Hebrews 7:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The writer recalls Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem who met and blessed Abraham as he came home from battle.
What Does Hebrews 7:1 Mean?
The letter has just named Melchizedek as the pattern for Christ's priesthood, and now it returns to the one scene where he appears in the story of Abraham. In Genesis this king of Salem comes out to meet the patriarch after a daring rescue of captured kinsmen, bearing bread and wine and a blessing.
Two offices meet in one man here, king and priest, joined long before the law of Moses ever separated them. He serves the most high God and stands ready to bless. The detail matters because the writer is preparing to show that the deepest priesthood does not come through Levi at all, but through a figure who points beyond himself to Christ, who is at once King and Priest forever.
Hebrews 7:1 in the Original Language
Melchisedek (Μελχισέδεκ), 'king of righteousness' -- the name itself carries the meaning the writer will unfold.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 7:1
What does Hebrews 7:1 mean?
The writer recalls Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem who met and blessed Abraham as he came home from battle.