Melchizedek is the king of Salem and the priest of the Most High God who met Abram after his victory and blessed him.
Scripture first introduces Melchizedek in Genesis 14, where he brings bread and wine, blesses Abram, and receives tithes. Les Feldick explains that Melchizedek was not a Jewish priest but a priest of all, and that Jesus is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Genesis 14:18 — This verse gives Melchizedek's titles: king of Salem and priest of the Most High God.
Hebrews 7:1-3 — The New Testament explains Melchizedek's identity, name, and likeness to the Son of God.
Genesis 14:18-20 says, "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." This shows Melchizedek as both a king and a priest, acting during the time of Abram. Hebrews 7:1-3 adds: "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; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." The Bible thus presents Melchizedek as a historical person with a priestly office that foreshadows Christ.
Les traces Melchizedek to the little village of Salem, which later became Jerusalem. He emphasizes that Salem means "peace" and that Melchizedek came as king of that city and priest of the Most High God, the Hebrew El Elyon. Les points out that Abraham had just defeated the kings who had captured Lot's household, and Melchizedek came out to meet him with bread and wine. Les stresses that Melchizedek was not a high priest of Israel—Israel had not yet been formed. Rather, he was a priest of all humanity, a Gentile priest covering the whole spectrum of the human race. This is why the term "Most High God" is significant: Les associates it predominantly with the Gentile world. Finally, Les connects Melchizedek to Christ. Hebrews 6:20 says Jesus was made a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. Les explains that this order is not the Aaronic priesthood under the Law, but an earlier priesthood that covers both Jew and Gentile. He also highlights that Melchizedek's name means "king of righteousness" and "king of peace," and that he was made like unto the Son of God, abiding as priest continually.
After Abram defeated the kings who had captured Lot and the people of Sodom, Melchizedek came out to meet him. Genesis 14:17-18 says the king of Sodom also met Abram, but then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought bread and wine as priest of the Most High God. Les explains that Abram had put together a small army from among his servants and recaptured the captives, and on his return Melchizedek met him.
Hebrews 6:20 states that Jesus was made a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. Les explains that Melchizedek was not a priest under the Law or of the tribe of Levi; he was a priest of the Most High God before Israel existed. Christ's priesthood therefore follows Melchizedek's order rather than Aaron's, covering all people.
According to Hebrews 7:2, Melchizedek is "by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace." Les notes that the word "Salem" means peace and that Salem is the village now known as Jerusalem. He also points out that Melchizedek is said to be "made like unto the Son of God" with no genealogy or end of life.
Les teaches that since Israel had not yet been formed, Melchizedek was a Gentile priest. He represented the Most High God—a term Les says is used for the Gentiles. Yet Les also emphasizes that Melchizedek was the high priest of all, not just Gentiles, and that Christ's high priesthood after his order is for the whole human race.
Setting the Stage in Genesis 14
Les reviews the separation of Abram and Lot and the invasion of Sodom's kings, which sets up Abraham's pursuit and the encounter with Melchizedek.
Melchizedek as a Priest Forever
Les explains that Melchizedek was a high priest forever, not of Levi or under the Law, and that Christ is a high priest after his order.
Salem and the Context of the Encounter
Les describes Melchizedek as the high priest of Salem, the little village later known as Jerusalem, who met Abram after Abram's victory with a small army of servants.
Priest of the Most High God for Jew and Gentile
Les says there had to be a high priest for the whole world, and Melchizedek was that priest of the Most High God, covering both Gentile and Jew.
A Gentile Priest Before Israel
Les teaches that Melchizedek was a Gentile priest representing the Most High God, and that Hebrews 6:20 shows Jesus made a high priest forever after his order.
The Biblical Introduction of Melchizedek
Les walks through Genesis 14:17-18 and identifies Melchizedek as king of Salem—meaning peace, the later Jerusalem—who brought out bread and wine as priest of the Most High God.
Answering the Question: Who Was Melchizedek?
Les directly answers the question by saying the Scripture tells us Melchizedek was king of Salem (the city of peace, today Jerusalem) and priest of the Most High God, using the Hebrew term El Elyon.
Melchizedek's Name and Likeness to Christ
Les explains that Melchizedek's name means king of righteousness and king of peace, and that according to Hebrews he was without genealogy, made like the Son of God, abiding as a priest continually.
Genesis 14:18: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
This is the only verse in Genesis that directly names Melchizedek and gives his two offices: king and priest.
Genesis 14:19: And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Melchizedek pronounces a blessing on Abram in the name of the Most High God.
Genesis 14:20: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of all, showing recognition of his priestly office.
Hebrews 6:20: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
This verse explicitly ties Jesus' high priesthood to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:1: 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;
The writer of Hebrews identifies Melchizedek with the same titles and event found in Genesis.
Hebrews 7:2: To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
The verse explains the meaning of Melchizedek's name and title.
Hebrews 7:3: Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
This verse describes Melchizedek's unique priestly character, linked directly to the Son of God.
Melchizedek is the king of Salem and the priest of the Most High God who appears in Genesis 14 after Abram's victory. He brought bread and wine, blessed Abram, and received tithes from him.
Les Feldick teaches that Jesus is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, not after Aaron. Both serve as priests of the Most High God for all people, and Hebrews says Melchizedek was made like unto the Son of God.
Salem means peace, and Salem was the village that later became Jerusalem. Les explains that the name points to Melchizedek's role as king of peace.
In Hebrew it is El Elyon; Elyon means 'highest' or 'most high.' Les notes that this is the Gentile term for God, and Melchizedek was its priest for the whole world.
Watch the Teaching: Who is Melchizedek? Understanding the "Most High God" & His Names