, Melchizedek's priesthood stands outside and independent of any ancestral qualification. This mysterious, unrecorded lineage makes him a perfect type of the Son of God, whose divine nature transcends human descent and whose priesthood is eternal, not bound by a succession of mortal men.
The Superiority of Melchizedek's Priesthood
The core argument in Hebrews concerning Melchizedek is the demonstration of his priesthood's superiority to the Levitical priesthood established under the Mosaic Law. This superiority, by extension, proves the preeminence of Christ's priesthood.
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
This implies that Levi, through Abraham, effectively paid tithes to Melchizedek, acknowledging his superior standing. The one who blesses is greater than the one who is blessed, signifying Melchizedek's higher status than the Levitical priests.
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
The very necessity of a new, different priesthood (after the order of Melchizedek) indicates the inadequacy of the old. A change in the priesthood necessitated a change in the law itself, pointing to the obsolescence of the Mosaic covenant and the inauguration of a new, better covenant.
And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Because Jesus lives forever, His priesthood is unchangeable and continuous, unlike the succession of mortal Levitical priests.
Christ, the Everlasting High Priest After the Order of Melchizedek
The ultimate meaning of "Melchizedek" in Hebrews is found in its application to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Melchizedekian priesthood, embodying all its typological significance and surpassing it in reality. The author of Hebrews emphatically states:
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Jesus is the true King of Righteousness, who perfectly fulfilled the law and lived a sinless life, and the true King of Peace, who reconciles humanity to God through His atoning sacrifice. His priesthood is superior in every conceivable way:
- It is eternal and unchangeable, not subject to death (Hebrews 7:24).
- It is established by divine oath, guaranteeing its efficacy (Hebrews 7:21).
- It is exercised by one who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens (Hebrews 7:26).
- He offered Himself as a single, perfect, and ultimate sacrifice for sins, unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Levitical system (Hebrews 7:27).
- He ever liveth to make intercession for those who come unto God by Him (Hebrews 7:25).
The Melchizedekian priesthood of Christ signifies a perfect and final priesthood, which brings about a new covenant built on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). It means that access to God is no longer mediated by a fallible, temporary human priesthood but by the living, eternal Son of God Himself.
Conclusion
The meaning of "Melchizedek" in Hebrews is thus multifaceted and profoundly significant. He serves as a divinely appointed type, an enigmatic figure whose brief biblical appearance foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ. By interpreting Melchizedek as "King of righteousness" and "King of peace," and by emphasizing his eternal, non-genealogical priesthood, the author of Hebrews establishes the unparalleled superiority of Christ's priestly ministry. Jesus, as the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, is the perfect, eternal, and all-sufficient mediator between God and humanity, offering a priesthood that can truly save to the uttermost and provide everlasting access to the throne of grace.