THE GREATNESS OF MELCHIZEDEK

7 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace. 3 Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God,k he remains a priest forever.

4 Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarchl gave a tenth of the plunder to him. 5 The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the peoplem—that is, from their brothers and sisters—though they have also descended from Abraham. 6 But one without thisD lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.n