Genesis 14: Melchizedek, Eternal Priesthood of Christ
Introduction
Reading through Genesis 14, we read Abram’s epic battle with five kings, then we meet Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High (see Genesis 14:18). Melchizedek is mentioned once here, and not again until Psalm 110, then silence until the Letter to the Hebrews. My curiosity about this mysterious man led me through several hours of research and studying to understand his significance in the story of salvation. I will not be able to view this seldom-mentioned man the same.
Who is Melchizedek?
We are introduced to Melchizedek as the king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who brought out bread and wine (Genesis 14:18). Melchizedek then blesses Abram and Abram tithes a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:19-21).
Reviewing the Scriptures, we can learn more of who Melchizedek is. The name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” as mentioned in the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 7:2). We also read Melchizedek is king of Salem, which means “peace”, making him king of peace (Hebrews 7:2).1 The city of Salem is Zion, or Jerusalem as noted by the Psalmist (see Psalm 76:2). With that, we can understand that Melchizedek, a priest-king, is the king of peace and righteousness and priest of God Most High.
Who exactly is this king of peace and righteousness, priest of God Most High? There are a few theories as to the identity of this mysterious priest of God Most High. The Catholic Church has never taught definitively who Melchizedek is, leaving this open to interpretation, which we should not personally dogmatize.2
Some scholars believe that Melchizedek was a priest for the Canaanite God, El, however the writings from the Dead Sea scrolls shows the Jews held a different belief.3 Ancient Jewish and early Christian tradition holds that Melchizedek is actually Shem, Noah’s first-born son.4 This conclusion can be reached by looking at the ages in Genesis 11:10-26 to uncover that Shem possibly lived during the time of Abraham. Shem’s line begins when he is one hundred years old and goes on for 290 years until the birth of Abraham. According to Scriptures, Shem died at 500 years old meaning he was 390 years old at the birth of Abraham and somewhere between 465 years old and 490 years old during Genesis 14.
This results in a question about Shem’s age of 500 years. There are two ways to consider Shem’s age. The first is, historians wrote age based on an honorific system, meaning if someone wanted to portray a historical figure as grand, they would give them a very long age. Shem was important, thus his age was written as 500 years to signify how important he was. However, some people also hold these are accurate ages and that people in early humanity were able to live longer because they had less sin promulgated throughout their lines. We are open to believe either option.
As shown, the latter system provides a lot of merit for Melchizedek to be Shem. If we consider the honorific system, this would mean it was not Shem but was someone else. There are other beliefs surrounding the personage of Melchizedek such as he was a normal person, an angel, or possibly Christ pre-incarnate. Ultimately, we are left not knowing exactly who he is, but there is still a lot we can learn about him.
What is the Order of Melchizedek?
We read about Melchizedek again in Psalm 110
“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)
The order of Melchizedek is different than the priestly order of the Levites who descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses. The office of priesthood is appointed by God, “no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.” (Hebrews 5:4). Once appointed by God, the priests are “appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” (Hebrews 5:1). We can see God appointed Melchizedek as priest; if Melchizedek appointed himself, the Holy Spirit would not have spoken of Melchizedek’s priesthood through the Psalmist. This means both Melchizedek and the Levitical priests were appointed by God to offer gifts and sacrifices.
We can see the priesthood of the Levites was actually subordinate to that of Melchizedek. Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham and then blessed Abraham. Blessings came from patriarchs and tithing went from laity to clerical priests.5 This shows that Abraham recognized a superiority within Melchizedek. This is especially significant because Abraham was also a priest of God Most High, which was the natural order in the ancient world of the Patriarchs.6 Abraham was not a clerical priest but exercised the duties of a priest; Abraham built altars (Gen 12:7, 12:8, 13:18), called on the Lord’s name in prayer (12:8, 21:33), and offered sacrifice. Melchizedek blessing Abraham and Abraham tithing to Melchizedek signifies that Melchizedek was superior in rank to Abraham with both men as priests of God. “One might even say that Levi himself…paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.” (Hebrews 7:9-10).
Psalm 110 is believed to have been written by David, well after the Levitical priesthood was established during the book of Exodus (see Exodus 28:1). This means God first established the Levitical priesthood but later on planned to raise a priest outside of Aaron’s line of the Levites. If the priest was to come from the Levites, then the Holy Spirit would not have spoken through David that a priest will be raised in the order of Melchizedek, instead the priest would have been raised from the Levites. After all, “if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood…what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?” (Hebrews 7:11). Thus, a priest would be raised outside of the line of the Levites, and from a priesthood superior to that of the Levites.
Who is this lord that will be raised as a priest?
To learn who this priest would be, we have to read more of the Psalm.
‘The Lord says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”
The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor,
your young men will come to you
like dew from the morning’s womb.
