Genesis 14:18

Genesis 14:18

 

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

 

a. NLT: And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

 

b. ASV: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Young’s Literal Translation: And Melchizedek king of Salem hath brought out bread and wine, and he is priest of God Most High; [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

 

d. Amplified Bible: Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine [for their nourishment]; he was the priest of God Most High, [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

 

e. Septuagint: And Melchisedec king of Salem brought forth loaves and wine, and he was the priest of the most high God.

 

f. Stone Edition of the CHUMASH, Rabbinic Commentary: But Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of God, the Most High.

 

1. “And Melchizedek king of Salem…”

 

a. [And] Melchizedek [Strong: 4442 Malkiy-Tsedeq mal-kee-tseh'-dek; melek-king; tsedeq-right; [king of righteousness: Hebrews 7:2. His name literally means “king of righteousness”.]

 

b. king [Strong: 4428 melek meh'-lek; from 4427; a king:--king, royal.]

 

c. [of] Salem [Strong: 8004 Shalem shaw-lame' the same as 8003; peaceful; Shalem, an early name of Jerusalem:--Salem.; an early name of Jerusalem. [He was the king of Salem].

 

1). Hebrews 7:2 says that “by interpretation”, Melchizedek was, “King of righteousness”, King of Salem”, and King of Peace”.

 

2). The only other mention of Melchizedek in the Old Testament is in Psalms.

 

a). Psalm 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

 

3). In the New Testament Melchizedek is only mentioned in Hebrews 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1, 10, 11, 15, 17, 21.

 

4). In all of those references there is no mention of where he really came from, some have speculated that this unknown person could be Shem, the son of Noah or perhaps even a pre-incarnation appearance of Christ. Who ever this person is, the types and foreshadows in this event that all point to Jesus are sufficient to say this was a very spiritually special event.

 

2. “…brought forth bread and wine…”

 

a. brought forth [Strong: 3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw'; a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any time, X to (and fro), utter.]

 

b. bread [Strong: 3899 lechem lekh'-em; from 3898; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it):--((shew-))bread, X eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.]

 

c. [and] wine [Strong: 3196 yayin yah'-yin; from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication:--banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber).]

 

1). These are Covenant foods. I personally believe this was the culmination of a Covenant Abram had made with God before he went to war to rescue Lot. His response to the king of Sodom in Genesis 14:22, 23 point to this. Also, this points to the atonement in Christ.

 

a). Mark 14:22-25 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

14:23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

14:25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

 

2). It also points to intimate relationship.

 

a). Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

 

3). As we shall see, Genesis 14:18-24 reveals some of the obligations of a probable Covenant that was cut with Abram and probably Melchizedek before he went on the journey and battle to rescue Lot and his family as well as all the goods and people who were taken captive. If not a Covenant, there was definitely a vow made by Abram before the rescue attempt.    

 

3. “…and he was the priest of the most high God.”

 

a. [and] he was [Strong: 1931 huw' hoo of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.

b. [the] priest [Strong: 3548 kohen ko-hane'; active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal officer.]

 

b. [of the] most high [Strong: 5945 'elyown el-yone' ; from 5927; an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme:--(Most, on) high(-er, -est), upper(-most).]

 

c. God [Strong: 410 'el ale ; shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):--God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong.]

 

1). This order of priesthood was a foreshadow of the priesthood of Jesus.

 

a).  Psalm 110:4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

 

b). Hebrews 7:14-17 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.