Who Was Melchizedek?
The question of Melchizedek’s identity has long intrigued Bible students, particularly because the apostle Paul (in Hebrews) links Christ’s priesthood to being “after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:17).
A Historical Man with a Unique Record
Melchizedek was a real historical figure who lived during the time of Abraham. He was the king of Salem—most likely ancient Jerusalem (Gen. 14:18)—and a true worshipper of the living God, much like Job, Balaam (before his fall), and others outside Abraham’s direct lineage.
The Scriptures tell us nothing about Melchizedek’s parents, genealogy, or death. While in reality he certainly had a father and mother and eventually died, these facts are deliberately omitted. From the vantage point of the biblical record, he appears without beginning of days or end of life. This absence of detail was not accidental—it was God’s purposeful design so that Melchizedek could serve as a divinely crafted type or foreshadowing of Christ.
A Scriptural Portrait for a Spiritual Lesson
Paul builds his argument in Hebrews solely from what the Scripture records, not from hidden history. Since no genealogy is listed, Melchizedek appears to have no earthly lineage. Since no death is mentioned, he appears to live on without end. God orchestrated this portrayal to make him a fitting symbol of Christ’s eternal priesthood—one that is not dependent on human ancestry and is unending in duration (Heb. 7:3).
When Psalm 110:4 declares, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek,” it is not equating Christ’s ministry in power or nature to Melchizedek’s, but to the pattern revealed in Scripture:
- No recorded genealogy – foreshadowing Christ’s divine origin apart from a human father (Luke 1:35).
- Name meaning “King of Righteousness” – pointing to Christ as the true and ultimate King of Righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
- King of Salem (“Peace”) – anticipating Christ as the true King of Peace (Isa. 9:6; Eph. 2:14).
A Priesthood Outside the Levitical Order
Melchizedek’s priesthood was entirely separate from the Levitical system that came later through Moses. This made him an ideal representation of Christ’s priesthood, which also does not depend on Levitical descent. Christ’s priesthood is established on the power of an indestructible life (Heb. 7:16), not on family lineage or temple ritual.
Paul’s argument to the Jews was strategic: if there could be a legitimate priest outside the tribe of Levi—as Melchizedek was—then there was biblical precedent for Christ’s priesthood, even though He came from the tribe of Judah. Moreover, Melchizedek’s pattern fits Christ far better than Levi’s, because it points to an eternal, heavenly ministry that transcends earthly regulations.
The Main Point
Melchizedek was not Christ Himself, nor an angel, nor a mystical being—he was a man chosen by God to serve as a prophetic picture. His brief but profound appearance in Genesis is a Spirit-inspired shadow of the Messiah’s role as eternal King and Priest. Jesus Christ’s priesthood surpasses both Levi’s and Melchizedek’s in power, scope, and glory. The “order of Melchizedek” simply means that Christ’s priesthood follows the same divine pattern—without recorded beginning or end, combining kingship and priesthood, and grounded in righteousness and peace.