Patriarchs
Melchizedek
Priest-king of Salem who blessed Abraham and received a tithe; presented in Hebrews as a type of Christ's eternal priesthood.
Family & dates
- Lifespan
- b. 1946 BC
- Era
- Patriarchs
Scripture references
Notes & controversies
- Hebrews 7:3 says he is 'without father or mother, without genealogy' — that is, scripture deliberately gives him no lineage so he can typify Christ. Various traditions have identified him with Shem or with a pre-incarnate Christ; the text itself does not say.