Melchizedek

For other uses, see Melchizedek (disambiguation).
Melchizedek
Melchizedek (1681) by Michael Willmann
Priest and King of Salem
Venerated in
CanonizedPre-Congregation
Feast

In the Hebrew Bible, Melchizedek (/mɛlˈkɪzədɛk/;[1] Biblical Hebrew: מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק‎, romanized: malkī-ṣeḏeq, 'king of righteousness,' 'my king is righteousness,' or ‘my king is Zedek’[2]), also transliterated Melchisedech, Melchisedec or Malki Tzedek, was the king of Salem and priest of El Elyon (often translated as 'most high God'). He is first mentioned in Genesis 14:18–20,[3] where he brings out bread and wine and then blesses Abram, and El Elyon or "the Lord, God Most High". Abram was returning from pursuing the kings who came from the East and gave him a "tenth of everything".

In Christianity, according to the Epistle to the Hebrews, Jesus Christ is identified as "High priest forever in the order of Melchizedek", and so Jesus assumes the role of High Priest once and for all. Chazalic literature – specifically Targum Jonathan, Targum Yerushalmi, and the Babylonian Talmud – presents his name (מלכי־צדק‎) as a nickname for Shem.[4]

Joseph Blenkinsopp has suggested that the story of Melchizedek is an informal insertion into the Genesis narration, possibly inserted in order to give validity to the priesthood and titles connected with the Second Temple. It has also been conjectured that the suffix “-zedek” may have been or become a reference to a Canaanite deity worshipped in pre-Israelite Jerusalem.[5]: 56–60 

  1. ^ English pronunciation according to the "Book of Mormon Pronunciation Guide" (churchofjesuschrist.org; retrieved 2012-02-25), IPA-ified from «mĕl-kĭz'a-dĭk»
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cargill was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Genesis 14:18–20
  4. ^ Targum Yonathan and Targum Yerushalmi to Bereishith 14:18–20. Talmud Bavli to tractate Nedarim 32b et al.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Blenkinsopp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).