Who Is Melchizedek?

The author of the book of Hebrews presented Christ as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:17). Much controversy has revolved around Melchizedek, one of the most significant types in Scripture to validate Christ’s high priesthood. Melchizedek stepped briefly onto the stage of biblical history and then vanished.

Hebrews 7:1–3 reveals a number of facts about Melchizedek that set him apart from the Aaronic priests, who would come on the scene hundreds of years later:

1. His name means “king [Hebrew, melech] of righteousness” (v. 2). Thus, he was a king who ruled in righteousness—a type of Christ.

2. He was the king of “Salem” (v. 1), which means “peace” (v. 2). Salem is later identified as Jerusalem (Ps. 76:2). Israelite kings were not allowed to be priests.

3. He was a priest of “the Most High God” (Hebrew, El Elyon; Heb. 7:1), which means “God the Highest,” referring to the true and living God. The Lord established Melchizedek’s priesthood.

4. He was “without father, without mother, without genealogy [descent]” (v. 3). The Bible records nothing about his lineage, his birth, or when God appointed him to become a king-priest. Israel’s priests needed to prove that their lineage qualified them to function within the Levitical system. But no genealogy appears for Melchizedek.

5. He had “neither beginning of days nor end of life” (v. 3). There is no record of his birth or death, so he “remains a priest continually” (v. 3). However, Levitical priests served and retired at specific ages. Melchizedek’s priesthood is timeless, like Christ’s.

6. His priesthood was unlimited in scope, like Christ’s; Levitical priests ministered only to Israel.

7. He was “made like the Son of God” (v. 3).

For these reasons, many believe Melchizedek was a theophany, a preincarnate appearance of Christ, similar to the Lord’s appearance to Abraham (Gen. 18:1). However, other factors indicate he was merely a man:

1. Scripture says Melchizedek was made “like the Son of God” (Heb. 7:3, emphasis added), not that he was the Son of God.

2. The historical record indicates that Melchizedek was king of a city-state in Canaan, necessitating a fairly permanent residence for him. Thus, Melchizedek could not have been a theophany that appeared and disappeared, nor was he an angel or superhuman individual.

3. Melchizedek was a king and “a priest continually” (v. 3). No other men in Scripture are identified as king-priests apart from Melchizedek and Jesus Christ.

4. Psalm 110:4 calls Messiah “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek,” clearly differentiating Christ from Melchizedek himself.

Considering the limited biblical details concerning this king, it seems Melchizedek is not the preincarnate Christ.