Melchizedek: A Type of Christ

January 6th, 2026
by Dr. Lance Waldie

Hebrews 7:1-2 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.

In Judaism the patriarch Abraham was the father of the Jewish people and thus highly regarded. In Genesis 12:1-7 God called Abraham (then Abram) and gave him an eternal promise: land, seed, and blessing. Those who blessed Abraham would be blessed; those who cursed him would be cursed. Directing him to Canaan, Abraham’s offspring through his son Isaac would inherit God’s Promised Land. Jesus of Nazareth later descended from Abraham’s son Isaac as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise (Gal. 3:16). Now, as God’s Son, Jesus is both King and Priest—reigning and interceding as the Hebrews epistle teaches (cf. Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2).

In Genesis 14 (circa 2000 BC) Abraham went to battle against four kings so as to rescue his nephew Lot who had been captured. After rescuing Lot and obtaining much spoil following his victory, Abraham traveled through Salem (i.e., Jerusalem) where he met a mysterious priest-king named Melchizedek: “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And Abram gave him a tenth of all” (Gen. 14:18-20).

The only other time Melchizedek is mentioned is 1000 years later when King David looks into the future and speaks of the coming Messiah and His likeness to Melchizedek: “Yahweh has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’ ” (Ps. 110:4). Melchizedek was therefore a type of Christ, an OT ceremony or figure that has a NT antitype. The type functions as a picture while the antitype is the real thing. So, Hebrews 5-7 reveals Jesus as the antitype to Melchizedek. Another OT example is found in Numbers 21:8 where Moses lifted up a bronze serpent in the wilderness for those had been bitten by poisonous snakes as a type of salvation. If one looked at the bronze serpent, they would be saved. In the NT, Jesus Christ is revealed as the antitype who was lifted up on a cross for anyone who seeks salvation (John 3:14-15). Here in Hebrews 7, Melchizedek is a type of Christ.

Melchizedek was both a king and a priest according to v. 2, both of which he was unto “the Most High God.” As King of Salem, Melchizedek was a king of peace, for Salem (Heb. shalom) means peace. His name itself literally means “king” (Heb. melek) of “righteousness” (Heb. tsedeq). He existed as a unique king-priest apart from any relation to Abraham circa 2000 BC.

From this we note the similarities between Melchizedek and Jesus. Both of them are priest-kings, Jesus being King not only of Jerusalem but also of the entire world (cf. Matt. 19:28; Rev. 1:5). Also, as Melchizedek was “priest of God Most High” (Gen. 14:18; Heb. 7:1), Jesus Christ is the Christian’s High Priest who makes intercession for us (Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14-15; 5:1, 5, 10).

Note also the parallels between the names Melchizedek and Salem alongside Christ’s work as King. The name “Melchizedek” (melek, or “king”; tsedeq, or “righteousness”) means that he was “king of righteousness.” And being king-priest of Salem (or shalom), he was the king of peace by virtue of where he reigned (Heb. 7:2). Swindoll says, “What Melchizedek is in the narrative, Jesus Christ is in His nature—He is Righteousness incarnate (1 Cor. 1:30) and the embodiment of Peace (Eph. 2:14).”

Food For Thought
Melchizedek was one of the types found in the OT that function to point the way and illustrate their fulfillment in the NT. This is why OT study is so important. Without it a true understanding of Jesus Christ is difficult. The OT is the facsimile; the NT is the genuine article. Having peace with God is based upon the righteousness of God—the two features of Melchizedek in the OT that are fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ of Nazareth.