Melchizedek

Melchizedek (Hebrew: מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק, Modern: Malkī-Ṣeḏeq, Tiberian: Malḵī-Ṣeḏeq; Greek: Μελχισεδέκ) is a figure appearing in the Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible, identified as a priest and king of Salem. His name translates to "my king is righteousness" or "my king is Ṣedeq" in Hebrew. In the New Testament, Melchizedek is used as an example of a righteous man who lived by faith, and his priesthood is seen as a precursor to that of Jesus Christ. The Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament elaborates on the significance of Melchizedek, emphasizing his eternal and superior priesthood compared to the Levitical priesthood. In Islamic tradition, Melchizedek is also recognized as a prophet, often identified with other biblical figures such as Enoch or Shem. The enigmatic nature of Melchizedek, with no clear lineage or genealogy provided in the biblical text, has led to various interpretations and speculations about his identity and role in religious traditions.