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”’ (Psalm 110:1-4)
Who is the lord that the Lord is speaking to? The Pharisees in the time of Christ believed Psalm 110 referred to the Messiah, which was correct, though they lacked a full understanding.7 We can refer to Our Lord Himself for more insight into this.
‘While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.
He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’
If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.’ (Matthew 22:41-46)
The pharisees believed the Messiah would be the son of David because the prophecies held that the Messiah would come from David’s line (see 2 Samuel 7:12–16). However, the Psalm reads that David referred to the Messiah as lord. A father would not refer to his own son as his lord. Jesus was questioning how David would call his own son, or descendant, lord, if this would be someone subordinate to David, when lords are superior to those who refer to them as lord. Jesus spoke these words to challenge the mistaken belief that the Messiah, supposedly the son of David, would be superior to David. Instead, Jesus highlights that David himself referred to the Messiah as Lord, as in, David acknowledged his subordinance to the Messiah. Thus, the Messiah would come from the line of David but would be of a greater status than son of David because the Messiah is the Son of God (see 2 Sam 7:14a).
Through this understanding of Psalm 110 we can recognize that the Lord God is speaking to the Lord, who is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, from the line of David and the tribe of Judah, a tribe outside of the Levites. We can also understand that God Himself is swearing that the Lord Jesus Christ will be a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, a priesthood superior to that of the Levites.
Christ as a priest in the order of Melchizedek
There are numerous connections between Melchizedek and the fulfillment of his priesthood through the High Priest, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The belief that Melchizedek is Shem ties Melchizedek to Christ because Shem was the first-born of Noah, with whom the covenant of the new creation was established (see Genesis 9:8-17) just as Jesus is the First-born Son of God whom the New and Everlasting Covenant was established (see Luke 22:20). Even if Melchizedek was not actually Shem he is still a type of Christ. Melchizedek was the king of peace and righteousness. Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” and the “righteous and victorious” King of Zion (Isaiah 9:6 and Zechariah 9:9).
Just as God appoints all priests, He also appointed Jesus Christ as High Priest when He said ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever,”’ (Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 7:21). The Levitical priesthood was appointed by God though it was brought in without an oath, making it revocable, whereas the priesthood of Jesus Christ in the order of Melchizedek was brought in with an oath, showing God’s swearing that Jesus Christ will forever be a priest (see Hebrews 7:21-22). This brought in a new covenant “for when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.” (Hebrews 17:12). “On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.” (Hebrews 17:18). This better hope is in the new and everlasting covenant through the High Priest Jesus Christ.
The priesthood of the Levites was not eternal, simply because they were numbered on earth and “were prevented by death from continuing in office” (Hebrews 7:23). Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who “holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:24-25). Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us always (CCC 662)8.
The Levitical priests offered sacrifices daily, sacrifices which were subordinate to that of Jesus Christ, Who “did this once for all when he offered up himself.” (Hebrews 7:27). This sacrifice of Jesus Christ continues to be offered to God in the form of bread and wine, just as Jesus Christ ‘took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to [his disciples], saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after supper, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”’ (Luke 22:19-20). We continue to offer the Body and Blood of Our Lord to God each day in the form of “bread and wine” (Genesis 14:18). The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass “makes present the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ…it completes and surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant” (CCC 1330).
The priesthood of Jesus Christ is executed each day on earth by His earthly ministers, the priests of the Catholic Church, who act in persona Christi, that is, in the person of Christ, meaning, it is Jesus Christ Himself celebrating Mass and all priestly duties through our earthly priests (CCC 1548). The priesthood of Christ goes beyond a genetic line, it extends throughout eternity.
We may not know exactly who Melchizedek was but we do know he is a prefiguration of Jesus Christ. The mystery of Melchizedek prefigures the mystery of Christ. “He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life,but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest for ever.” (Hebrews 7:3) The priest-king Melchizedek was the first man to be called a priest of God Most High, in the entire Bible. The order of Melchizedek’s priesthood started in the beginning of salvation and it continues until the end in Our Lord Jesus Christ, High Priest and King of Peace and Righteousness, “the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 1:8).
This is not just Christians trying to bend the Scriptures to Christ. Instead, Christ is a fulfillment of the Scriptures, as always, because the New is found in the Old and the Old is fulfilled in the new. The connections are too close to not be a prefigurement of Christ. These connections are something the ancient Jews understand because they understood these pieces of Scripture to be a Messianic prophecy, meaning they point to Christ.
References
1 n.d. “Shalem.” Bible Hub. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8004.htm.
2Grondin, Fr. Charles. n.d. “Was Melchizedek Jesus?” Catholic Answers. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://www.catholic.com/qa/was-melchizedek-jesus.
32024. The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press., Pg76
4Ibid., Pg2165
5Ibid., Pg77
6Ibid. Pg2165
7Ibid. Pg 1767
81995. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Canada: Doubleday.
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