Μελχισεδέκ

From the study of Hebrews 5:6

Range of meaning

A personal name from Hebrew Malkî-ṣedeq, 'my king is righteousness' or 'king of righteousness'. In Genesis 14:18–20 he is king of Salem (traditionally Jerusalem) and 'priest of God Most High' (El Elyon). He brings out bread and wine, blesses Abram and receives a tenth of the spoil.

Against the English

English readers often know only the name. To an ancient Jewish audience it called up a figure much discussed in the Second Temple period (roughly 500 BC–AD 70).

Used elsewhere in the period

Josephus calls him a 'righteous king' and the first priest, who founded Jerusalem's sanctuary (Antiquities 1.180; War 6.438). Philo reads him as the 'king of peace' and a figure for the divine Word (Allegorical Interpretation 3.79–82). The Genesis Apocryphon from Qumran retells Genesis 14. The Qumran text 11QMelchizedek (11Q13) presents Melchizedek as a heavenly deliverer who announces liberty and carries out God's judgment at the final Jubilee. 2 Enoch 71–72 tells of his miraculous birth.

From the study of Hebrews 7:17

Range of meaning

From Hebrew Malki-tsedeq: 'my king is righteous(ness)' or 'king of righteousness'. He is a figure in Genesis 14:18–20, king of Salem and priest of El Elyon ('God Most High'), who brought out bread and wine, blessed Abram and received a tenth from him. In the rest of the Hebrew Bible he appears only in Psalm 110:4.

Against the English

English versions all transliterate the name (KJV 'Melchisedec' follows the Greek and Latin spelling). None of them carries the meaning of the name, which Hebrews 7:2 spells out.

Used elsewhere in the period

Josephus calls him 'Righteous King', first priest and founder of Jerusalem (Ant. 1.180; War 6.438). Philo makes him an image of the divine Logos (Leg. All. 3.79–82). In 11QMelchizedek from Qumran he is a heavenly figure who brings final release and judgment. 2 Enoch 71–72 tells of his miraculous birth. Later rabbinic tradition identified him with Shem and said the priesthood passed from him to Abraham (b. Nedarim 32b).

From the study of Hebrews 7:1

Range of meaning

A personal name taken over from Hebrew Malki-tsedeq. It is built from melek (king) and tsedeq (righteousness, rightness, justice), with a connecting -i. It can be read as "my king is righteousness," "king of righteousness," or possibly "(the god) Tsedeq is my king." A similar name, Adoni-tsedeq, belongs to a later king of Jerusalem (Joshua 10:1).

Against the English

English versions just transliterate the name, which is right. But readers lose that to a Greek-speaking Jew the name sounded like a title. Hebrews 7:2 spells this out ("first, his name means 'king of righteousness'").

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Old Testament he appears only in Genesis 14:18–20 and Psalm 110:4. Second Temple Judaism was fascinated by him. Philo (Allegorical Interpretation 3.79–82) reads him as the "righteous king" and "king of peace," a figure for divine reason. Josephus (Antiquities 1.180; War 6.438) calls him "righteous king," the first priest of God and the founder of Jerusalem. The Genesis Apocryphon from Qumran retells the meeting. The Qumran text 11QMelchizedek (11Q13) presents Melchizedek as a heavenly figure who carries out God's end-time judgment and proclaims a final Jubilee release. Later rabbinic tradition identified him with Noah's son Shem (e.g. Targum Neofiti on Genesis 14:18; b. Nedarim 32b).