New Living Translation
Hebrews 7:1
1This 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.
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
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. 2Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” 3There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.
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 6:20Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
- Genesis 14:18And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine.
- Psalms 76:2Jerusalem is where he lives; Mount Zion is his home.
- Psalms 57:2I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
- Psalms 78:35Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer.
- Daniel 4:2“I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me.
- Daniel 5:18Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, majesty, glory, and honor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar.
- Micah 6:6What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves?
- Mark 5:7With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!”
- Acts 16:17She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
- Genesis 16:14So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.
- Isaiah 41:2“Who has stirred up this king from the east, rightly calling him to God’s service? Who gives this man victory over many nations and permits him to trample their kings underfoot? With his sword, he reduces armies to dust. With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before 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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