Melchizedek

American  

[mel-kiz-i-dek] / mɛlˈkɪz ɪˌdɛk /

noun

1. (in the Bible) a priest and king of Salem.

2. the higher order of priests in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

---

Melchizedek British  

/ mɛlˈkɪzəˌdɛk /

noun

1. Douay spelling: Melchisedech.  Old Testament the priest-king of Salem who blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:18–19) and was taken as a prototype of Christ's priesthood (Hebrews 7)

---

Etymology

Origin of Melchizedek

Ultimately from Hebrew Malkīṣedek “My king is righteousness,” or “My king is (the deity) Sedek”

Example Sentences

Both Opus Bono and Men of Melchizedek now list the same canon lawyer, the Rev. David Deibel, as their chairman.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2019

The new group is called Men of Melchizedek, a reference to an Old Testament figure who was thought to be both a king and a priest.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2019

He too designed a monumental tapestry showing "The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek," made just less than a century before Rubens' similarly huge tapestry on the theme.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2014

In fact, Pearce had taken part in Ready’s baptism in the Mormon Church and ordained him as an elder in the Melchizedek priesthood.

From Salon • May 25, 2012

Melchizedek, the king of Salem, sat on the wall of the fort that afternoon, and felt the levanter blowing in his face.

From "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho