God’s Word Translation
Hebrews 7:1
1Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham and blessed him when Abraham was returning from defeating the kings.
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,
- English Standard Version (ESV)For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter 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,
Context of Hebrews 7:1
Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham and blessed him when Abraham was returning from defeating the kings. 2Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had captured. In the first place, Melchizedek’s name means king of God’s approval. He is also called king of Salem (which means king of peace). 3No one knows anything about Melchizedek’s father, mother, or ancestors. No one knows when he was born or when he died. Like the Son of God, Melchizedek continues to be 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 went before us on our behalf. He has become the chief priest forever in the way Melchizedek was a priest.
- Genesis 14:18Then King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High.
- Psalms 76:2His tent is in Salem. His home is in Zion.
- Psalms 57:2I call to God Most High, to the God who does everything for me.
- Psalms 78:35They remembered that God was their rock, that the Most High was their defender.
- Daniel 4:2I am pleased to write to you about the miraculous signs and amazing things the Most High God did for me.
- Daniel 5:18“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, might, honor, and glory.
- Micah 6:6What should I bring when I come into the Lord’s presence, when I bow in front of the God of heaven? Should I bring him year-old calves as burnt offerings?
- Mark 5:7and shouted, “Why are you bothering me now, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me.”
- Acts 16:17She used to follow Paul and shout, “These men are servants of the Most High God. They’re telling you how you can be saved.”
- Genesis 16:14This is why the well is named Beer Lahai Roi [Well of the Living One Who Watches Over Me]. It is still there between Kadesh and Bered.
- Isaiah 41:2“Who has raised up from the east someone to whom the Lord gives victory with every step he takes? Nations are handed over to him. He defeats kings. With his sword he turns them into dust. With his bow he turns them into straw blown by the wind.
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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