Melchizedek appears suddenly in Genesis 14 as both king of Salem and "priest of God Most High." He blesses Abraham, and Abraham gives him a tenth of the spoils. The account itself does not present Melchizedek as a prediction of the Messiah, but his unusual combination of kingship and priesthood later becomes an important biblical pattern.

Psalm 110 develops that pattern by describing a coming royal figure as "a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews then applies the psalm directly to Jesus, explaining that Christ's priesthood is not based on descent from Levi but belongs to the superior and enduring order represented by Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:20 identifies Jesus as the eternal high priest after this order. Thus Genesis 14 provides the historical figure and pattern that later Scripture uses to explain the unique priesthood of Christ.