Bible Strands
Genesis 14:18
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Following Abram’s defeat of the allied kings, the king of Sodom meets him in the King’s Valley, and Melchizedek, king of Salem, approaches with provisions. Melchizedek acts as priest of God Most High while presenting bread and wine to Abram.
The words — The name Melchizedek combines מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (mal.ki-tze.dek), meaning “king of righteousness,” and identifies his city as שָׁלֵם (sha.lém), Salem. The verb הוֹצִיא (ho.tzi') literally records that he “brought out” לֶחֶם (le.chem, bread) and יַיִן (ya.yin, wine).
The thread — This priestly title and royal city recur in Psalms 110:4, which declares a figure is “a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” The New Testament applies that same designation to Jesus in Hebrews 5:6 and Hebrews 6:20.
Why it lands — The text establishes a non-Levitical priest who receives tithes and blesses Abram before the Mosaic law exists. It requires the reader to recognize that God’s mediation and kingship operate outside established human religious structures.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Cross-references
- Psalms 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
- Hebrews 6:20 where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
- Hebrews 5:6 And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
- Hebrews 5:10 and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
- Psalms 76:2 His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion.
- Psalms 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.
- Acts 16:17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
- Hebrews 7:10 For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
- Ruth 3:10 Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.
- Psalms 7:17 I will thank the LORD for His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.