English Standard Version
Hebrews 7:1
1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
Hebrews 7:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
- New International Version (NIV)This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,
- New King James Version (NKJV)For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
- New Living Translation (NLT)This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him.
Context of Hebrews 7:1
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
Read all of Hebrews 7Hebrews 7:1 word by word
Οὗτος γὰρ ὁ Μελχισέδεκ, βασιλεὺς Σαλήμ, ἱερεὺς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου, ὁ συναντήσας Ἀβραὰμ ὑποστρέφοντι ἀπὸ τῆς κοπῆς τῶν βασιλέων καὶ εὐλογήσας αὐτόν,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- MelchisedecΜελχισεδέκMelchisedek · MelchizedekG3198
- kingβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
- of SalemΣαλήμSalēm · SalemG4532
- priestἱερεύςhiereus · priestG2409
- of theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- of theθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- most highὕψιστοςhupsistos · HighestG5310
- who metσυναντάωsunantaō · to meetG4876
- AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
- returningὑποστρέφωhupostrephō · to returnG5290
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the slaughterκοπήkopē · slaughterG2871
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- blessedεὐλογέωeulogeō · to praise/blessG2127
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
Cross-references for Hebrews 7:1
- Hebrews 6:20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
- Genesis 14:18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)
- Psalms 76:2His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
- Psalms 57:2I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
- Psalms 78:35They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.
- Daniel 4:2It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
- Daniel 5:18O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.
- Micah 6:6"With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
- Mark 5:7And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me."
- Acts 16:17She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation."
- Genesis 16:14Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.
- Isaiah 41:2Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow.
Commentaries on Hebrews 7:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem - See the whole of this history largely explained in the notes, See Genesis 14:18; (note), etc., and the concluding observations at the end of that chapter. The name Melchisedec, צדק מלכי is thus expounded in Bereshith Rabba, sec. 43, fol. 42, יושביו את מצדיק matsdie eth Yoshebaiv, "The Justifier of those who dwell in him;" and this is sufficiently true of Christ, but false of Jerusalem, to which the rabbins apply it…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1For this Melchisedek; - compare the notes on Hebrews 5:6. The name Melchizedek, from which the apostle derives a portion of his argument here, is Hebrew, מלכי־צדק Malkiy-Tsedeqand is correctly explained as meaning “king of righteousness” - being compounded of two words - “king and righteousness.” Why this name was given to this man is unknown. Names, however, were frequently given on account of some quality or characteristic of the man: see the notes on…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Chapter Outline A comparison between the priesthood of Melchizedec and that of Christ. (1-3) The excellence of Christ's priesthood above the Levitical priesthood is shown. (4-10) This is applied to Christ. (11-25) The faith and hope of the church encouraged from this. (26-28) Verses 1-3 Melchizedec met Abraham when returning from the rescue of Lot. His name, "King of Righteousness," doubtless suitable to his character, marked him as a type of the Messiah…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1king of Salem: See Genesis 14:18 and the related study note. and priest of God Most High: Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, unlike the Hebrew kings. This role foreshadowed the Messiah. returning from the slaughter of the kings: See Genesis 14:1–17.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-281. this Melchisedec--(He 6:20; Psa 110:4). The verb does not come till He 7:3, "abideth." king ... priest--Christ unites these offices in their highest sense, and so restores the patriarchal union of these offices. Salem--Jerusalem, that is, seeing peace; others make Salem distinct, and to be that mentioned (Ge 33:18; Joh 3:23). the most high God--called also "Possessor of heaven and earth" (Ge 14:19, 22). This title of God, "the Most High," handed down…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 7:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hebrews 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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